Money is a lubricant. It is necessary to run society, not just the economy. When the lubricant dries up, the machine starts degrading before coming to a stop. If there is excess, it just goes waste. The waste is not felt until the need arises for more lubricant and there is insufficient lubricant. Then the problems start. The same happens with society and money as well.
Money and the movement of money are needed to keep a society functional and well-balanced. When the shortage starts, society starts fraying, first from the edges and then the core itself. Hence it is important to keep good control of money at the society or national level.
At the individual level, money is needed to run one’s own life.
As far as an individual is concerned, there are three stages to money –
First – enough money to pay all your bills – in other words to cover all your needs
Second – enough money to buy what you want – in other words to cover all your wants
Third – enough money to do what you wish, whenever you wish to – in other words to cover all your desires
Beyond these three stages, there is absolutely no need for money at the individual level. Yet nearly every individual is running for more money, without even thinking about what they have and why do they want more. This meaningless pursuit is what saps the individual and makes them feel empty inside. And then they turn to ideologies of all types to counter or fulfill their meaninglessness.
Ask yourself at which stage you are. Then ask yourself what more you want in life. You will get your answer. I am not saying drop out or revolt against the system, what I am saying is ask yourself the difficult question of what I need/want/wish in life and how much money do I require for it?
Another aspect related to money that we often forget is security. Money needs security or else it will be taken over by someone who is stronger than you.
Kuber was known as the “Lord of Money”. Ravan walked in and took it all away without much ado. Jagat Seth was the richest man in India, his Muslim dependent – the Nawab – turned on him and took away his wealth. Jagat Seth tried to get it back (read about the Battle of Plassey) but in the end he was brutally killed and his wealth was taken over by the Nawab and the British.
Money needs to be protected. If you have money and cannot protect it, it will not be yours. This is true at both the individual level and the national/society level. So think deeply – how much money do you want, what do you want it for, why do you want it and what all are you willing to do for it?
Remember you will end up miserable if:
- You sacrifice something for money and you find out that it was not worth the sacrifice
- You make/have money but are not able to spend it on what you want
- You make/have money, spend it on what you want and then find out it was useless
- You make/have money but someone else comes and takes it because you do not have the power to keep it safe and secure
- You make/have money but do not know what to do with it
- You make/have money but are miserly and hoard it
- You make/have money but use it to keep others dependent on you
- You show off your money and then a bigger showoff comes
Become a meditative person. Increase your self-awareness and consciousness. This will help you understand yourself and see through the illusion of daily life. Once you start seeing through the illusions of daily life, you will realise that money and everything else on this earth is for you to enjoy life and not to become a slave or dependent on the means of enjoyment. Live your life consciously and to your utmost pleasure.