Material Wealth and Spirituality
Should you give away your material wealth to those in need?
A lot of spiritual teachings such as Buddhism and Christianity, clearly discourage material wealth. Not just materialism but the accumulation of material wealth.
If you know a thing about Buddhism, most Buddhist monks own nothing but a robe and a bowl for begging food. They don’t seek to pursue anything of material wealth but devotion to their spiritual practice.
According to the Bible, one of the religious leaders came to him and asked him, “What shall I do to enter the Kingdom of God?”
Then Jesus answered, “Have you learned all the commandments?”
In response, he said, “Yes, I learned all of this as a child. What else do I lack?”
Then he continued “If you want to be righteous, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
What is spirit anyway?
By far the word spirit is very broad and vague. If you google “define spirit” there are over 15 different explanations of the word spirit. So, if we try to define spirituality then it becomes even more complicated because of the fact that the word spirit can mean a lot of different things to a variety of people.
However, all these variations of explanation really mean that a spirit is essentially a person. You are that spirit they have all been talking about. That also means your spirit, which is YOU, will continue to exist in one form or another when your body dies. There is a lot of confusion between the soul, consciousness, and spirit. If you ask me it all depends on the context.
So, basically, when a person is spiritual it implies that they are being as truthful as they can to their most authentic version of themselves. Then an illusion arises because this ‘self’ or ‘spirit’ begins to identify itself with something other than itself.
Enlightened beings
When the person or the spirit identifies itself with other things, it becomes very difficult for an individual to be their authentic self. This is when a person has fallen into the world of illusion, and they are lost.
That is when some enlightened beings come on a mission to rescue people from this world of illusion. They come to restore their perspective and teach them a way back to their authentic spirit.
To save a person is to raise them from this world of illusion.
Buddhists have the tenet that the only way to truly help a person is not to offer temporary comfort. Instead, they should raise them above the world of illusions.
If you read the message of Jesus Christ closely, it was clear that he was pointing people toward a certain reality. For example, He said the Kingdom of God is within you, yet another statement he said: Seek first this Kingdom of God and all its righteousness, then all these things shall be added to you.
By seeking to be the authentic self which is the Kingdom of God, everything that you want will be within your reach. Because all your authentic-self desires is all that you genuinely are.
What’s wrong with material wealth?
They say you cannot save two masters, well there is a good point in the statement.
In the modern world especially in developed countries, it is very difficult to live without some sort of material wealth. In India and other eastern countries, however, if a person wears a purple robe with an empty bowl, the community supports them by donating whatever they have. They do so because they are aware that these individuals have devoted their lives and are on the path to enlightenment.
The real reason they discourage material wealth is due to a lack of focus. Imagine if the CEO of a large company like Google or Apple also dedicated himself to enlightenment. In the middle of meditation, they receive a call, “The IRS has seized everything, you need to come quickly.” Well, you get the idea.
If a person is able to balance and let go of the attachment to material wealth then there is no need to physically abandon their wealth. This is because where your attention is that is where energy flows. And where your heart is that is where your treasure is.
Whenever a person dedicates themselves wholeheartedly to becoming their authentic self, that is the place where their heart is. It is also the place where their treasure is.
Should all of us renounce our material possessions?
Now, the big question is what about you and me? What about you who are right in the middle of this modern lifestyle? Should you quit your job, sell your house, and abandon everything then head to the caves to become enlightened?
Well, the answer depends on you and your quest to become your authentic self, because it is something you have to discover for yourself as all people are different. As I said earlier the point is attachment, as you can be a billionaire but not be attached to your material possessions. Sometimes material possessions could be the result of the unfolding of your authentic self.
When the pursuit of material possessions and anything below this authentic self becomes stronger to the point of obscuring your authentic self, then you have chosen the wrong path. This will suffocate your spirit.
Material Wealth and Spirituality
Should you give away your material wealth to those in need?
A lot of spiritual teachings such as Buddhism and Christianity, clearly discourage material wealth. Not just materialism but the accumulation of material wealth.
If you know a thing about Buddhism, most Buddhist monks own nothing but a robe and a bowl for begging food. They don’t seek to pursue anything of material wealth but devotion to their spiritual practice.
According to the Bible, one of the religious leaders came to him and asked him, “What shall I do to enter the Kingdom of God?”
Then Jesus answered, “Have you learned all the commandments?”
In response, he said, “Yes, I learned all of this as a child. What else do I lack?”
Then he continued “If you want to be righteous, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
What is spirit anyway?
By far the word spirit is very broad and vague. If you google “define spirit” there are over 15 different explanations of the word spirit. So, if we try to define spirituality then it becomes even more complicated because of the fact that the word spirit can mean a lot of different things to a variety of people.
However, all these variations of explanation really mean that a spirit is essentially a person. You are that spirit they have all been talking about. That also means your spirit, which is YOU, will continue to exist in one form or another when your body dies. There is a lot of confusion between the soul, consciousness, and spirit. If you ask me it all depends on the context.
So, basically, when a person is spiritual it implies that they are being as truthful as they can to their most authentic version of themselves. Then an illusion arises because this ‘self’ or ‘spirit’ begins to identify itself with something other than itself.
Enlightened beings
When the person or the spirit identifies itself with other things, it becomes very difficult for an individual to be their authentic self. This is when a person has fallen into the world of illusion, and they are lost.
That is when some enlightened beings come on a mission to rescue people from this world of illusion. They come to restore their perspective and teach them a way back to their authentic spirit.
To save a person is to raise them from this world of illusion.
Buddhists have the tenet that the only way to truly help a person is not to offer temporary comfort. Instead, they should raise them above the world of illusions.
If you read the message of Jesus Christ closely, it was clear that he was pointing people toward a certain reality. For example, He said the Kingdom of God is within you, yet another statement he said: Seek first this Kingdom of God and all its righteousness, then all these things shall be added to you.
By seeking to be the authentic self which is the Kingdom of God, everything that you want will be within your reach. Because all your authentic-self desires is all that you genuinely are.
What’s wrong with material wealth?
They say you cannot save two masters, well there is a good point in the statement.
In the modern world especially in developed countries, it is very difficult to live without some sort of material wealth. In India and other eastern countries, however, if a person wears a purple robe with an empty bowl, the community supports them by donating whatever they have. They do so because they are aware that these individuals have devoted their lives and are on the path to enlightenment.
The real reason they discourage material wealth is due to a lack of focus. Imagine if the CEO of a large company like Google or Apple also dedicated himself to enlightenment. In the middle of meditation, they receive a call, “The IRS has seized everything, you need to come quickly.” Well, you get the idea.
If a person is able to balance and let go of the attachment to material wealth then there is no need to physically abandon their wealth. This is because where your attention is that is where energy flows. And where your heart is that is where your treasure is.
Whenever a person dedicates themselves wholeheartedly to becoming their authentic self, that is the place where their heart is. It is also the place where their treasure is.
Should all of us renounce our material possessions?
Now, the big question is what about you and me? What about you who are right in the middle of this modern lifestyle? Should you quit your job, sell your house, and abandon everything then head to the caves to become enlightened?
Well, the answer depends on you and your quest to become your authentic self, because it is something you have to discover for yourself as all people are different. As I said earlier the point is attachment, as you can be a billionaire but not be attached to your material possessions. Sometimes material possessions could be the result of the unfolding of your authentic self.
When the pursuit of material possessions and anything below this authentic self becomes stronger to the point of obscuring your authentic self, then you have chosen the wrong path. This will suffocate your spirit.
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