Get Rich Quick

Once, I met an 82-year-old retired banker. We conversed about his life journey, the ups and downs, the twists and turns, and the pearls of wisdom that he had acquired in the process. The conversation came to the topic of money. He looked at me and exclaimed, “After all these years I have found the sure way to become rich!” Intrigued, I gave him my full attention. “Most people think that you have to earn a lot of money to become rich” he said, “but actually they’ve got it all wrong!” “So what’s the secret?” I eagerly enquired. “The secret is not to earn lots of money, but just be downright sure you don’t spend any of it!” Interesting perspective indeed! While financial investors may dispute his miserly mentality, I instead reflected on the spiritual significance of his words.

From one spiritual perspective, his statement was insightful. On our life journey we gather so much spiritual wealth and credit through our daily practices, study of wisdom, service to others and acts of worship. When we live around spiritual people and associate within a devotional community it’s inevitable that we are regularly drawn into spiritually rewarding acts. We earn considerable spiritual credit often without even being aware of it. Unfortunately, we may be unknowingly squandering that wealth through our negligence and insensitivity in other areas. If we are critical and judgmental, speak harshly and fail in our consideration of others, or fall prey to carnal desires and material temptations, we end up ‘spending’ our wealth and stunting our spiritual growth. Thus, by following the basic spiritual practices and remaining conscious and alert to avoid impulsive, insensitive and offensive acts, we can become spiritually rich very quickly.

So what are the offences towards other devotees that we have to be mindful of?

Internal Offences – these are the negative and unfavourable thoughts we may habour against others. We may neither express nor act on them, and they don’t yield any reaction per se, but are nevertheless dangerous because they are often the beginning of bigger things. Lingering thoughts tend to manifest in words and actions.

Unknowing Offences – these are offensive acts which are performed unknowingly, and which one is completely oblivious to. Someone is offended by us and we don’t even know. Such offences go unseen from our perspective, but the fact that others have been disrespected, means there will be a reaction in our life.

Inadvertent Offences – sometimes we act in ways where we inadvertently offend someone. Seeing their disapproval, we can always seek clarity and forgiveness, and in this way resolve any issues before they evolve into something bigger. A devotee is always ready to take the humble position and apologise when necessary.

Deliberate Offences – these are the most severe of all, where we intentionally speak or act in a way which causes others to become agitated or disturbed. Such transgression is the opposite of Krishna’s observation in the Bhagavad-gita that “A devotee is he by whom nobody is put into difficulty” (BG 12.15).

Though we can always justify our acts and argue that others are being unreasonable, a devotee is extra careful when it comes to offences, knowing that any misjudgment can be critically dangerous. If we see each one of these offences, though they vary in severity, they all have their root in a lack of sensitivity. In spiritual life, as we attempt to make the shift from selfishness to selflessness, one key quality required in the transition phase is sensitivity. While we still function in the world with the mentality that we are at the centre, the potential for offence will be very high. As we learn to be more sensitive to the needs, feelings and well-being of others, we not only guard ourselves against offence, but begin to experience much more satisfying relationships.