Money is that which enables material transactions in life. Man has created a market place which enables the demand and supply of goods and services. From a purely utilitarian point of view money is the means of obtaining that which can be bought. Naturally, when we talk about money, we are talking about that which is bought (the Purchased) and the means (Money). For the Money and the Purchased to exist there is Cause that brings about the purchase. The Cause can be Need based or Want based. When the Cause if Need based normally it depends on Time, Place and/or Situation. For example, with the advent of monsoon I need an umbrella. When the Cause if Want based then although Time, Place and/or Situation can be a trigger, it is my desire that prompt me to act. For example, I may buy things which I may not need but I crave to have them because of my desire for them.
Money is a means, a tool that enables. It has nothing to do with how we got the money, what it is used for and what it represents. What is the meaning of money in life means different things for different people. To some it could be a means of survival, some comfort, others luxury and other an object of obsession in itself. Money unlike electricity which is also an enabler can bring about great effect on people and circumstances. It can be a source of gratitude, comfort, security or invoke greed. My response to money is a direct reflection of my own state of being – whether propelled by Need or Want. It is not the money that has the power in itself, it is our mind that is drawn, engaged, enamoured and trapped in its own fancy on account of making the money and all the objects of desire it represents.
When there is an object of desire, it is always about us. It is because we exist in the mind-body complex limited by ‘I’, ‘Me’ and ‘Mine’, we reduce everything within the realms of our cognition into an Object – thereby living a fractured and fragmented life at all time. With each desire, comes the feverishness want its satisfaction. Although elation even though momentary is experienced with the obtaining of the desired, it paves way for the onset of storm of emotions ranging fear, anger, greed, jealousy, pride, lust, thereby creating a disturbed, fragmented and polarized mind.
Money is something that we all have to work for and even if its bestowed on us – its to be revered with gratitude. Once we are able to understand the significance of money as an enabler at a material plane, our approach to it is naturally of respect and gratitude. Then we are respectful both to receive money, to use it and give it. Such state is naturally spontaneous and propelled as Need based as opposed to Want based, thereby bringing about a natural response to circumstances with equanimity of state of being.
State of reverence and gratitude for everything in life including money transforms everything about us. We are free from the shackles of ignorance of ‘I’, ‘Me’ and ‘Mine’. The fear, anger, greed, jealousy, pride, lust is transformed into love, compassion, generosity, righteousness. Then, purity of the Self shines through naturally as an expression of a life of gratitude.