Material Success and Spiritual Progress

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Material Success and Spiritual Progress

The Bhagavad Gita tells us that where

there is God's Grace coupled with

human effort, "there will be Wealth,

Victory, Greatness and Justice. "

Once, in the midst of a speech, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba told this Chinna

Katha (little story): Two men were travelling through a desert-like place one

hot afternoon. They became very thirsty, but there was no source of water

anywhere around as far as they could see - except a single coconut tree with a

cluster of coconuts at the top. Neither of the men knew how to climb such

trees, though they had seen others doing so. Fortunately, near by, there was

some rope and a curved knife, evidently left by some absent tree-climber.

The first man said, "I have never climbed a coconut tree before, but I have seen

people doing it. So, 1 will do my best, and with the Grace of God hope to reach

the coconuts at the top and quench my thirst with the coconut water." The other

man said, (he was evidently quite dehydrated and so in deluded state)"Oh! That

is too difficult and risky! I can think of a much simpler way to quench my

thirst! Why climb up the tree? I will walk on the shadow of the tree and pluck

a shadow coconut."

So the first man climbed up the tree, albeit with some difficulty, and getting

bruised in his brave venture. He plucked the coconuts and quenched his thirst.

And the second man? He walked on the tree's shadow, plucked the shadow coconut

and tried to quench his thirst! Of course, he failed, in spite oft repeated

attempts.

Baba has said that the tree represents spirituality and its shadow represents

material life and success. The spiritual man has difficulties – but ultimately

he succeeds in quenching his thirst for true love, abiding happiness, and

peace. What is more interesting, is that as the man climbs up, his shadow also

climbs up the shadow tree, and as he plucks and drinks from the coconut, his

shadow also plucks the shadow coconut and drinks from it!

In other words, the truly spiritual man gains spiritually as well as materially!

But a man who depends upon material success only, is under the illusion that he

gets love, happiness, peace and wisdom.

He may get recognition for his possessions, temporary pleasures for his senses,

and a lot of information – but he doesn't gain the wisdom that brings about

transformation of the heart and the heart-felt peace that is true success.

Unfortunately, there is a wide-spread misunderstanding that spiritual progress

is indicated by excessive simplicity, if not material poverty. Indeed, many

people ask why Baba wears silken robes and travels in costly cars. They would

prefer to see Him in a rough cotton robe, living in a hut and walking to

places. And perhaps He should also beg for His food. All that is so because of

the mistaken notion that spiritual greatness is necessarily accompanied by

worldly impoverishment.

Although some saints and prophets chose to live in a humble way, in the Bible it

is said: “There should be no poor among you, for in the land the Lord your God

is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, if only

you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all the commands I am

giving you to-day." (Deut 15:4) In proverbs (22:4) it says: "Humility and fear

of the Lord bring wealth and honour and life."Proverbs 3:9 also exhort you to

"honour the Lord with your wealth" – not poverty! In the Bhagavad Gita,(18:78)

we find the concluding verse assuring us that where there is God's Grace and

human effort, "there will be Wealth, Victory, Greatness and Justice."

What the saints and scriptures warn about is the enslavement of man to wealth,

success and the ways of the world. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa constantly warned

people not to be lured by supernatural powers that accrue due to spiritual

progress, but continue the sadhana until one reaches the Goal: God-realisation.

Indeed, spiritual progress brings about material welfare and success so often,

that there is a constant warning to be aware of the possibility of becoming a

slave to the prosperity that will be a consequence of spiritual progress. One

is exhorted to be simple, with a minimum of desires, so that one knows how to

'put' the brakes on' when one gets success, comfort and fame. To helpthe

followers in the beginning stages, the masters donned simple garments and ate

simple food. But read about Jesus being anointed at Bethany with costly

perfume. He was not against it, but his disciples were against

it because they had not fully understood Him.

Once Baba admonished an office-bearer of the samithi for travelling by air to

Delhi from Madras and wasting money. And He continued: "You could have

travelled comfortably in first class by train because you had enough time and

it would have been cheaper."

Note that Baba did not advise him to go by second class. He is not against

legitimate comforts which facilitate good work, but only against unnecessary

luxury and waste. Similarly, Spiritual Masters are not against wealth per se,

but only against being entrapped by it.

No one need court poverty (unless advised by their Master for their own lessons)

in the name of spiritual progress; and we need not think that spiritual success

results in material failure. Just lead a genuinely spiritual life under the

guidance of a genuine spiritual master and harmonise the inner wealth of Peace,

Love, Compassion and Valour with the appropriate usage of external wealth.

Source:

http://www.sailightandlove.org/arteng_material.htm

COLLECTION: PREETHAM SAI P.V.

MANGALORE,INDIA.