Rich or poor, everyone has the opportunity to live a life rich in “Spirit”!

I came across the following passage in one of the weekly messages I receive through email. Referring to Sri Sarada Devi, commonly referred to as Holy Mother: “She pointed to the slum and said: “Look, these people work very hard the entire day for their livelihood, and now they are relaxing with their families. Blessed are the poor in spirit!” Sarajubala commented: “This reminded me of what I read in the Bible, Jesus’ own words: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ Source: Sri Sarada Devi: A Divine Life in Pictures, by Swami Chetanananda; Chapter 17 –  Days in Udbodhan p 187

Reflecting on the above, it will be tempting to suggest that one should be poor to gain the benefits of spirituality, or being poor may be the easier pathway to reach the Lord’s abode, the Kingdom of heaven. These temptations may be reinforced when we see images of saints and spiritual leaders and their monastic way of life, with their minimal possessions. It also reinforces the view that spirituality in practice is for a limited few and it is only to be observed from a distance and admired by most of us! Anecdotes of observation of the poor in high spirits and limitless joy and cheer may be used to decry and dissuade others who are ambitious to succeed and make greater strides in their chosen pathways and avenues of life!

There is a contradiction between the adoration of the poor and their higher levels of spiritual attainment vs. perceived reality of their plight to survive the daily ordeals imposed by the cruelties of poverty? The answer requires a clarity in our understanding of “what is Spirituality?” and how does it translate as “Spirituality in Practice?” We have addressed these two questions on many occasions in our earlier posts, Let us recap them briefly here:

Spirituality is the frame of mind that sees the self as one with nature (Sarvam Brahma Mayam). It also implies that our existence , reflected by our consciousness, the driving force (the spirit) is nothing but nature (Prajnanam Brahma). These are the axioms or Grand Pronouncements of Vedic Philosophy. 

Being an integral part of nature implies that our mind recognizes no differences of any kind! All are one and the same – all parts of nature! We see many different species of plants – big and small, low lying grass and tall trees with many branches and large leaves, etc. – but we collectively recognize them as forest, part of nature. This broad and all encompassing view - where sameness is recognized and differences are put aside - on anything, is an outcome of “Spirituality in Practice”. Such SiP is rooted in non-attachment, not being inalienably connected to anything! Hence SiP is inversely related to our connections to personal possessions (attachments). Less our attachments to our physical possessions, emotions, thoughts and ideas and their inferiority or superiority, the more we are unattached; the more we are “Spiritual”. Our actions, emotions and thoughts reflect that (Spirituality in Practice). 

Now let us return to the plight of the rich and poor. 

It is logical to infer that poor are those with less possessions to claim as their own. They may find it easier to live a life of greater non-attachment. In addition to their minimal physical possessions, they might also have fewer opportunities for emotional entanglements or liberty to dwell on intellectual gyrations! Their daily struggles to survive physically leaves little room for these options, the playingfield of the mind! 

Thus one can see poverty as an enabler for limited need to control our mind over matter. Hence poverty might appear as an easier pathway to remain unattached or spiritual.This is reflected in the quote from Divine Mother, mentioned earlier: “these people work very hard the entire day for their livelihood, and now they are relaxing with their families. Blessed are the poor in spirit!” “.

Rich are those who are fortunate to have grown out of poverty by birth or through personal success. Their material affluence has increased. This greater affluence brings with it a torrent of attachments – such as my house, family, children and their better living, car(s), travel, money, etc.  These attachments further the quest to seek more of these and the emotional and intellectual attachments that come from it. Ownership of greater wealth also brings with it moral issues of how to help others, how much, are their needs truly met or not, etc. It is this emotional attachment and care for others that is the root of many religions and social service activities! In this avalanche of attachment driven life, the “rich” become less and less spiritual (i.e.) to  live the life of non-attachment and the grandeur of “Everything is one and the same - all part of nature (Sarvam Brahma Mayam)”. Caught in this torment of attachments for what we have (physical, emotional and Intellectual) and inability to step away from these through non-attachment, most us – the “rich” – live a life of “poverty” in our Spiritual outlook and in our practice of Spirituality in life! This is the conundrum of human beings! Is this the “Maya” – illusion referred to in Vedic Philosophy?

“Spirituality” and its richness is accessible equally for the rich as well as the poor – measured in terms of non-attachment to our physical possessions. Looking beyond that, we need relentless practice of non-attachment in our emotions and intellectual outcomes (thoughts, ideas, views, etc.). Those whom we consider “poor” may be tuned better for their non-attachment in their emotional and intellectual realms and hence they may be seen as more “Spiritual”? Those we consider “rich” may be burdened with their attachments to their physical possession. Added to that will be the emotional attachments and burdens of attachments to their intellectual perspectives and outcomes. This inability or lack of control of our mind, may also be our downfall towards being less “Spiritual”? This might be the plight of the “rich” – the economically advanced?  Perhaps this is what we witness as political upheaval, lack of religious harmony, growing fundamentalism in many nations, even as they grow to become economically advanced nations of the world?