How to be the Richest Person?

 The biggest obstacle to Self Realization is desire. Desire is known in the scriptures by various names in different religions. Satan in Christianity, Asuras or demons in Hinduism, Mara or desires in Buddhism. So why are these dreaded demons and what is it that make human beings run after them. If desire is so bad should we be inert desireless or should we desire something better in life?

 We are all driven by one urge in life to become Sat Chid Ananda. Sat stands for truth and  existence Chid for knowledge and consciousness and Ananda for eternal Bliss. All of us who exist are all the time striving to get true happiness represented by Purity, Love, Peace, happiness, Knowledge, Bliss and Power. We seek these things and strive to do this based on our nature and level of consciousness. 

Living under the influence of gross body we use the organs of perception in the form of eyes, ears, nose, mouth and skin to see, hear, smell, taste and feel. We go after what we like and run away from what we dislike. 

Living under the influence of the subtle mind we feel pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow and victory or defeat. Mind represents feelings and emotions which are not exactly tangible. 

Living under the influence of the subtler intellect we develop the ability to think and use our discriminative faculty to direct the future course of action. 

Is this so simple and neatly divided in real life? The answer is yes and no. The universe is pervaded by matter and spirit represented body-mind-intellect combination which dwells in the 3 levels of consciousness which in common parlance we call Waking, Dream state, Deep sleep state. These represent the external world, dream world and deep sleep world each of which appear real to the extent that we swear by them as certain truth. So the question we need to ask is that what we see in our sleep is it real or what we see when we get up is real. Also, is the deep sleep state real even though we do not see anything but realize its absence when we wake up. Human beings who possess an intellect have the capability of Self realization when we transcend the three states of consciousness to reach the fourth stage which is represented as Brahman or is also called Sat Chid Ananda. 

So with this background we come to the role of desires. The root cause of desires is mimetic that is we always have a strong thin desire to get what the other has even if we do not need it. Also as we age and mature we stop running after the toys and trinkets. Teenagers run after relationships and infatuations so we covet another persons love or compete with other to get attention and respect. As adults we run after name, fame and riches and covet what the other has. The cycle of acquisition and enjoyment is endless and as we go up the ladder we see that the re is still someone having more. As we grow older and start looking inwards we realize that all that we long for in the external world is temporary and ephemeral. What gives us lasting joy is the consciousness of the unity of creation which is represented by Brahman (Sat-Truth Chid-Consciousness Ananda-Bliss). Thus we live to achieve a higher purpose of existence. 

So what is the solution? Should one live a life of an ascetic and desire nothing? The answer lies in the middle path where we live in moderation and decide that we are richer than the richest for we have "enough", which the richest person in the world does not have. We can never give up or renounce anything in life all that we need to do is drop the lower and strive for the higher. The tools to be used at the level of body is Karma Yoga which is selfless actions. This is as opposed to selfish actions for self interest and unselfish actions for the welfare of immediate family. Bhakti Yoga at the level of mind is devoting all thoughts to the divine Lord by constantly having his name on our lips and in our mind consciousness. Finally Jnana Yoga realizing the unity of creation encapsulated in first verse of Isa Upanishad. 

All this whatsoever that moves in Prakṛti (does so because it) is indwelt by the Lord. Enjoy thou what He hath allotted to thee, and do not beg from any, (though he be a king), for wealth. Thus working you can live a hundred years with full freedom. 

The whole problem is that we live in a world full of stimuli related to the external. This starts from birth and everything is conditioned to encourage the tendency to fulfill one's desires. All the indulgences are encouraged and we are conditioned to believe that this will lead to happiness. It takes a few hard knocks or a clear sense of dissatisfaction with the state of affairs which leads man to search elsewhere.  The help of a spiritual teacher known as "Guru" which literally means one who removes the darkness of ignorance and replaces it with the light of knowledge is needed. The realization that there is a permanent state of consciousness which pervades all of creation animate and inanimate and that we are born in this world to enjoy only what you deserve and find joy in renunciation comes very slowly and and to very few persons. Thus one finds a higher purpose and live a fulsome life of 100 years. 

If ever proof of this is needed we find this in the Katha Upanishad. Passage named Perennial Joy   

The joy of the spirit ever abides,
But not what seems pleasant to the senses.
Both these, differing in their purpose, prompt us
To action. All is well for those who choose
The joy of the spirit, but they miss
The goal of life who prefer the pleasant.
Perennial joy or passing pleasure?
This is the choice one is to make always.
The wise recognize this, but not
The ignorant. The first welcome what leads to joy
Abiding, even though painful at the time.
The latter run, goaded by their senses,
After what seems immediate pleasure.
Well have you renounced these passing pleasures
So dear to the senses, Nachiketa,
And turned your back on the way of the world
Which makes mankind forget the goal of life.

Far apart are wisdom and ignorance:
The first leads one to Self-realization;
The second makes one more and more
Estranged from one’s real Self. I regard you,
Nachiketa, as worthy of instruction,
For passing pleasures tempt you not at all.

This passage is worth imbibing fully, which will enable us to be aware of the paradoxical nature of life in what seems pleasant to the senses immediately is unpleasant in the long run and the difficult unpleasant experiences in the short term lead us to permanent happiness. 

On a personal level we see very few who are aware of this, fewer still speak of it, and still fewer dedicate their lives to the attainment of Self realization. Finally there a few blessed ones who get the help of a self realized Guru to achieve a state of Union with Brahman. They are the richest persons of all. 

The writing of this passage is an attempt to get clarity on various aspects of Vedanta and the role of desires in life. The purpose of life is to become rich and all the riches of the world will be insignificant in comparison with the richness of Self Realization. Vedanta and meditation will ultimately lead to the union with Brahman. 

Vispi Jokhi