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The Illusion of Wealth

A spiritual discourse on the impermanence of wealth and worldly attachment.

"When we die, it does not matter how much money, property, or jewels you possess; nothing will go with you."

"If money comes, it is very good. Spend it on good things... If money does not come, it is also very good. You do not have to worry."

The speaker delivers a teaching on the transient nature of material riches, emphasizing that wealth is tied to destiny from past lives and cannot be taken after death. Using the biblical account of Jesus in the temple and a parable about a merchant repeatedly robbed for his wife's displayed jewelry, the discourse cautions against making money a false god and reveals how attachment to wealth breeds conflict and suffering.

When we are born, we bring nothing with us—not a piece of cloth, no money, nothing. We bring only our destiny, and destiny is a very peculiar thing. Riches or poverty are brought from one's past life. And when we die, it does not matter how much money, property, or jewels you possess; nothing will go with you. Everything will be taken away by others. Therefore, great saints have always said, "Do not run after money." Money is the cause of many wars, crimes, and conflicts. I recall that in Israel, in front of the temple, people were trading and exchanging with gold and money. I think Jesus said there, "You think money is God, but do not believe in these gods." That is the truth. There is only one God, and that is different. Yet for many people, money is God. It is very interesting when a particular time comes in life where you are suddenly brought down, whether from a high position or a low one. So if money comes, it is very good. Spend it on good things. Do something good. If money does not come, it is also very good. You do not have to worry. After your death, no one will fight over the inheritance. Do you know how much money lawyers earn from such disputes? Brothers and sisters become enemies just for a small house from their grandmother. There was a small village where a merchant lived. He had a shop and was a businessman with a little more money. He bought his wife nice jewelry: earrings, necklaces, rings. Mostly, ladies demonstrate how rich their husbands are. Yes, otherwise, a man does not show how rich he is. Thanks to the ladies that they displayed it, so at night thieves came. At that time, there was no alarm system, no police, no telephones. They were very rude to this businessman. They took everything—all the jewelry—and they wore masks. After two years, she had beautiful jewelry again. So again, the thieves came and took everything. Within a year, she had jewelry again, and they came again. Five times they came, and every time they stole everything, forcing him to show where his treasure was, otherwise they would pour petrol on them and set them on fire. Six times the thieves came. Well, you know, they are the guests of the rich people. The poor sleep anywhere; except for mosquitoes, nobody comes to them. So, six times they came, and they said to this merchant, "Well, this time we will not take anything away. We did not come to steal anything. We now have a feeling of mercy towards you."

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:

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