5.4 Wealth, Power and Knowledge – can we get through their effects

All of us try to acquire Knowledge, Wealth and/or Power all through our lives. Also, we never rest content with a good measure of Wealth and Power which is sufficient for an exemplary or exalted living or even an essential life.

We seem to be swayed by the magic mantra, ‘more the better’; consequently, we develop obsession (while acquiring/authoring), attachment (during association/possession) and ostentation (during application/consumption).

No wonder, noble qualities (e.g. ethics) get eclipsed by dishonest practices (e.g. cheating), finer sentiments (e.g. affability) by hard-feelings (e.g. animosity) and facts (e.g. understanding) by fantasy (e.g. delusion).

They can turn a man into a maniac and a sage into a savage.

Why are we so passionate about them?   

Created beings are endowed with three innate qualities – Knowledge Power (Jnana Shakti), Willing Power (Iccha Shakti) and Creative Power (Kriya Shakti). They are represented by the troika of Goddesses – Saraswati (representing Knowledge), Laxmi (representing Wealth/Desires) and Parvati (representing (Creative) Power).

Acquiring Knowledge, Wealth and Power is considered, in a positive sense, a sign of blessing/benediction of the respective Goddesses. In a negative sense, it indicates Ego’s obsession for ambition, assertion and accomplishments. 

No wonder, everyone seeks them even if it means losing peace of mind and accruing Karma of action en route.

Possession of Wealth (Artham): Most people want Wealth and Beauty because both the possession and the possessor are highly visible in the society. They also consider them essential for the fulfillment of Desires (Kamam).

People consider them as the most important thing for the life ‘here’. They are the most sought after by the seekers of pleasures.

The paradox with Wealth is that it is never attached to anybody for too long though its possessor feels highly attached to it. It ‘stands’ ready to go out (of our life) any moment. Similarly beauty never remains beautiful forever.

Possession of Knowledge (Jnanam): Possession of Knowledge is ‘invisible’; hence, it has few takers. It is the most important thing to possess for the life ‘hereafter’. 

Hence it is the most sought after thing by the seekers of Liberation (Mumukshus). Also, once acquired, Knowledge always ‘sits down’ in the heart of the ‘possessor’.

Possession of Power (Shakthi): Desire for possession of Power and position is in between. It is because Power in its kinetic form is visible but in its potential form is invisible. Power once acquired either remains ‘dormant’ (potential) or finds an ‘expression’ (kinetic).

What are the pitfalls in acquiring them by unfair means or possessing them in excess of needs?

Power is the cause for arrogance (Darpa) and accompanying anger (Krodha);

Wealth/desire is the cause for greed (Lobha) and accompanying jealousy (Matsarya);

Knowledge is the cause for pride (Vidya Mada) and accompanying delusion (Moha).

The means to acquire them is as important as the end. Wealth, per se, does not stink, but the means employed definitely does. Even the most prosperous/ powerful/ learned person, if devoid of values, falls to a lower class due to his wicked designs. Such a one can never secure high esteem by fellow-beings here in this life, leave alone reserving his place in heaven hereafter in the next life!

How do we control the mania for acquiring/ possessing/ administering them?

This affliction is not new or limited to an individual or human race alone.

During the days of yore, the three children of God, viz. Demons (Asuras), Humans (Maanav) and Celestials (Devas), while departing at the end of their tutelage, approached the Creator (Prajapati) for the final lesson^BU. Unto them, the Creator solemnly declared, ‘Da’.

The Demons understood it to mean ‘Dayaatvam (Mercy)’, as they are basically cruel/ inconsiderate to their fellow-beings.

The Humans assumed it to mean ‘Daanam (Sharing)’, as they are basically greedy with acquisitions/ possessions.

The Celestials believed it to mean ‘Daamyatvam (Self-Control)’, as they are basically indiscreet/ un-restrained in their enjoyment.

Extending the logic further, Demoniacal and Divine qualities are very much part of human behavior. In fact, a human being exhibits all the three qualities, viz. demoniacal, human and divine, in disparate measures and in diverse situations. Hence, the advice of the Creator is primarily addressed to only/all human beings!

What are these values?

If we are to achieve Creator’s counsel, then we have to have certain values/norms with respect to acquisition of Wealth, Power and Knowledge, which pervade and permeate every deed, speech and thought of ours.

Wealth needs to be acquired, if one were to feel secure, enjoy righteous comforts and contribute to welfare of society. 

Desiring/usurping what belongs to others, not participating in generation of wealth which can help others, or hoarding/denying what are rightfully others is the vilest of crimes. Un-checked desires/ greed give rise to moral decadence and break-down of social order!!

Wealth is the means to keep the Wheel of Creation, a divine intent of Lord, in eternal motion (the reason why Vishnu, the Lord of the wheel, is married to Laxmi, the Goddess of Wealth).

Wealth needs to be accompanied/ complemented by Charity/ Philanthropy (Daanam). 

Charity/philanthropy implies giving, but more importantly an attitude of sharing what we are endowed with – sharing our advantage with others and others’ disadvantages with us. 

It means sharing our positives (e.g. assets and aptitudes) with others and others negatives (e.g. physical/ emotional/ intellectual disadvantages) with us!

Power needs to be acquired, if one were to command respect and enforce order. Blind power (that is power with arrogance) corrupts and absolute power (that is power without kindness) absolutely corrupts, besides a surfeit of similar sins.

Power needs to be supplemented/ tempered with Compassion (Dayaatvam). Kindness is best practiced as Non-Violence (Ahimsa). 

It is not only non-cruelty to animals, but also compassion/ empathy/ reaching-out to down-trodden/ suffering/ lesser-privileged fellow-beings!!

Knowledge needs to be acquired, if we are to get over ignorance which blinds our path in secular as well as spiritual pursuits. Life is a tangled web. If due care and abundant caution are not exercised, we can get entwined in its machinations.

Knowledge, if not moderated/directed by Discipline/ Control/ Prudence (Daamyatvam), gives rise to pride (Vidya Mada). Pride makes us treat lesser motals with disdain. It also makes us non-receptive to more/ different knowledge.

Besides, indiscriminate application of knowledge (especially with ulterior motive or for destructive purpose) doesn’t help in forward movement of Wheel of Creation. Knowledge is the ark with which we can negotiate life’s curves and currents.

Knowledge needs to be channeled/ applied for personal, social and humanity’s progress. It means acquiring (Vichara) as well as practicing (Aachara) it.  

Also, the baton of Knowledge (Vidya) and its succeeding refinements, viz. Wisdom (Vivekam) and Understanding (Jnanam), needs to be passed on/ taught (Prachara) to befitting pupils for the benefit of future generations.

The ultimate purpose of Knowledge is that it shines so bright that a swathe of humanity finds enlightenment from the darkness of existence!!!

Can we transcend them forever?

Acquiring of Wealth is tempered by Charity and its possession transcended by Detachment (Asangmam). 

We acquire Wealth in a fair and just manner, without hurting the hand that bequeaths or harming the environment which bestows.

The quantum accumulated is just sufficient to meet our immediate and foreseen needs, as well as that of our dependent family and society. As far as possible, we should be a net contributor – giving more than what we take from the society.

Acquiring of Power is tempered by Kindness and its administration transcended by Dispassion (Vairagyam): Power is wielded in the role of a custodian.

It is exercised for enforcing order in the society, but the execution is always just and as per a socially-accepted norm (Dharma). 

Also, it means not deriving advantage of our power/position for a personal gain, or causing pain to one who is at a disadvantage.

Acquiring of Knowledge is tempered by Discipline (Daamyatvam) and its application transcended by Discrimination.

Knowledge, especially its more enlightened aspects, viz. Wisdom (Vivekam) and Understanding (Jnanam), should be sharp and bright enough to discriminate between good (Shreyas) and pleasant (Preyas) (in the phenomenal world) and real (Paramarthika) and apparent (Vyavaharika) (in the noumenal sphere).

Thus,

Once Wealth is accumulated/ enjoyed with a sense of detachment, our very life becomes a sacrifice (Yajna).

Once Power is administered with dispassion (Vairagyam), actions do not bind us; nor does sin taint us.

Once Knowledge is acquired/applied for discriminating (Vivekam) and pursuing the good (Nivritti), we have no more births.

We stand liberated even in this very life.