Dangers of Desiring Money in Material Existence

This article explores the spiritual perils associated with the intense desire for wealth. It examines the insatiable nature of greed, the anxiety inherent in protecting accumulated riches, and the liberating perspective of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, who, as Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes, teaches that true peace is found only when one abandons the pursuit of material gain.

Insatiable Nature of Greed

The desire for money is often described as limitless. For the materialist, there is no point of saturation; the more one has, the more one wants. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that this unending drive for accumulation is a symptom of a demoniac mentality, forcing the living entity into a life of hard labor without any spiritual profit.

• The demoniac man knows no limit to his desire to acquire money. That is unlimited.
• The karmis have no end to their desires. "Bring money, bring money, bring money, bring money." You have seen. You have got good experience in your country. Millionaires, multi-millionaires, still working hard.
• Money is so dear that one conceives of money as being sweeter than honey. Therefore, who can give up the desire to accumulate money, especially in household life.

Anxiety and the Burden of Protection

A practical analysis of wealth reveals that it is the root cause of fear and lamentation. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the moment one acquires money, the anxiety of how to protect it begins. Intelligence, according to the scriptures, is shown by giving up the source of this unnecessary labor and fear—specifically the desire for prestige and wealth.

• One can give up the desire to accumulate wealth simply by considering how difficult it is to protect the money in one's possession. If one keeps a large amount of cash with him, he is always anxious about keeping it properly.
• Those in human society who are intelligent should give up the original cause of lamentation, illusion, fear, anger, attachment, poverty and unnecessary labor. The original cause of all of these is the desire for unnecessary prestige and money.

The Illusory Pursuit

The acquisitions that come from money—houses, lands, and social prominence—are ultimately illusory. They are compared to phantasmagoria or dreams, lacking permanent reality. Even those on the spiritual path must be vigilant, as the deep-rooted attraction to these illusory benefits can attack a neophyte devotee.

• The desires for acquiring a house, possessing land, having children and becoming prominent in society, the affection for community and the place of birth, and the hankering for wealth, are all like phantasmagoria or illusory dreams.
• A neophyte devotee is certain to be attacked by other material desires as well, namely desires for women and money.

Standard of Pure Devotion

In direct contrast to the materialistic worldview, Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu offers the prayer of pure devotion. He explicitly rejects the accumulation of wealth (nā dhanam), demonstrating that the perfection of life is not found in economic development but in the causeless service of the Supreme Lord.

• Lord Caitanya prays: Oh almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor to enjoy beautiful women. Neither do I want any followers. What I want only is the causeless mercy of your devotional service in my life, birth after birth.

Conclusion

Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that the desire for money is a powerful shackle that binds the living entity to the material world through fear, anxiety, and endless labor. While the accumulation of wealth is "sweeter than honey" to the senses, it is poison to spiritual advancement. By following the footsteps of Lord Caitanya and cultivating intelligence, one can see through the phantasmagoria of material riches and seek the only true wealth: devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Desiring Money. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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