The True Possession - Becoming Rich in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
In the modern world, the measure of success is almost exclusively tied to one's bank balance and social standing. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while the karmī believes that happiness is found by transitioning from a poor man to a wealthy one, the actual goal of human life is to become spiritually rich. This article explores the unstable nature of material accumulation and the profound shift in perspective required to recognize Kṛṣṇa as the ultimate source of all opulence.
Motivation of the Material Show
Śrīla Prabhupāda observes that the primary driver for the intense labor required to accumulate money is often the desire for social recognition. A man works day and night to become rich primarily to show his success to his relatives and friends. However, this material calculation provides no lasting satisfaction. He notes that even if a person becomes a millionaire, they must labor equally hard to maintain that standard, often creating enemies and fueling rivalry. True richness is not found in the "show" of possessions but in the utilization of wealth for the service of the Lord.
- A man works very hard day and night to become rich just to make a show that, "My dear friends, my dear relatives, you see that how I have become now rich." This is the only purpose. Nobody is working hard for serving Krsna.
- Actually, that is the fact. We work so hard, accumulate money for showing to our relatives, to our friends: "Now, just see how I have become rich." But if they are all gone, then "Whom shall I show this kingdom?" thinking like ordinary worldly man.
- A poor man suffers for want of money, but if he wants to become rich, he has to struggle in so many ways. Actually that is not a valid counteracting process but a snare of the illusory energy.
Instability of Material Fortune
Material wealth is inherently temporary, governed by the laws of karma and the restless nature of the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that a wealthy family can easily become poor within a few generations, and a poor man can become rich through his past pious acts or current intelligence. Because this prosperity is adulterated with the threefold miseries of material life, it can never be a source of actual peace. He teaches that one should not be misguided into thinking that material engagements help in the fulfillment of the human mission, as fortune can be withdrawn by the Lord at any moment.
- Another name for Laksmi is Cancala, indicating that she does not stay in one place for a long time. Therefore, we see that a rich man's family sometimes becomes poor after a few generations, and sometimes we see that a poor man's family becomes very rich.
- According to the law of karma, a man takes his birth in a high family, or becomes rich, or very well educated, or very beautiful because of good work in the past.
- Although the purpose of life is to become spiritually rich, unfortunate men, misguided as they are, are always engaged in trying to become materially rich. Such material engagements, however, do not help one in the actual fulfillment of the human mission.
A Personal Realization on Wealth and Preaching
Śrīla Prabhupāda shares a significant personal lesson regarding his own early years in the mission of his spiritual master. When he was twenty-five years old, he initially believed that he must first become a rich man so that he could use his money to finance the preaching work. However, he later understood that the transcendental science does not depend on such material prerequisites. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is open to everyone, and the poorest of the poor can satisfy the Lord with a simple leaf, flower, or fruit. The real qualification is not a Ph.D. or a high bank balance, but a sincere and true desire to serve.
- My Guru Maharaja ordered me when I was twenty-five years old that, "You go and preach." But I thought, "First of all, I shall become a rich man, and I shall use that money for preaching work." So that's a long history.
- When you engage yourself in the service of Lord - Krsna, I want to serve You - this much wanted, qualification. No educational qualification, no Ph.D. degree or to take birth in very high family or to become rich. Nothing. Simply a true feeling, desire.
- Any saintly person would come, my father would simply say, "Give blessings to my son that he may become a Radharani's servant." That was my father's prayer. He never prayed that "My son may become very rich man."
Conclusion
The attempt to become rich through material endeavor is ultimately an attempt to possess what already belongs to Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that we should shift our focus toward becoming spiritually wealthy by identifying ourselves as servants of the Lord. When Kṛṣṇa becomes a person's only claim and possession, they find a level of happiness that no amount of material gold can provide. By abandoning the desire to "make a show" and instead dedicating our intelligence and energy to the Supreme, we reach the actual fulfillment of the human mission and find a permanent treasure that transcends birth and death.
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 Becoming Rich. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.