GRATITUDE IS ABIDING WEALTH

Who does not want to own great wealth in this world?We all strive for that one yard more ,that one million more,that one limo at least.Who does not want to be admired,emulated and possibly envied?Like the English band,Tears for Fears,sang “every body wants to rule the world”.

GLIMMER OF WEALTH

However the essence of real wealth is deep contentment,an abiding satisfaction. Affluence,real wealth, is  a  conviction  that all is well with us.It is a pleasant feeling that refuses to pale before ostentation. It reflects profound confidence instead of fickle comparisons.

Like the English band ,Tears for Fears, sang “Every Body Wants to Rule the World”.

Wealth is that which urges us to acknowledge,and count our prevailing good as a blessing.It calls out to us to thank the universe for allowing us to exist with confidence ,with power.Our pleasant memories ,our dearest experiences,our  infinite possibilities are our true wealth.Our wisdom to recognize the essence of this abundance is the true wealth.

“I'd like to live as a poor man with lots of money.” 
-Pablo Picasso

Materially one maybe existing in dismal penury and yet he may be guided by a mysterious inner power,replete with contentment. Such a one may even bring succor to another in tribulation. On the other hand you may encounter  another person living in opulence, still burdened under the weight of  disenchantment, disgruntlement, and a poor spirit. The vice versa Is equally true, and myriad examples do thrive.

THE DREAM CAR

In-spite of  infinite permutations in the status of wealth, people will invariably be  counted among the rich or the poor simply  based on the wealth within their souls rather than their treasure chests. Yes this is entirely possible in the spiritual domain.

There is no running water either.There is no bathroom,no toilet.The sun beats on their heads during the merciless summers...

HARDLY A SHELTER

I want to share this tale in real life.

Sukoon  is a ten year old child who lives in abject  poverty with her family in one of the many slums of the third world. The irony is, they live in a shanty near  a posh neighbourhood in a bustling industrial city.Surprisingly, in this day of cutting edge technology and electronic gizmos, the child  does not have access to  a television set.Infact she has never seen a TV yet.She has no electricity in the shanty she lives in,save the street light on the pavement nearby.There is no running water either.There is no bathroom,no toilet.The sun beats on their heads during the merciless summers.Winters are shivered  through and  best forgotten.The whole family answers nature’s call in the  wee hours of the morning.Purely to shroud their tattered dignity with the fast dwindling hours of the dark night. If she falls ill  her father,a roadside labourer,begs and borrows a pittance to pay for her treatment.Their food is not frugal.It’s a feast.Every time.Simply because they have so less of it most days.

“Wealth is the slave of a wise man. The master of a fool ” 
- Licius Annaeus Seneca

A RADIANT SMILE

It’s a treat to speak to the kid because she is so full of life.Full of hope,and full of gratitude .For her every thing that she receives, which  uncommon in  her world ,is a gift which fills her with joy.Her smile lights up the darkness of her shanty.The most striking facet  is the humble dignity with which she conducts herself at a tender age.

Funnily,poverty, does not seem to have touched her.

Perhaps the values we assimilate, the attitudes we adopt towards  life, date back to  a tender time in life.

Now the only thing that stirs me to mention this is that I personally know of many kids who are far, far better off than this child of god, yet they  are unhappy,and pull long faces. Incidentally  I know of many such grown ups as well!

Perhaps the values we assimilate, the attitudes we adopt towards  life, date back to  a tender time in life.Yet it is never too late to recognize the real wealth we are endowed with.It is always early when you start being a good human being.And a good human is one who is affluent.Deep within.Not just in the exterior material sense.He is kind to himself.He is generous to his own self .He allows himself the freedom to experience his real affluence.

SURELY YOU ARE DRAWING OUT OF LIFE ALL THAT IT HAS TO OFFER ?