Wealth and economic development have some value and sustainability only if they are seen in connection with God, writes Radhanath Swamiji
In the Chanakya Sutras, we find it said: “Arthasampatprakratisampadakaroti.” (“Economic prosperity of the state creates prosperity for the people”). The creation of physical wealth, economic assets, or prosperity is an important part of societal development and it would be a mistake for spiritualists to deny it. But money, it is not honey. Unlike honey, the taste of money is not always sweet.
Many songwriters and poets have sung about money not fulfilling many things. Money cannot bring you love, money cannot bring you happiness, money cannot bring you friends. But still, as the days go by, money seems to have become more and more important, to the extent that people have begun to equate money with happiness — globally.
All you hear about, apart from terrorism, is economics and economic development. That’s the only subject discussed at different forums within our nation’s Governments and media, as if it were that one panacea, that one mantra, that can solve all problems. This is lopsided development, where the spiritual side is neglected and only the material side, especially the economic side, is emphasised unduly and unnecessarily.
Some years ago, a wealthy businessman, one of the wealthiest in the world, was interviewed on an American television programme, after which he was asked, “Thank you for this most wonderful interview. But I have one final question. If God were to appear in front of you...” — and the interviewer sprung this question out of the blue, somehow bringing God into the picture as opposed to mundane business — “If God were to suddenly appear before you, what would you ask him forIJ” The gentleman replied, “A little happiness.” We can guess that there wasn’t much happiness in his life and therefore he wanted just a little. like this, many people miss the point of life and never taste anything superior to the enjoyment of money and possessions.
Shrila Prabhupada used to give a beautiful analogy. He said that basically because everything in this world is perishable, it is like zero; it doesn’t have any lasting value. Our wealth is one big zero, our social prestige is one big zero and our physical beauty is one big zero. If you have one zero after another, it doesn’t require a graduate degree in mathematics to understand that the result is still zero. All such material qualifications simply add up to zero because they will all ultimately be destroyed.
But Shrila Prabhupada said if you add Krishna, God, who is like the number one in your life, then that number one is what will give value to all the other zeros. When that number one is there and you add the zero of wealth, then it becomes 10; it is very valuable. Similarly, if you add all the other zeros, one by one, they multiply hundred-fold, thousand-fold and so on. Because you have added the most valuable person or object, then all the other facets of your life also increase.
Therefore, artha or wealth and economic development have some value and sustainability only if they are seen in connection with God. Otherwise it is like one of those bubbles of foam that appear in the waves of the ocean that burst and then disappear forever.
Many wealthy people have appeared in this world and many have disappeared, never to be heard of again. What then is the value of this economic development in and of itselfIJ For this reason, the Vedic culture trains people in the art of detachment — detachment for what would inevitably be taken away from us by force by the laws of nature, including our health, our family, our wealth and our very body itself. All these things are transitory and temporary. They will be with us for a while and then leave us.
The most profitable companies are not those that are the most profit-focussed. A study by EY Beacon Institute and Harvard University confirmed this, with 80-90 per cent of executives interviewed agreeing that a strong sense of purpose is advantageous. Purpose-driven companies make more money, have more engaged employees and more loyal customers, and are even better at innovation and transformational change. So, it seems to be easier to win the game when you care about the game.
But interestingly, in the study, less than 50 per cent of executives said that their company actually operates in a purpose-driven way. Thus, there is a great shortfall between reality and what companies are willing to implement. But it is a great opportunity for spiritually aware executives to excel and set an example. Society is also becoming more and more appreciative and interested in such businesses. As Subro Sen, co-founder and executive director of the non-profit Conscious Capitalism Institute, put it: “Such companies are both profitable and powerful change agents for good in society.” He attributes their success to four fundamental principles:
The writer is an ISKCON spiritual leader