After reading the weekly blog post by CS Kishore, titled Goddess Lakshmi and Economy, I started thinking of the many aspects of wealth.
Recently, I purchased Suze Orman’s book Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny
. In the introduction, she mentioned how women in India ritualistically sweep their front steps daily to allow a clean pathway for Goddess Lakshmi to enter! Firstly, her comment reminded me of how ritual has meaning, but we lose it in the rat race of modern life, and secondly, it reminded me of how opening up your space, keeping it free of obstacles allows abundance.
Kishore’s article further reminds me that abundance can only be maintained through keeping that open space, free of clutter, dirt, junk, unwanted items and through that- sharing comes. Sharing what is offered through abundance and wealth allows it to grow, not stagnate. Stagnation breeds unease and isolation. Note how stagnant water that attracts mosquitoes and disease. Note how stagnant thought- thought that lands people in depression (not a thought of wealth and growth, but that of lack and being stuck in the past) lands people in their self-made isolation.
The aspects of wealth are many and span over many areas of our lives. Often in modern life when the word ‘wealth’ is spoken, people think of money. But is money the only aspect of wealth? I believe true wealth encompasses a good balance of many aspects of our lives. Overindulgence in any area can cause us to stagnate and not share with others. We should always take inventory of overindulgence and try to curb it when ever possible.
For me, I see wealth as a balance of many aspects- a few being relationships (family, friends, others), health, career, exercise, diet, relaxation, etc. We often equate the positive aspects of life to wealth and try to avoid frustration, conflict, mistakes and other situations that make us feel uneasy. But, I challenge you to take a step back when these situations occur and try to learn from them. These situations help us gain a tremendous amount of wealth- wealth in learning about ourselves, and others and how to overcome adversity. This information, when passed on to others through talking or actions, is an unmatched source of wealth!
As Kishore mentioned, without sharing our wealth, it stagnates and has no real value. But, in order to share wealth, we should be able to take care of ourselves also. If we share our wealth without responsibility or forethought, that can also lead to problems.
The goddess of wealth in Hinduism, Lakshmi can teach us all of these things. Lakshmi, as many gods and goddess in Hinduism has a prayer with 108 names. These names further teach us the many aspects of wealth. A study and meditation on them can also allow for more space in our emotional lives to allow wealth to enter.