Being and Nothingness - A Trilogy on Money: Part 2

I was delighted when I was granted an appointment with Money. He personally did not have an official name as people addressed him differently.  So when I met him and introduced myself, he said, ‘ I don’t have a particular name as such, you may call me by whatever name you fancy’. I thought a bit and asked if I can call him ‘Daulat’. He at once agreed, ‘Great, I think it suits me’. He was tall, well built and carried himself with grace and poise. He was clean shaven with a soft and clear complexion. He was casually but smartly dressed with chinos, checked shirt and wearing a very pleasant fragrance and yes, a mask. By our definitions he fitted in with what we term as a meterosexual individual. Although his manner was very expressive and engaging there was a certain gentleness about it. But perhaps the most noticeable aspect was his eyes that were deep and penetrating and I felt he could see through everything.

Getting Money straight into the conversation I asked the question on top of everybody’s mind, ‘Daulatji, how is it that you are so elusive? Everybody is after you and you seem to rule the world, but only a few people are blessed by your presence. Again, you seem to favour some people while some live a miserable life without your company’. Money nodded his head knowingly, ‘It is good question. I am often asked this. Let me clear it for you. Firstly humans give me unusually high importance. I am merely an idea, a concept. You people have created me and given me an identity for your convenience. I actually stand for a universal principle and believe it or not, it is  the principle of ‘Abundance’. In broader terms I stand for the eight sources of wealth or Ashta Laxmi, which are prosperity, fertility, good fortune, good health, knowledge, strength, progeny and power. I am everywhere, available to everyone and I manifest in humans as ‘Contentment’. If you see me and experience me as Contentment, I am with you always in my universal form of Abundance, where you experience me fully and completely.

I reflected on this, ‘Oh, I see, so you are actually always with us, but we cannot recognize you. We look for the wrong things or look for merely a very partial aspect about you and obviously we cannot find you there’

‘Correct. The idea of me, or Money as you people call it, is very limited and does not do justice to what I really stand for. You seek out only a partial and also incorrect aspect about me and I thus cannot satisfy you. People miss the point that I am much more than just money or cash. They think they can buy happiness with me, but they are wrong. They don’t realize I am capable of giving them much much more that can make their lives really happy and fulfilled.’

‘The thing about you people is that you think you are separate from one another and only think of your self-interest. So you want me exclusively and go through all sorts of efforts to have more and more of me, more than what others have and more than what you require. Remember I am a universal principle, I cannot be ‘owned’ by a few people. Everybody has a right to me. I don’t like to be tied down. Moreover I am disgusted when people use unfair means to try and acquire me. ‘

‘But then, why do keep staying with such people?’

‘ No, I don’t stay with them. Not at least my universal and true self. These people have money by your definition of money.  They don’t have Contentment where I stay and from where I give people a truly meaningful and happy life. I can give much more than you can ever imagine. I was appointed by God to give humanity this, but people never really understood me. ‘

‘So what about the Ambanis’ of the world? They have so much, it is almost unfair and obscene. You seem to have particularly favoured them. On the other hand there are so many poor people. Why do you have such selective treatment’?

‘People like Ambanis are like my workers. They help me to spread out and reach out to people. Imagine the number of people he has given employment or means of livelihood and of course the number of shareholders he has made rich. I need people like him. At the same time, I am bit saddened if he is not using the correct practices to acquire me. But I guess it is state of human society now. But all said and done he is still reaching out for more. He is the richest man you have, but has he stopped wanting more of me? Being content is the biggest riches you can have.  When you realize that nothing is lacking, I shower my abundance on you and the whole world belongs to you.'

‘Wow, that has considerably cleared my thinking. What advise can you give us people?’

‘Thanks for asking. I do hope people understand me correctly. I can say, please don’t run after me. Do your work, do it well , honestly, sincerely and you will not even realize when I am by your side. I like such people and I like them more when people share me and use me for a good cause. I like to mix around and spread my wings so don’t tie me down. Remember, you cannot command me or force me to come. I come of my own accord to deserving people who treat me well and with respect. You save me and I will save you.  You look after me and I will look after you. You probably heard the expression, "The joy of the monk in his wind-torn robe". That sums it up'

‘Thank you so much. This was greatly revealing. If I have any more questions, I hope you can be available?’

He winked and said, ‘ I am always with you!’