114
Aptavani-2
Staunch devotees will always be short of money because
they are whimsical and become so engrossed in their bhakti that
they become one-track minded. God and devotee are separate;
there is a difference between the two. Devotees can be
whimsical and nutty. The natural principle is that money will
move away from madness. Gnanis are not whimsical, senseless
or crazy when it comes to the worldly life; they are very precise
and perfect. Doing bhakti will lead to a meeting with the Gnani
Purush and one will attain Gnan. Liberation is attained through
Gnan.
The Lord has said that the water which flows in the river
Narmada is within the capacity of its width, but what would
happen if the waters exceeded its capacity? That water will
break the banks of the river and flood the surrounding villages
and towns. This is the same with money; as long as its flow is
within normal limits, it is fine. There is a problem if it falls short
but there is also a problem if it rises higher than its limits. An
excess of money is more of a problem, but in either case, it
creates problems.
The nature of money is such that it will increase one’s
acquisitiveness (parigraha) as it increases. Many people
develop a state of non-acquisitiveness (nispruha, opposite of
parigraha) towards money. Now who can become truly non
desirous of money? This can only happen to the one who has
acquired the Self (saspruha). How can he move towards the
Self without realizing the Self? So he cannot remain hanging in
the middle. If he truly gives up something there needs to be
something that replaces it. So he cannot really become nispruha
without gaining the Self. Therefore, the combination of
renunciation of the non-Self and acquisition of the Self leads to
liberation, otherwise not. ‘We’ are not against money that ‘we’
renounce it. Ignorance needs to be renounced, not money.
Many people shun money. Whatever you shun will never come
back into your life. It is nothing but madness if a person rejects