We live in bizarre times when so many believe strange things about their gospels. We live in a time when many believe The Bible tells us to acquire money as a path to God. When some say that God shows his love to truly faithful followers by adorning them with wealth. There are many multi-millionaire preachers and gurus in this country and in the world. The ones in the United States tend to be Christian leaders, but Christianity is by no means that only place this is happening. India has its rich charlatans as well, for example The Bling Guru who was just convicted of raping 2 women and sent to prison for 20 years. And there are many more.

So why people flock to these fake spiritual leaders in hopes of redemption? Because they see money as the answer. Is it really so hard to imagine your life being better if only you had more money? Most people can easily see themselves as better off with the ability to pay their bills and buy the food they need. But ultimately the accumulation of wealth does not lead to a lasting happiness. Lasting happiness is something that cannot be bought. It comes from within us. In fact the ancient gurus of India became gurus as a process of discovering how to survive and be happy in the miserable conditions of southern India. It had nothing to do with wealth and everything to do with self-realization.

This is why being rich can be a problem for anyone trying to self-realize, i.e., be truly happy. All that money becomes a block, an impediment, to achieving a true spirituality. It is the external happiness of having that prevents us from connecting to ourselves. We become intoxicated with the pleasures of the flesh, so to speak, we forget who we really are or in fact prevent ourselves from discovering it. It is very difficult to be wealthy and aware. Not to say it isn’t possible. There are many well off people in the world who are very awake and alive, but they spend most of their time giving their money away and helping others with the wealth they have.

You don’t have to look far in any of those blue and black books to find the scriptures that warn of the dangers of money. It is difficult stay spiritually sober in a world that literally reinforces all the wrong things. For many, it wont be until they have the family, the job, the vacations and beemers and everything else, but are still not truly happy or fullfilled, that they realize happiness is not the product of having. Happiness that lasts is the product of knowing yourself and loving yourself so well that you become a beacon for others to do the same. When you know your Self, then you will know who you truly are and can become truly happy.