Understanding Wealth

In common parlance diwali is considered to be the festival of lights, sweets and crackers. But that is just kidstuff meant for popular consumption. Diwali is essentially about worshipping Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth. Wealth that is matter. Wealth that matters. So it is a matter of wealth. It is ironical though that this Goddess of wealth prefers to ride an owl, the bird traditionally thought to be inauspicious having only night vision and signifying an idiot in the popular India lingo Hindi. We have celebrated diwali just a couple of days ago and it is only appropriate that we talk wealth. Not just how to get it, but also how to retain it; utilize it and understand it too. For most wealth is all about money and propitiating of the Goddess is done with much fan fare only to please her and get wealth in return. A few get it, too, although most lose it in the long run. But is wealth only about money? Perhaps not and naturally, gambling cannot be the only way to gain wealth. The question then is what is wealth. Well defining it is beyond purview of economics and commerce. In economics money means the means of exchange and for commerce it is the exchange that means money. The, fact however is that both these views are partial if not wholly out of place. Why money is considered wealth is because people think it gives happiness or may lead to happiness. So money also remains a means. But does this not mean that it is happiness and not money that is to be pursued. Probably yes. Though there are some who are in pursuit of money for its own sake. And ultimately repent.
The story of Midas, the legendary king of Phrygia is a case in point. His greed made him seek a boon from a Greek god that whatever he touched should turn into gold. His belief that wealth is the best thing that a man can have made him seek this boon. When Midas found that it was actually happening, he became so ecstatic that he wanted everything to turn into gold . But as he ordered a splendid banquet to celebrate his unqualified success things started going wrong. He grasped a piece of bread and it turned into gold. He took wine to drink but as it touched his lips it turned into molten gold. The story goes that he kissed his daughter and she also turned into gold. Then he could realize his mistake. He begged to the God to forgive him and take back the boon which actually turned out to be a curse. The story gives a very important lesson that wealth is neither a means to everything nor can be everything. Post Diwali the lesson needs to be learnt. The pleasure, the happiness, the peace of mind are real wealth and certainly more valuable than the wealth as we understand in the present lexicon.
The Diwali that we celebrated should remind us of this basic truth. We need to worship the Goddess to seek her boon for the real wealth. To bring smile on some body’s lips, to relieve some body’s pain, to wipe some body’s tears, that gives real happiness. And it is this happiness that is the real wealth. Those who crave only for material wealth spend their life searching for an ever elusive satisfaction.