Busting the Myth: "Money is Bad"
You may have heard people say things like: "Money is the root of all evil." "Rich people are greedy." "It is noble to be poor."
These ideas are well-meaning but wrong. They confuse the tool with how some people misuse it.
Consider: A knife can be used to cook a meal or to harm someone. We do not say "knives are evil." We say that how you use a knife matters.
Money is the same. It is a tool. It can be used for good or for harm. The money itself is neutral—your intentions and actions give it meaning.
Two Ways to Get Wealth
Not all wealth is the same. There are two very different ways to become wealthy:
Wealth Creation
This is when you create something valuable that did not exist before. A baker turns flour into bread. A teacher turns confusion into understanding. A builder turns bricks into homes. Everyone benefits— the customer gets something valuable, and you earn money fairly.
Wealth Extraction
This is when you take wealth from others without creating value. Theft, fraud, exploitation—these take from others without giving anything back. This kind of "wealth" makes the world poorer, not richer.
The difference matters deeply. Wealth creation is honourable. It makes the whole world better off. Wealth extraction is shameful. It harms others. When people criticise "the rich," they usually mean extractors, not creators.
Prosperity Enables Generosity
Here is a truth that sounds strange at first: To give generously, you first need something to give.
Think about it. Who can give more: someone who struggles to pay their own rent, or someone with resources to spare? Who can hire people and create jobs? Who can fund a school or hospital?
This does not mean poor people cannot be generous—they often are, sometimes more so than the wealthy. But prosperity multiplies what you can give.
If you want to help others, building your own prosperity is not selfish. It is strategic. A full cup can overflow; an empty cup cannot.
Ancient Wisdom: Lakshmi and Divine Prosperity
In the Bharatiya tradition, wealth is not seen as something to be ashamed of. It is seen as sacred.
Lakshmi is the goddess of prosperity, fortune, and abundance. She is one of the most beloved deities—worshipped daily in millions of homes and businesses. Her presence is sought, not avoided.
Lakshmi represents not just material wealth, but all forms of abundance: health, knowledge, courage, and spiritual wealth.
This tells us something important: In the Bharatiya worldview, prosperity is divine. It is something to be cultivated with respect, not rejected with false modesty.
The Great Merchant Tradition
India has one of the world's oldest and most respected merchant traditions. For thousands of years, traders carried goods along routes stretching from Rome to Indonesia, from Africa to China.
These were not people hiding their prosperity. They were respected members of society who:
- •Built temples, schools, and dharamshalas (rest houses for travellers)
- •Funded scholars, artists, and religious institutions
- •Created jobs and supported entire communities
- •Developed sophisticated systems of banking and credit
The idea that commerce is somehow "lesser" or "impure" is not from this tradition. It is a foreign import. Our ancestors understood that honest trade creates value for everyone.
Ancient Wisdom: Chanakya on Wealth
Chanakya was clear about the importance of wealth:
"Artha (wealth) is the most important. Dharma (righteousness) and Kama (enjoyment) both depend on it."
In modern terms: You need resources to do good in the world. You need resources to enjoy life. Without artha, the other goals of life become very difficult.
"One who is prepared for the future and one who deals cleverly with any situation that may arise are both happy. But the fatalistic man who depends on luck is ruined."
In modern terms: Do not leave your prosperity to chance. Plan, prepare, and take action. Those who wait for luck to deliver wealth will wait forever.
Wealth as a Means to Purpose
The deepest teaching is this: Wealth is not the goal. Wealth is the means.
Dharma means your purpose, your duty, your contribution to the world. Everyone has their own dharma—whether it is raising children well, serving patients, building businesses, or creating art.
Wealth in service of dharma is blessed. A doctor who earns well and uses that to serve more patients. A business owner who creates jobs and treats workers fairly. A parent who provides security and opportunity for their children.
Wealth hoarded for its own sake, or used for harm, is a waste. But wealth used to fulfil your purpose? That is exactly as it should be.
Key Takeaways
- ✓Money is a tool, not good or evil in itself—your use of it matters
- ✓Wealth creation benefits everyone; wealth extraction harms others
- ✓Prosperity enables generosity—a full cup can overflow
- ✓Lakshmi is worshipped, not shunned—prosperity is seen as sacred
- ✓Wealth is the means to dharma, not the end goal itself
Reflection Question
Have you ever felt that wanting to be prosperous was somehow wrong or selfish? Where did that belief come from? How does the idea of "wealth as means to dharma" change your perspective?
There is no right answer. The point is to examine beliefs you may have absorbed without questioning them.