What are the rules of money? What are the rules of Lakshmi (Wealth)?

When it comes to the rules of money, it is a common belief that Lakshmi (wealth) comes through hard work, pursuing it relentlessly, or using one’s intellect. But if wealth comes from hard work, then laborers should have the most wealth, because they work tirelessly for twelve hours at a stretch. Yet, they often struggle even to get enough food for the day; whereas, a wealthy merchant earns money without even doing much. If wealth were gained through intellect alone, all learned men would be very rich, yet many of them have sandals that are worn out. Big industrialists and merchants often earn piles of money without even using a shred of intellect. When a manager or a chartered accountant uses intellect all day long, any of them still do not earn as much as a wealthy merchant. Not only that, they alone deal with the officers of the Income Tax Department, while the merchant sleeps peacefully.

No matter how much effort or intellect one invests, the outcomes are not always favorable. Similarly, whether wealth comes or not is not entirely within one’s control. Param Pujya Dadashri says that, “Money is earned  neither through the intellect nor is it the result of hard work. You attain it as a result of the punya you bound in the past life. And you incur a loss as a result of paap that was bound. Money is dependent upon merit and demerit karma. So if you want money, then you should be attentive towards merit and demerit karma effects.”

Where does punya (merit karma)come from? It arises when we do a favour to someone or act for the welfare of others. It is also bound when we understand and worship God, or perform righteous deeds. However, if one uses excessive intellect to cheat or exploit others in order to earn money, it results in paap (demerit karma) rather than punya.

Thus, as per the actual rules of money - If one has very little merit karma, even great physical effort will yield only a small amount of wealth. With a bit more merit, one does not need much physical labour but must work with their speech, like in the profession of a lawyer. With even greater merit, neither physical nor verbal effort is required, but mental botheration is needed for wealth to come. Furthermore, highly meritorious people receive everything with minimal effort, simply by willing it. The more effort required, the greater the obstacle to wealth!

These rules of Lakshmi do not imply that we should sit idle without making any effort to earn money. We must make reasonable efforts and fulfil our duties but not keep thinking about wealth day and night. If we have brought merit karma with us, wealth will come naturally in its own way. Then why should we struggle and worry excessively for it? And if one has not brought merit karma, then no matter how much one struggles, wealth will not come. So even then, what is the use of all that restlessness? When such right understanding prevails, a person can remain at peace in any situation.

Wealth is a by-product; it comes naturally, on its own. But people have made wealth their main production. Humans should instead determine the true purpose of their life rather than blindly chasing wealth out of imitation, one should focus on living in a way that helps others. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan says that, “Work  for the world; your own work will certainly continue to get done. When you work for the world, then your work will continue to get done on its own, and that is when you will feel the wonder!”

The nature of Lakshmi

It is said that wealth is merely the dirt of the hands. Just as sweat inevitably comes, so does wealth inevitably arrive. Some people sweat more, others less, in the same way; some receive more wealth and some less. Just as everyone gets a bucket of water sufficient for bathing, there is a natural law that everyone receives enough money to meet their needs.

Someone once asked Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan, what is wealth like? He replied, wealth is like sleep; some people fall asleep the moment they lie down, some toss and turn all night and still cannot sleep, while others have to take pills just to be able to sleep. Just as sleep is not in our control, wealth too is not within our control; it is dependent on other forces. So why create distress over something that is not in our hands? Just as good physical health naturally brings sound sleep, when the mind is healthy and balanced, Goddess Lakshmi will naturally come.

Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan’s unique insight is ‘Neither crowd nor accumulation!’ This is one of the hardly known rules of money. One should have only as much wealth as is needed. Those with a crowded environment will eventually dry out, while those with excess wealth become inflated. Just as we do not hold our breath after inhaling but release it through exhalation, we must not hoard wealth either. Wealth is beneficial only when in circulation otherwise, it becomes a source of pain. Both crowding and excess lead to suffering.

What is Lakshmi like? It brings sorrow while earning, sorrow while preserving, and even sorrow while spending. When lakhs of rupees flow into the house, it creates the burden of safeguarding it. One has to worry about which bank is the safest. And once relatives or friends find out that you’ve earned well, they immediately start coming around. If you earn ten lakh rupees, someone is bound to show up asking for at least one lakh. And if you refuse, that person will say, “Come on, don’t you trust me that much? I just need one lakh!” So, in the end, you’re forced to lend and if you don’t, it leads to quarrels or hurt feelings. In comparison, when there’s no money, everyone at home sits together, eats, drinks, and enjoys. That’s how money works!

When there’s a sudden rush of income, people think, “If only I could make a big lump sum this year!” But if it rains heavily for one year and there’s drought for the next five, would that work? No! In the same way, it’s best when Goddess Lakshmi comes in small, steady instalments. If you suddenly get all the wealth at once, it will all get spent. It’s like heating half a pot of milk on a stove; it rises but that rise never lasts long. Likewise, when wealth overflows, it doesn’t last; only the amount that’s meant for you truly remains.

Just as it’s best when the waters of the river Narmada flow as per the capacity of its bed, if the river overflows, nearby villages get washed away. Similarly, an excess of Lakshmi brings its own troubles. So, it’s best if there’s no crowd of money! As long as wealth comes in a normal flow, all is well. When Lakshmiji comes below the normal level, it’s like having a fever and when She comes above the normal level, that too is like having a fever.

Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan reveals a secret rule of money; just as grains lose their ability to sprout after two or three years, and medicines lose their potency after some time, wealth too has an ‘expiry date’. The wealth’s validity lasts for eleven years! Which means every eleven years, money changes hands. Today, we no longer have the same wealth we possessed eleven years ago. Money keeps circulating, sometimes as profit, sometimes as loss, and sometimes as interest. Even if someone is worth twenty-five crores, if not a single rupee of that wealth changes hands for eleven years, that money will eventually empty out.

In this era, there is plenty of wealth, yet no peace, why is that so? In Kaliyug, money indeed comes through merit karma, but as it comes, it also binds new demerit karma; this is called paapanubandhi punya (in the process of enjoying all the comforts due to merit karma, new demerit karma is bound)! The money earned through dishonest means never stays with us, which is one of the universal rules of money. In fact, it’s better not to have such wealth at all, because it only binds more sin. Wherever money earned through unrighteous ways enters, an atmosphere of conflict and unrest inevitably follows. Where wealth is earned with honesty and pure intention, even a single rupee brings immense happiness! Such a home remains prosperous along with constant peace, and religion dwells too.

Obstacles to wealth

The nature of wealth is fickle. A person who becomes absorbed in thoughts of wealth also becomes restless. Even when there is enough food, comfort, and convenience at home, still hoping for more wealth means depriving other people of their share and that is a crime. That is a big form of raudradhyan (adverse internal state of being/meditation that hurts the self and others). A person, in trying to increase their wealth, engages in both aartadhyan (adverse internal state of being that hurts the self) and raudradhyan. But such thoughts actually reduce wealth instead. Therefore, one should neither constantly dwell upon wealth nor hold on tightly to whatever wealth comes in the way.

What is the nature of Lakshmiji? She resides where there people are full of joy but as for those who are full of worry, She does not stay with them. Those who are cheerful, those who remember God, Lakshmiji goes to them.

The obstruction to wealth comes from dishonesty. Tricks and wealth are natural enemies. Where there is no deceit in mind, speech, or action, there Lakshmiji bestows Her grace. Taking advantage of one’s intellect to deceive those with lesser understanding, that subtle form of dishonesty, or trickery is considered hard raudradhyan. The laws of Lakshmi or rules of money state that one should accept only the wealth that rightfully belongs to them, never seize or deceive to obtain someone else’s wealth. If this law is broken, Lakshmi never remains pleased. The more ill-gotten the money, the faster it slips away; but the money earned rightfully is always put to good use!

When does Lakshmi not come? When one indulges in gossip and slander! Lakshmi resides where there is purity of mind, body and speech. Where there is criticism and contempt, She does not stay. Speech itself is said to be the Goddess Saraswati, and if one misuses speech in gossip and slander, even then Lakshmiji becomes displeased.

Saying, “I don’t want money,” and rejecting wealth is also a crime. If one shows disdain toward Goddess Lakshmi, it creates such great obstacles that even in the next life, one may not get a glimpse of Her.

Goddess Lakshmi is said to be the wife of Lord Narayan. If one keeps remembering only Goddess Lakshmi all day long, then Lord Narayan becomes displeased. One should instead bow to Her with humility and say, “This home belongs to you; please come whenever it pleases you.”

Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan says that, “Until what point will you have obstacles for money? It is as long as you have the desire to earn it. When you become inattentive to money, it will come to you in abundance.” Once, a man came to meet Him who was losing twenty thousand rupees every month in his business and was constantly lamenting over money. Param Pujya Dadashri told him to stop thinking about money altogether. From that point on, his wealth began to increase, and he started earning a profit of thirty thousand rupees every month instead. To receive wealth, one may make efforts through mind, speech and body, but without harbouring desire. For those who have no desire for wealth, Lakshmiji herself arrives on time, with interest - another rule of money.

“What must one have done for prosperity to come? When a person has helped many people, then wealth comes to them! Otherwise, wealth will not come. Lakshmi comes only to those who have the desire to give. Those who endure loss, who get deceived, practise nobility become receivers of wealth. Though it may seem that She has left, She always returns and stays with them.