Amongst various this, Diwali is day of Goddess of Laxmi. The day really celebrated in India. "It is Indian Christmas" - I would tell in US to my friends. And on explaining the significance of the day one of the friends had pointed out that very few of the religions give money that much importance do celebrate it's presence. Most other religions try to stay spiritual and never try to be material.
And I remembered Borges. Borges in one of his stories mentions that there can be nothing less material than money. Money is one of the most abstract entities. Since any money represents multiple future possibilities. Money is future time. Money can be multiple things - it can be a quiet long drive, it can be going underwater in hawaii, showing USA to parents, eating in favorite sushi, it can be watching leonard cohen's concert live, it can be a warm bed on a cold rainy night, it can be higher education for somebody's son abroad, it can be somebody's treatment for cancer or a promise of 24 hours water supply. It can be just a warm cup of chai.
There is lot of disdain for money, mostly made publicly to show off ones virtue. "money can't buy everything". Agreed. But it does buy a lot of things. Lot of things we take for granted but would be highly disoriented in their absence.
1 comment:
Interesting you should mention this. In Indian culture (Hinduism, so to say) never underestimates money. Instead prays it. Intention being giving it necessary importance, but also reminding it to put it good use and just like all other powerful things, use it with responsibility.
Not with purpose of lowering any religion, but the Bible says "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God"
On the other hand, our Rishis wrote Sri Sukhtam (praise to Laxmi) and सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यन्तु (Let everyone have wealth) and use it responsibly.
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