Page 47 - NAMAH January 2016
P. 47
Namah Notes on counselling
Sri Aurobindo charts the psychological benefit of humanity and for the expansion of
roadmap for the spiritual value of wealth: the frontiers of knowledge.
“If you are free from the money-taint but However, in Sri Aurobindo and the
without any ascetic withdrawal, you will have Mother’s scheme of things, the true value
a greater power to command the money for of wealth has a greater purpose, “... money
the divine work. Equality of mind, absence of is meant to make the earth ready for the advent
demand and the full dedication of all you of the new creation (7).” The evolutionary
possess and receive and all your power of growth in consciousness which has been
acquisition to the Divine Shakti and her work envisaged by Sri Aurobindo to culminate in
are the signs of this freedom. Any perturbation the embodiment of the Superconscious
of mind with regard to money and its use, any Supramental Consciousness in a superior
claim, any grudging is a sure index of some humanity of gnostic beings cannot be
imperfection or bondage (4).” consummated by an ascetic impoverishment
but is commensurate with a glorified service
In this scheme of things, one is at ease and of wealth at the altar of the Truth:
in perfect equipoise whether in poverty or
in plenitude. Money is not meant merely to “In the supramental creation the money-force
generate money: has to be restored to the Divine Power and
used for a true and beautiful and harmonious
“Money is meant to increase the wealth, the equipment and ordering of a new divinised
prosperity and the productiveness of a group, vital and physical existence in whatever way
a country or, better, of the whole earth. Money the Divine Mother herself decides in her
is a means, a force, a power, and not an end in creative vision. But first it must be conquered
itself. And like all forces and all powers, it is back for her and those will be strongest for the
by movement and circulation that it grows conquest who are in this part of their nature
and increases its power, not by accumulation strong and large and free from ego and
and stagnation (5).” “When money indeed is surrendered without any claim or withholding
to be accumulated, it must be for a greater or hesitation , pure and powerful channels for
construction, not for the possessive habit of the Supreme Puissance (8).”
the miser but in consonance with the capacity
to use it on a very large scale (6).” References
It is therefore imperative to include the study 1. The Mother. Collected Works of the Mother,
of the true value of money and the right use Volume 13. Cent. ed. Pondicherry: Sri
of money from a very young age both in Aurobindo Ashram Trust; 1980, pp. 275-6.
educational and personality development
programmes. If children could be made to 2. Sri Aurobindo. Birth Centenary Library, Volume
learn the true worth of wealth, they would 25. Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram
not succumb to the forces of consumerism. Trust; 1972, p. 12.
They would know how to use money to
realise great dreams and aspirations for the 3. Ibid., p.11.
47
