GOD! Not GOLD!

GOD! Not GOLD!

By

J.L. Gupta

Sacrifice atones for sins, sanctifies the sinner. It leads to his salvation. The scriptures record the sacrifices made by various kings. On one of the occasions, the golden plates and utensils which were used in the sacrifice were thrown in the dustbin…. The heaps of gold remained unclaimed property for a long time. Even the ordinary mortals were not enchanted by the lust of gold. It was primarily meant to be given in charity. Maya was shunned.

         This is our heritage.

         Today, Mammon has enslaved man. Materialism has come to have its Sway. Just as “moths are captivated by the glaring brightness of light”, the “deluding energy” of Maya has made human being a “prey to the fire of delusion”. Man today talks in “money syllables”. The dialogue devolves around diamonds. Sapphires add a little sparkle. “Fiscal fitness” is more important than physical fitness. Fun is synonymous with “fund”. The love is at “purse sight”. Loving is becoming the means to make a living. Matrimony is a “matter of money”. The motto is “dough or die”. “Stones” are the secret of success. Gold is no longer an instrument. It is an end. Man’s goal is not God but gold. The almighty gold.

         Today, man worships gold. It is the deity. It is worshipped in all countries and in all climes. Man believes that gold is a curtain which can hide all his defects from the world. It is an ornament which can cover all the bodily deformities. It seems like the Alladin’s lamp. Man believes that loaded with the precious metal, he can reach any height, attain every position and enjoy all the pleasures. He will do anything to have it. He will even “marry a puppet or an old trot” for a few pieces of gold. He will divorce his beloved for a similar reason.

         Today, what a man stands for has become irrelevant. That he can fall for gold is the common belief. Having been made into God, the yellow metal has plagued man like the devil. Having got him into the well of wealth, it has drowned his conscience, taken away his happiness, endangered his honour and deprived him of his peace of mind.

         God can help the needy. No one can satisfy the greedy. A tub was large enough for Diogenes. Even the whole world was too small for Alexander. There is nothing in gold that may give lasting happiness. The more one has, the more he wants. Great fortune only ensures great servitude.

         Man labours. He goes through the irksome drudgery of a monotonous routine. He toils. He sweats. He even offends his most faithful friend - the conscience. He acquires wealth by and by, he amasses a fortune. But what does it give him? Can it prevent sickness? Can it postpone the mortal hour? Can it buy the heavenly bliss? No. In fact, the wealth becomes a source of fear. There is a nagging apprehension of losing it. The greater the wealth, the greater the fear. The fortune becomes a misfortune.

         It is true that money is needed to meet the needs. To an extent, it is a necessity. Too little of money is like a tight shoe. It is uncomfortable. It gives pain. But too much would be like a loose shoe. One can stumble and fall. Just the right amount to meet the essential needs would be ideal. Sometimes, a tree laden with too much fruit breaks its own bough. So does too much of wealth. It destroys the virtue of its possessor. Man can meet the perils of wealth by performing good deeds and becoming rich towards the creator.

         The scripture says- “Human life is the opportunity to get free from all the material miseries”. Gold, jewels, pearls and valuable stones are nature’s gifts to man. So are the sun and the stars. We value the sun for its light. Not for its height. Similarly, the other gifts of nature like gold are good only to the extent we use them for the good of others.

         Let us make gold the slave. Not the end or idol. God is Almighty- not Gold.