“The mystics have a different way of thinking about wealth,” Easwaran explains in this week’s reading, pages 37–41* in Climbing the Blue Mountain. “It is not how much we have that makes us rich, they say; it is how much we give – not only of our resources, but especially of ourselves.”
To bring this truth to life, Easwaran presents us with the example of Gandhi, a “zillionaire.” Easwaran tells the story of his own visit to Gandhi’s ashram, anchored by the evening prayer meeting:
“As I watched, Gandhiji’s eyes closed in concentration. His absorption in the verses was so complete that you could almost see the words filling his small frame. Suddenly I understood the answer to the question I had come with. Here was the source of all his wealth – his power, his love, his wisdom, his tireless service. He had turned his back on his little ‘I,’ his ego; now he lived in all.”
What is Easwaran telling you about the workings of your own mind? This week, use this new understanding to get some cooperation from your mind when it is being uncooperative. Tell us how it goes!
Let’s continue building our muscles for putting others first.
Easwaran says, “Exercising discrimination is part of being kind. We need to combine a soft heart with a hard nose.”
This week, watch for examples of people who exercise good discrimination and are able to be warm-hearted yet firm when necessary. Are there situations when you can exercise this skill yourself?
* For those using electronic versions of Climbing the Blue Mountain with different page numbering: this week’s reading is the first half of the chapter “Spiritual Wealth,” ending with “…vast reserves of selflessness.”
