6 My Realization with money

I was just a number in my first job, and I became a statistic on the job market. The prevailing attitude was that if one worked solely for money, one would need to exert less effort to attain the highest financial reward. I was also dragged into this belief due to the laws of job reservation and lost my enthusiasm as an engineer. The culture of sitting in the toilets and reading comics, sleeping most of the night shift, waiting for Fridays, drinking parties, smoking dagga (marijuana), and many other pastimes at work was widespread and it began to bother me. I didn't enjoy going through this work culture and opted to stay away from it. I began to isolate myself and withdraw from the rest of the workforce. Performing activities on the floor required various actions that contradicted my ideals and beliefs.

The slogan 'Sam stand' or stand together attitude was evident with apartheid laws, but not at the expense of low morale and productivity. While working, I found myself in need of money and unable to adapt to the conventional mindset. Despite applying for other employment, being non-white proved to be the most significant barrier. My education was not used for what I was trained for, and I eventually found the truth within myself. This is when I lowered myself to the lowest levels of my religious beliefs and moral values.

At this point in my life, I was called out at work for something I had nothing to do with. I overheard coworkers discussing a company truck being involved in an accident and losing a few thousand Rands with the shipment. The general feeling was one of joy and happiness. I foolishly joined the crowd and made numerous statements wishing the company ill, unaware that the company's payment was what put bread on my table.

With conflicting and negative thoughts, saddened by what was going on around me, I met devotees of Krishna consciousness while waiting for my wife in a shopping mall one summer day. 'Hare Krishna,' said a group of men and women, mostly whites, with their heads shaved and tail-like hairs on their bald heads, a substantial tilak on their forehead, and very religious-looking attire. They were not unfamiliar to me, and I felt at ease in their company. I was carried away by their smiles and greetings. Within a short conversation, they had persuaded me that the work they were doing was worthwhile. Feeding the hungry was a priority in the majority of our poor communities. As if under hypnosis, I took out the last few Rands I had and donated them to them. They gave me a receipt for the money they received and a copy of the Bhagavad Gita. After recalling some of the miraculous events in my life, I was once again placed in a mysterious state. Religion had turned into a childhood fantasy for me then I had evolved into a liberal thinker. Seeing my wife coming with a bag full of goods, my first words to her were 'I am sorry'.

I felt terrible, so I tried to explain to her why I threw away the last few Rands and persuade her that it was for a worthy cause, as I found myself without any extra income, I felt entrapped. I later realized that I was a giver, not a greedy taker. For several days, I had the new Bhagavad Gita on my coffee table. I had previously read the scripture. Then after a long day at work, I picked up this book and began reading a verse that was relevant to my life.

‘You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action.’  Krishna tells Arjuna in Chapter 2 verse 47. ‘ consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.’ I must have read this verse several times before a sudden shift in attention occurred, inspiring me to work harder without expectation. The abrupt change promoted me to the next level at work; I was no longer surrounded by shift workers and common workers on the floor. I was assigned more intellectually engaging assignments. During this move, I found new employment in a major metropolis.

By gaining experience and developing work ethics, new thinking in the workplace helped me become a better person. I always arrived at work respectfully, wished the company well, and served them to the fullest extent of my ability. My boss liked me and gave me some perks that no one else had. Working for a prestigious international company I experienced the power of money. When you possess wealth, people inquire about your well-being. Yet, when you lack resources, those same individuals question your identity. This dynamic was exemplified by my involvement in projects worth millions of Rand.

Divine or unexplained events have changed my life as an adult, and it has happened again and again. 'Worship work' became my life's motto, and my most significant step forward. As time passed, I began to develop the same value system for my family, community, society, and country. The abrupt shift was due to the realization of money and its influences. I had finally prioritized my responsibilities over my finances.

The first thought came from my university business management courses. Why should a young working professional study economics? What is the relationship between technology and the economy? And how much do I contribute to the economy? As an engineer, of course, I contribute, because technological progress allows for the more efficient production of more and better goods and services. This is what prosperity is based on.

Not only was ancient India a land of philosophy and religion, but it was also a fertile ground for science and technology. Many wise sages wrote vast works of science and technology literature, and I was a student of this knowledge. Looking back in time, ancient technology was the result of advances in engineering during the growth of ancient civilizations. These technological advances in history prompted societies to adopt revolutionary modes of living and governance. Yes, South Africa was working toward that goal, and instead of focusing on the negatives, I made it my mission to be productive.

Mining, farming, and technology were the virtues that money took on to serve as a medium of exchange in South Africa. The following characteristics of reliable money are frequently mentioned: general acceptability, portability, durability, divisibility, homogeneity, recognizability, and stability. There was no doubt in my mind that South Africa had everything under control. It was going to offer me a better life than I had ever imagined.

I had to change my mindset and tolerate apartheid laws to succeed as an engineer. When selecting engineering subjects, I acknowledged the absence of job opportunities in South Africa. Thus, I made a commitment to challenge this reality with honesty, seeing it as a lasting reminder of the importance of freedom of thought and personal values I had finally concluded that I needed to identify my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Money was the primary focus of my SWOT analysis, so I understand its importance. Money's primary function is as a medium of exchange. Based on its role in daily life, money serves as a medium through which people acquire essential goods and services. It serves both purposes as a source of comfort in daily life and a means of meeting a need. Money is the most influential factor in living a happy, healthy life, but it pales in comparison to the importance of love and care.

To summarize, money has existed in many different forms throughout history, but it has always served the same three functions: as a store of value, a unit of account, and a medium of exchange. This introduction will go over several sorts of money in the future, such as commodity money, fiat money, fiduciary money, commercial bank money, metallic money, paper money, reserve money, and many more. 

Furthermore, understand that everyone's financial structure is made up of four basic components: assets, debts, income, and expenses. You can assess your financial situation and current net worth by measuring and contrasting these. Money became my secondary goal after I realized this.

Some quotes about money

"All money is a matter of belief" - Adam Smith.

"Lack of money is the source of all evil" - George Bernard Shaw.

"Money is Freedom" - Horace Walpole.

"Money is a good servant, but a bad master" - Francis Bacon.

As a student of the  Bhagavad Gita, and according to verse 16.12 of the text, people are enslaved by endless cravings and driven by lust and fury. These people amassed wealth in unethical ways to satisfy their senses. To help me understand what money means to me in the context of my life as a Sanatan Dharma follower, I drew a line here between wealth and money.

I needed money and did not want to be a hypocrite, so I researched the Vedas and learned what I believed. The Vedas explain money as "green energy," which you receive in exchange for your energy (conducted through deliberate physical and mental effort). As a result, we use our inherent energy to serve others. Hindus pray to Lakshmi Mata, also known as Adi Shakti, The Energy of the Cosmos, or Green Energy, for wealth and success.

 

 The two teenage boys

St. Buddha traveled to share his knowledge while on his tour in the Buddhist era enlightening people about his attainment of knowledge through constructive meditation and penance.

During one encounter, he rested on the outskirts of the village and sat under a giant tree. He explained the doctrines and disciplines of his realization to the people who came to see him.

Two adolescent boys were playing their usual pranks and wanted to prove Buddha wrong with a foolproof plan, so they approached the saintly Buddha. "Do we have a living or dead bird in our hands?" They had the bird hidden in the back of their hands, which were crossed.

With his ESP knowledge, Buddha looked at them and read their minds. "My children, I know your prank; if I say it's alive, you'll kill it with a twist of your fingers on its neck, and if I say it's dead, you'll let it fly away, proving that it's alive."

The boys were taken aback by the response and wondered how the saintly man knew their innermost thoughts, but both fell to their knees and became Buddha's disciples.

At this point, the professor added that the future of our lives is in our hands; whether we succeed or fail, we must make an ethical choice that will keep us inspired and motivated. I remembered it in my prayers, and every time I made a decision, I replayed this story in my head. These encounters stimulated my intellect, enabling me to see divinity in Adi-shakti. She is worshipped as consciousness, intellect, sleep, hunger, shelter, force, thirst, patience, community, modesty, contentment, regard, luster, wealth, profession, memory, kindness, mother, joy, illusion, and the truth of existence.