What is your greatest wealth - something that is permanent and losing which you lose everything ? Our true wealth is not our possessions represented by money because it can be lost and is not permanent. Also, we can earn it again even if we lose it. It is not our relatives because they will leave us one day. It is not our knowledge because as we age our mind becomes feeble and we may forget it. It is not our health which is so fragile. What, then, is our greatest wealth ?
If we think about it, our real wealth is our character. Our knowledge and learning's are of no use unless it gets converted into practice and becomes our character. Character becomes our unique identifier and wealth too. If we lose it, we may never be able to recover it. If we have it, we do attract all other types of wealth. What is character but a combination of values ? If we embrace good values and inculcate them in our daily thought and behaviour, we indeed become very wealthy.
There are many values that we have spoken about. Each one of us may choose a combination of values that will become a hallmark of our respective character. Mahatma Gandhi chose non-violence and became great. King Harishchandra was known for his commitment to truth and King Yudhisthir for his steadfast adherence to Dharma. Determination and courage describes the character of Abraham Lincoln. What will we be known by? The choice rests entirely with us to acquire a stainless character.
Choose to see the omnipresent Lord in all beings and thereby become selfless. Look at our fellow beings with love, speak words of love, think of the well being of all and give up unholy desires and traits. Each one of us has the power to become great and promote our greatest wealth. You and I can make this world more beautiful and peaceful by leading a life of values.
8 comments:
A wonderful post..For leading a life of values one should have the courage,the wisdom and the vision to believe in and implement these values in our day to day lives and indeed this world will be a better place to live in..
'Always put yourself in others shoes if you feel that it hurts you,it probably hurts the other person too'
Tyaagi
Two things, I believe are inseparable from the self - education and health and therefore are the most valuable!
Indeed, Character is ultimately what people relate to in another person. That is the true wealth. Spiritually too
That's exactly why I have chosen to be a devotee of Lord Rama. In fact I'm not just a devotee. I am a great admirer of his character. He is the epitome of good character.Among all the other names and forms, I am more attracted to this name and form because it is only in this form he scores at every instance with his character.
As Krishna, he is my friend, well-wisher and teacher.
But as Rama, he is my King and I am his slave.
That's because of his character.
Excellent post Vish! Thanks for sharing!
This is my problem...when I start speaking about Lord Rama.. I forget about other things. ;)
When wealth is lost nothing is lost.
When health is lost something is lost.
When character is lost everything is lost.
Your post wonderfully explains this quote of Swami Vivekanda Vish!
Thanx for sharing!
Have a great day :-)
Message from K Parthasarathy
Wow. what an impassioned plea and a powerful message.All the wordly assets without character is of little use.The series of articles by you in your blog is an attempt to build character and adherence to values.Let the 100the post be on values and the purpose of the blog.
KP
This reminds me of below 2 quotes :
1) Education and Character are not the things to be locked up in a strong box, but should be shown in every act of ours
2) Not education but character is a man's greatest need and safeguard
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