Being A Rich Sikh

[Guest Sikh]

Being a GurSikh, I believe in an honest living and giving dasvand. I am starting to make relatively large amounts of money but stay grounded. I do naam Simran and am in the process of defeating my ego, even though it is a long process. Throughout reading gurbani, and hearing others, I am starting to believe being rich is a sin in sikhi. Waheguru gives us everything and I feel bad about the vast money I earn. My earning potential is only increasing but I am happy that I can support various social programs that can change the world. I am not attached to money as I had to detach myself in order to earn it. I don't want to psychologically hinder my progress as they say "Becareful what you wish for". Any thoughts?

[gsingh12345]

Waheguru Ji ka khalsa waheguru Ji ki fateh. It's not a sin as you are working and earning via honest means and donating to just causes. What have others told you that makes you think it's a sin?

[jkvlondon]

When you give your dasvandh Waheguru increases your barkatha , it's a good thing and you seem to be using the money to help further which is a good thing , Waheguru's blessings can never lead to a sin , just accept Guru ji trusts you to do right . Keep up your simran and stay in chardi kala.

[ms514]

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

Perhaps Akaal Purakh is giving you more money to do seva with? It is believed that the good and bad of this life is determined from the karams from your past life. You may have done very good karams to get this wealth. Using that wealth to do seva will continue to give you blessings and put the money towards a good cause.

You also never know when you may need that money to do a huge seva as well...just saying. But being rich is inherently not a sin. Being poor and being attached to the little wealth is worse than being a detached rich person who sees all his/her wealth as a gift from Vaheguru and is willing to put that money to good cause. You could be destined to open 10 branches of Baru Sahib, 30 branches of Pingalwara...who knows.

This post reminds me of this Shabad that comes up as a Hukamnama from time to time and may be relevant:

ਸੋਰਠਿ ਮਹਲਾ ੯ ॥

Sorath Mehalaa 9 ||

Sorat'h, Ninth Mehl:

ਜੋ ਨਰੁ ਦੁਖ ਮੈ ਦੁਖੁ ਨਹੀ ਮਾਨੈ ॥

Jo Nar Dhukh Mai Dhukh Nehee Maanai ||

That man, who in the midst of pain, does not feel pain,

ਸੁਖ ਸਨੇਹੁ ਅਰੁ ਭੈ ਨਹੀ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਕੰਚਨ ਮਾਟੀ ਮਾਨੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Sukh Sanaehu Ar Bhai Nehee Jaa Kai Kanchan Maattee Maanai ||1|| Rehaao ||

Who is not affected by pleasure, affection or fear, and who looks alike upon gold and dust;||1||Pause||

ਨਹ ਨਿੰਦਿਆ ਨਹ ਉਸਤਤਿ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਲੋਭੁ ਮੋਹੁ ਅਭਿਮਾਨਾ ॥

Neh Nindhiaa Neh Ousathath Jaa Kai Lobh Mohu Abhimaanaa ||

Who is not swayed by either slander or praise, nor affected by greed, attachment or pride;

ਹਰਖ ਸੋਗ ਤੇ ਰਹੈ ਨਿਆਰਉ ਨਾਹਿ ਮਾਨ ਅਪਮਾਨਾ ॥੧॥

Harakh Sog Thae Rehai Niaaro Naahi Maan Apamaanaa ||1||

Who remains unaffected by joy and sorrow, honor and dishonor;||1||

ਆਸਾ ਮਨਸਾ ਸਗਲ ਤਿਆਗੈ ਜਗ ਤੇ ਰਹੈ ਨਿਰਾਸਾ ॥

Aasaa Manasaa Sagal Thiaagai Jag Thae Rehai Niraasaa ||

Who renounces all hopes and desires and remains desireless in the world;

ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਜਿਹ ਪਰਸੈ ਨਾਹਨਿ ਤਿਹ ਘਟਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਨਿਵਾਸਾ ॥੨॥

Kaam Krodhh Jih Parasai Naahan Thih Ghatt Breham Nivaasaa ||2||

Who is not touched by sexual desire or anger - within his heart, God dwells. ||2||

ਗੁਰ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਜਿਹ ਨਰ ਕਉ ਕੀਨੀ ਤਿਹ ਇਹ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਪਛਾਨੀ ॥

Gur Kirapaa Jih Nar Ko Keenee Thih Eih Jugath Pashhaanee ||

That man, blessed by Guru's Grace, understands this way.

ਨਾਨਕ ਲੀਨ ਭਇਓ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿਉ ਜਿਉ ਪਾਨੀ ਸੰਗਿ ਪਾਨੀ ॥੩॥੧੧॥

Naanak Leen Bhaeiou Gobindh Sio Jio Paanee Sang Paanee ||3||11||

O Nanak, he merges with the Lord of the Universe, like water with water. ||3||11||

(633)

[N30S1NGH]

Being rich is not a sin in Sikhi. But perception that binds you with money, confines you in money, attaches you in money is sin In fact, any worldly perception that binds/attaches you or confines you is a sin. No outside object is a sin as outside object has no power on its own, its the mind and thoughts which gives the power makes the reality for you. So root is how you perceive it.

Raja janak was rich king and enlightened sage, he was described by bhai gurdas ji- Gurmukh maya vich udasi || Gurmukh who is one who is de-attached while being in material world using material world yet de-attached just like lotus flower is nirlaip(de-attached) from muddy water, yet surronded by muddy water.

One day so called tyagi (renunciate) sage came to raja janak had a doubt in his head- that raja janak cannot be sage he is raja/king has all sorts of comforts, consorts, raniya etc. Raja janak was silent. Just day after his whole mehal(palace) caught on fire and got destroyed, tyagi sage came. Raja janak spoke then, he said all that happen it didn't affected iota in my state of mind just like deep water in deep sea is absolutely still just like that avasta of sage should be absolute stillness-pure awareness-sun samadhi-afor avastha in the root to the point whole world can get destroyed infront of him in blink of eye it would not move inner state of sage/bhramgyani iota bit.

Raja janak also said, premiya my inner state didn't move inch yet you after calling yourself tyagi x, y, z are so attached to small thing such a cane,mala etc. In this way, raja janak gave true upedesha of tyaag to his sage who was doing tyaag externally.

[Guest Sikh]

That makes sense, even after dasvand, saving etc, is it okay to own a nice house, car etc? In my childhood, my family lost everything, in order for me to reach this spot I needed to create a discipline, respect, and obedience for the Guru. Is it a sin to spend money on luxury items even when remaining detached?

[Guest Sat]

It's true that alot of us can be in attachment even though we may claim not to be. Instead practicing and Becoming the detachment is what we should do.

Claiming to practice Truth instead of Doing it is incredibly common today, many waste their Entire Lives doing this and then this Precious Janam is Over.

[Guest Jacfsing2]

Being rich isn't a sin; however, the attachment to maya or the greed for maya is. I can sense your not attached to the Maya because you give your Daswand, and I can tell your not greedy because you acknowledge that Waheguru gave you the wealth, not yourself.

[Not2Cool2Argue]

Give more than daswand

[Guest wealth?]

Being a GurSikh, I believe in an honest living and giving dasvand.

I am starting to make relatively large amounts of money but stay grounded.

sorry mate, you have already fallen into Ego because you have automatically considered yourself as rich, which really means you are COMPARING to poor.

a gursikh has to learn to stay in the middle and walk the thin sharp edge of the khanda.

I do naam Simran and am in the process of defeating my ego, even though it is a long process.

Sorry to tell you, but the Ego is a life long battle, but even then after you are dead and your soul is wandering on other realms and stages trying to get to sachkhand> your ego identity will still remain and fool you all the way.

Throughout reading gurbani, and hearing others, I am starting to believe being rich is a sin in sikhi.

Please read the gurbani quotes again>> doesn't say anything about sin.>>>it's about rising above the level of rich and poor, the true gursikh keeps the maximised love for the lord>>he doesn't let anything catch his 5 dhuts>>pain or joy> rich or poor.

Waheguru gives us everything and I feel bad about the vast money I earn. My earning potential is only increasing but I am happy that I can support various social programs that can change the world. I am not attached to money as I had to detach myself in order to earn it. I don't want to psychologically hinder my progress as they say "Becareful what you wish for". Any thoughts?

You don't feel bad>>you feel weak>>cuz u know it gonna catch you up as it separates you from crowd>>if you think that wont happen then the duniya around you will be fooling you with their conditional suport and false love.

All I can say from experience is that you should carry on doing everything very humbly as far as you can.

Real problems only start after you start spending money and buying stuff>>thats when people start talking and getting more friendly>>>>just like facebook likes and all that crap-the people will give you a false ego boost and make you feel blessed and wonderful>>in reality they only associate cuz you must have some money behind the goods coming in your purchases.

I know people that never worked it out in 20 years and in the end just walked out of that mayavee life.