Good And Bad Money

[Bundha]

Some thoughts, you may not agree but that is okay.

Guru Ji put a lot of stress on doing KIRAT, that is, an honest days work, part of the Sikh foundation Naam Japo, kirat karo and Wand Shako.

When we do kirat with our own hands (and minds) then the money we earn, for a want of a better word, is Good money. We have earned it with our own hands, this is very important. This money brings BARKAT into our life, that is, it brings prosperity.

When we earn money by deceit, by lying, by cheating or by the detriment of others then this is Bad money. It becomes poison; it pollutes our being, our family, our prosperity. Not only this, but money obtained through gambling is also tainted. When a person places a bet his mind set is most likely that he will gamble his money and if he wins then he will use the money for more gambling or for drink or for other disreputable acts. Now, if you gamble, maybe on the scratch cards or on the lottery then all that money you win comes to you with baggage. The baggage of needs and longings of people who keep bad sangat and when that money is used then all those longings and needs (a kind of sukhna if you like) then poison everything you do, it may not be apparent immediately but the poison will take effect and it will pollute your life and in the long run it will manifest itself in all sort of unexpected ways. You will not make the connection and you will think why is this happening to me?, if you have some gian you will realise what is happening but it is not easy.

Obtaining money from these means sometimes looks tempting as it brings big returns but in the long run it can be our ruin. In the long run when things start to go awry we cannot understand it. We go to Gurdwara, we do our paath, why is this happening to me? we say, but we forget that the money we have used was obtained by ill gains and it is now poisoning our lives and paying dividend by things not going right for us.

Even more controversially, be very careful where you give money.

You give money to someone who is standing on the street asking for money and you take pity on him, he then goes and uses that money to buy cigarettes, then your good kirat/kumai has gone to a bad place. This will affect you. You give to charity in all good faith but your money does not go to the needy but instead is used to pay for hospitality for the managers, again your kirat/kumai has been used in the wrong way, this will again affect your Barkat/prosperity. It is not just a matter of giving your money to charity and you have done your bit, you need to make sure that your money goes to the mouths of the needy. If one needy person eats and his heart send out a blessing to you then that will pay dividends in Gurus court, if one needy Gursikhs pain or hunger is eased by your charity then that will be registered with Guru Ji.

The path of a Gursikh is very difficult and you need to keep rehit/maryadha and suchum, but you also need to be aware and be very careful in all manners of your life, but in the long run it is all worth it just for one smile from Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

[MisterrSingh]

Great post, thank-you.

[singhbj singh]

aasaa |

Aasaa:

kaahoo dheenaae paatt pattanbar kaahoo palagh nivaaraa |

To some, the Lord has given silks and satins, and to some, beds decorated with cotton ribbons.

kaahoo garee godharee naahee kaahoo khaan paraaraa |1|

Some do not even have a poor patched coat, and some live in thatched huts. ||1||

ahirakh vaadh n keejai rae man |

Do not indulge in envy and bickering, O my mind.

sukirath kar kar leejai rae man |1| rehaao |

By continually doing good deeds, these are obtained, O my mind. ||1||Pause||

kumaarai eaek j maattee goondhee bahu bidh baanee laaee |

The potter works the same clay, and colors the pots in different ways.

kaahoo mehi mothee mukathaahal kaahoo biaadh lagaaee |2|

Into some, he sets pearls, while to others, he attaches filth. ||2||

soomehi dhan raakhan ko dheeaa mugadh kehai dhan maeraa |

God gave wealth to the miser for him to preserve, but the fool calls it his own.

jam kaa ddandd moondd mehi laagai khin mehi karai nibaeraa |3|

When the Messenger of Death strikes him with his club, in an instant, everything is settled. ||3||

har jan ootham bhagath sadhaavai aagiaa man sukh paaee |

The Lord's humble servant is called the most exalted Saint; he obeys the Command of the Lord's Order, and obtains peace.

jo this bhaavai sath kar maanai bhaanaa mann vasaaee |4|

Whatever is pleasing to the Lord, he accepts as True; he enshrines the Lord's Will within his mind. ||4|

kehai kabeer sunahu rae santhahu maeree maeree jhoothee |

Says Kabeer, listen, O Saints - it is false to call out, Mine, mine.

chiragatt faar chattaaraa lai gaeiou tharee thaagaree shoottee |5|3|16|

Breaking the bird cage, death takes the bird away, and only the torn threads remain. ||5||3||16||

Source - http://igurbani.com/?shabadid=1783&id=21572#bmb=1