Greed

 Like a mirage, we chase it; like quicksand, it consumes us.
                                                                                                                          -Ambar Pathak

Photo by Gabriel Meinert on Unsplash

Greed is not a bad thing unless it becomes limited to the small pool of desires which cages the immense possibilities of one's life in the dark cave of ignorance. 

To me, Greed is only a word that can be used in both negative and positive sense. However, it is essential to understand the intent of your greediness. For instance, I am greedy and selfish, but about the right things. My Greed is about making this world a better place. It is born out of a Seeking in my life that aims to know the fundamental nature of things. But there is also a class of greedy men that focuses only on what they don't have and lead a miserable life. Their Greed is like a leaking bucket that can never be fulfilled. It inspires ego, the mother of all crimes.

In the same context, I can go as far as to accuse Gautam Buddha of Greed. He left his kingdom, wife and children behind to seek answers to the troubling questions of life and death. But his Greed exploded into enlightenment which gave the world a new outlook towards life. His Greed had a universal impact. At the same time, his cousin, Devdutt, wanted him dead because of jealousy. One man's Greed liberated people from ego, and the other man's ego pushed him to plot murder.  

We should not observe Money, Fame and Power in a negative light. They have got nothing to do with Greed. They are just tools to be used. The only thing that matters is intention. A good man who has money, fame and power would only inspire better things in society in comparison to a bad man. A corrupt politician like Lalu Yadav would use power to benefit himself and thus propagate the same in the workings of the government. In the same manner, an excellent political leader would ensure the efficient functioning of the government for the welfare of the people.  I said earlier that I want to make this world a better place. But it won't happen if I don't work on myself first. I must become a good man who can bring those changes. Mahatma Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." This is what I am talking about. Our Greed is not the problem, we are.

If we talk about our generation, we will find that most people are not ready to look beyond the web of desires, which takes its birth from Greed. It is like they are on an endless journey that would never end. Seneca has rightly said, "you act like mortals in all that you fear, and like immortals in all that you desire." Such lifestyle is tiring and very much like the concept of displacement in Science. Many people think they are making progress but find themselves lost in the later stages of life. They work hard in the wrong direction; their displacement from the cave of ignorance to the guiding light of liberation shows the plight of their situation. 

Many good books have asserted the importance of enjoying the journey, but people have only learned to appreciate the summit, which never seems to come. Even if we conquer the mountain of illusion, it would only make space for ego and pride. But, on the flip side, we would make space for love, contentment, and peace if we expose ourselves to reality.