ITS ONLY MONEY

This is easy to say for the comfortable, but never easy to practice. Unless there is true understanding of the nature of money, its strengths and limitations and a respect for money. Yes, money also needs to be respected. The Hindu and Jain tradition worship the goddess Laxmi as the giver and protector of wealth. In that act of worship is a sense of respect and an expression of thanks. There is also a subtle acknowledgement of the aesthetic nature of money and it is given a sacred quality. Of course the motives by which individuals worship Laxmi may differ. At Diwali, a Chopda Pujan is conducted in the presence of the Gods Laxmi, Saraswati and Ganesh, to request blessings and better empowerment to handle money and distribute it to worthy causes.

RENTING COFFEE

Yes, when you buy a cup of coffee from Starbucks or any other chain in London, at least 50% of the price is for rent of the property. It does not go to the ingredients. And what is rent? It is income for property owners. And what do property owners do to earn the income? They sit, relax and own property. And every time you buy a cup, you are fattening them. The workers who make and serve the coffee are on minimum wages. Another thick slice of your money goes into marketing and image building. I hate Starbucks coffee - it is so strong. However, it has a brand and an image.

The consumer has a choice - to get sucked into this greed economy or to opt out of it. If you make your own coffee at home and take it in a Thermos and drink it in the park, you do not pay any rent nor do you fatten the property owner. Instead you make a positive statement to nature that if land, water and air are for free they should be available to all and not controlled by a few.

It is even possible that the coffee tastes better because you made it with your own hands and spirit.

MONEY STRANGLES IMAGINATION

Money is a measure. It is a quantity and today it has become a means of power, influence and control. In contrast the human being has huge potential qualities. Many of these are unquantifiable. Art and creativity are basic expressions of young children. The human soul is infinite in its imagination potential. Unfortunately, money and the obsession with money strangles the soul. Instead of thinking freely and creatively, we have narrow minds and become more and more quantitative and competitive. This leads to rigid minds and moves us away from lateral thinking. Increasingly, it divides genuine scholars and artists from rich people and financial resources. The worst manifestation of a monetary soul is that it becomes so obsessed by greed, power and control that it itself becomes controlled by money. This is when imagination dies and the soul commits suicide.

PROFESSIONAL OR BUSINESSMAN?

Who is a true professional? An expert who profits or an expert who serves with modesty and contentment? Is a profit-maximising businessman a professional? I would say that what counts is how the money is made and how it is spent and shared. There are a few entrepreneurs who profit and share at the same time - but very few. Unfortunately the majority get taken over by the numbers, often literally. The distrust they learn in the business spreads through into their family and personal relationships as well. Money becomes a measure of everything - including friendship and respect. Personally, I would rather be a professional servant who aims for quality and satisfaction for a modest return.

WHOSE INTEREST?

We live in a world of positive interest rates which guarantee growth of capital. This growth is exponential due to the compounding of interest. In contrast, nature does not grow exponentially. Hence inequalities are created and cultivated. We create two economies - a financial one which has no grounding or direct connection with reality, and a physical one of people, nature and produce. Risk and sacrifice transfers from the wealthy to the slaves - who continue to take on more risk and more penury. The financial economy enables people to earn wealth without effort or respect for nature or people. The physical economy continues to deteriorate from all this violence. And positive interest rates have a lot to do with this. It is now forgotten, but many faiths have prohibited usury as it was seen as a curse and exploitation of the weak and the poor. Today, interest is legitmised and to question it is to question the very basis of modernity itself. Powerful financiers would not like to question these basics as it is not in THEIR interest.