Banking on religion.

Money is the root of all evil is the universal adage; a wealthy man who was discontented plagued by illness approached a sage, who advised him to give all his money and wealth to the sage for eternal happiness, soon the man ended up in a soup kitchen. This reminds me of a similar anecdote that happened many years ago; a wealthy merchant approached a doctor with many ailments, he was advised to go on an austere diet of rice gruel and water, the same the doctor was approached by a poor skinny rickshaw puller with health issues, the doctor advised him to indulge in rich foods like, meat, cakes, wine and venison.

As Mark Twain stated “the lack of money is the root of all evil” the East and West may never meet but will agree on this truth. Monasteries, Seminaries and Madrasah’s are the theological schools that churn out erudite ministers, priests, rabbi’s and mullahs who are supposed to be enlightened after they complete their theological education. However even through scores of men flock to these schools we hardly find any true leader emerging from these schools. By contrast many students who attend academics and institutions to pursue, engineering, science and management find their place in the world and many become leaders in their own vocations or spheres.

There must be a something fundamentally wrong with theological schools as their products become more inclusive and dig deeper into then own superstition and beliefs. None of them have emerged as leaders or innovators to show the”. People then tend to worship deities, Feng shuie, in the hope of acquiring wealth and happiness. Greece the ancient citadel of learning and religion is knocking on the doors of Plautus and Zeus (gods of wealth) to ensure indiscriminate allocation of resources. Now they are reduced to a bunch of beggars begging for Euros.

The Middle East with its vast oil resources is witnessing internecine revolts and violence. India with its multitude of divine gods is still floundering; the Japanese with Shinto and Feng shuie are devastated by natural calamities. The Chinese meanwhile who are communists are laughing all the way to the bank, like the Taoist laughing Buddha. Knowing one’s truth is a state of mind and an intuitive capacity to be right and correct. People must be free to choose by overcoming myths towards understanding capitalism.

Mullah Nasuruddin illustrates this verily. He was walking with his followers in the Bazaar, jumping up & down shouting “hu hu” his followers copied him & he was asked by a shopkeeper, how he would impart spiritual wisdom by these silly antics and how these students would become erudite? Mullah Nasurudeen replied “those who are enlightened will leave my school”. As Confucius said “remember, no matter where you go, for enlightenment there you are”