Is it bad to be greedy? Is it all moh-maya?
A definition of enough money and a justification for its longing is that one needs enough money so that one can live life doing all those things that he truly enjoys, without worrying for money. So money is an "enabler" for bringing enjoyment and happiness in life.
But the trap is that people start loving only the act of making money itself. Anyway, if you can convince yourself that there are no better means of enjoyment in life, stay hungry for money, stay foolish, stay happy collecting money till end!! But how easy is it to renounce the greed or longing for more and more money or in other words, how easy is it to strike a balance? What does it take? Let's look at some examples of people who influenced the world.
Did Gandhi embrace austerity from childhood? He was born to filthy rich parents who could afford to send him abroad for study (a luxury in those days). Till age of 40 or so, he photographed himself in nice, expensive suits. Then suddenly he shun all this and resorted to austerity. Call it self-realization or publicity stunt or way to connect with masses!! (depending upon how much you like Gandhi or his policies)
May be the joy of public admiration is much more than any earthly (oops did I include sex!!) means of happiness!!
Could Buddha become so selfless had he not been born in royal family and enjoyed the royal luxuries in childhood?
Is such a resort to austerity after enjoying pleasures merely an escape from rat-race which one gets fed up with? or is it something really eternal, heavenly blessing?
I believe, It is very difficult to renounce desire for money without enjoying it at least once. Or may be we are tempted to believe this b'coz we don’t know about cases where people resorted to austerity without enjoying riches. May be such people don't exist or they simply don’t hit headlines. We respect those who had achieved something (by pursuing or by sheer luck) and then talked and preached about its meaninglessness!! Paradox? May be!
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