What Is True Wealth?

Somehow the concept of wealth has been reduced to having loads of money and that money is seen as fundamental to accessing a fulfilling life. There is no denying that having money is absolutely necessary to live in this society, contributes to a feeling of security, and provides very important access and opportunities. And of course there is nothing inherently wrong with pursuing, desiring, and having goals around accumulating material wealth. However, it is imperative that we recognize that there is something deluded in our cultures definition and relationship with what wealth truly is.

The expression to “Live Large” according to Merriam Webster is to live like a very wealthy and successful person. There are enough reality television shows, celebrity tragedies, and personal experiences with unhappy rich people to prove that contentment, peace and joy do not necessarily ride the coat tails of acquiring millions of dollars. And yet, somehow our cultural perception of success continues to be tied to an external circumstance. When we are defined by the external alone we tend towards a need to hoard and protect our possessions, and even more dangerously we associate our identity with our possessions. As a result of this, there can be an internal shutting down and obscuring of our perception of ourselves as limited. Our minds become rigid, and fear of losing what we have makes us contract. We cling to our personality and protect its boundaries with fierce determination. “ This is who I am. This is how I am. “ We are unknowingly and sometimes knowingly on the offensive trying to shape and control the images of us in other peoples minds as well as our own. Instead of connecting to an intimate inner place, we rely on the outer world to tell us who we are. Over and over again we surrender our sense of security and belonging to something outside of ourselves that is subject to the constant winds of change (otherwise known as suffering). 

There is another way to define living large that will actually lead to an ongoing experience of fulfillment and steadfast wealth. Instead, living large can be understood as an internal state that ripples outward. It’s living in relationship with the essence of who you are; which goes beyond concepts and words. It’s opening to a vastness inside of you that understands that ultimately there is nothing to fear. Our true unbound nature teaches us that the boundaries of our personality are not fixed and in turn, this experience of ourselves offers a willingness to laugh, feel uncomfortable, be wrong, and make mistakes. As a result of this relationship with our inner Self we no longer contract fully in the face of challenging moments and become increasingly curious. This curiosity is especially helpful when we encounter hidden pockets of pain (old and new) that need to be excavated and tended to. Living large in this way is a constant evolution. Revelation after humbling revelation; there is always more to learn. More mistakes to be made. Continued expansion of our capacity for awareness. We dance and sing and cry with our pain and joy, and remain open to whatever comes, whether it be the boredom, irritation, or the ecstasy sitting within the simplest moments.

Interestingly, when we tap into this largeness within us a deep satisfaction reveals itself, and regardless of our outer circumstances we feel full and rich. As a result we stop needing to chase money and experiences in an attempt to define ourselves. According to Sri Swami Satchidananda, “If we are completely free from stealing and greed, contented with what we have, and if we keep serene minds, all wealth comes to us. If we do not run after it, before long it runs after us. If nature knows we aren’t greedy, she gains confidence in us, knowing we will never hold her for ourselves.”

Satchidananda is showing us that Nature sees us too. Maya Angelou says that “ A bird doesn’t sing because it has answer, it sings because it has a song.” Nature is the orchestra of being all around us and shows us what wealth truly is. WE are inherently a part of this gorgeous symphony, and have this ability to tap into the rhythms and contribute. The key notion of wealth is to contribute our songs, not to get sung to. The getting part is our cultural delusion around wealth because clearly; whether we nestle inside ourselves, or step outside, all we need to do is listen and it is clear that there is nothing to get as we are in a constant process of receiving. The hum of silence, the birds, the insects, leaves fluttering, the cool breeze, the warmth of the sun or the drops of rain. From this deep listening, we naturally and simply respond.

—Last month we had a discussion in Tuesday’s class about true wealth and the results were immediate. I felt wealthy in my ability call in postures and move with ease with them. I felt rich being able to share this practice that I love, with the incredible souls that were there in that moment. Every breath felt like a gift. The next day, a student texted me that she felt wealthy biking to the library. Wealth isn’t something we have to earn, wait for, or acquire. Wealth is a state of being.

I’d love to encourage each of you to immerse yourself in the experience of wealth available to you here and now. What do you notice? What do you feel? What comes to you freely? Also, feel free to respond to this email if you want to share what true wealth means to you, as I always love hearing from you.

I’m honored to be on this journey with you.

Love,

Nicole