Money and Spirituality

I know a teacher of spirituality who teaches people how to align themselves with the Tao of success, so they can bring their dreams into reality. His definition of success includes financial prosperity with no apologies whatsoever. His teachings in that area of life resembles a more powerful version of Deepak Chopra's Seven Spiritual Laws of Success.

Upon seeing this, there are some seekers of spirituality who take offense. "Excuse me," they ask, "but isn't being greedy diametrically opposite to being spiritual?"

"You are mixing up different concepts," the teacher replies. "Greed is the lack of moderation in pursuing money. It is the lack of moderation that drives us away from spirituality, not the pursuit of money."

"So instead of learning to meditate or being present in the moment, we should learn all about how to make lots of money? That's ridiculous."

"Again, you are mixing things up. A poor person can be highly spiritual, not spiritual at all, or anywhere in between. Same with a rich person. To think that one has to choose one or the other is a false dichotomy, because there is nothing wrong with choosing both at the same time. Be careful whenever you are presented with a either-or proposition. Always regard 'neither' and 'both' as possible options to consider as well."

"Look... it simply does not feel right to talk about acquiring ever more material things when there are so many people in the world who live under such crushing poverty."

"It's actually the other way around. No amount of poverty on my part will help ease their suffering in the slightest. On the other hand, the more resources I possess, the more I can do for them."