Message of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Sookti – May 24, 2020 – Mysore
Compiled by: Parimala Eshwarla
Vidēśēṣu dhanam vidyā, vyasanēṣu dhanam matiḥ
Paralōkē dhanam dharmaḥ, śīlaṃ sarvatra vai dhanam
When in foreign lands, knowledge be it of any form- transforms into wealth. It helps the person earn respect, happiness and comforts. To a person who has succumbed to vices and is striving to come out of them, right thought and wisdom become the wealth. They help him abandon the vice and acquire happiness. The meritorious and righteous deeds performed on earth translate into wealth which help the person reach higher planes and enjoy happiness there. Good behaviour, good conduct, non-violence, being truthful and walking on the right path- these good qualities translate into wealth and shower prosperity both in this world and the next.
Dvē vidyē parā aparā cēti- declares the Upanishad. In this world there are two types of knowledge- para and apara. The first among them is Para. The form of the Mother Goddess Lalita devi is para vidya. It is also known as Srividya. The other is Apara vidya. All the different types of worldly knowledge are classified as Apara vidya.
Apara vidya has two further classifications. Those that teach spiritual knowledge and those that teach knowledge essential for earning a living. Both these types of knowledge shower happiness, and comforts. Based on the individual thinking, their characteristics keep constantly changing.
The four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, Artharva), the 6 Shastras such as Tarka, Vyakarana and others, the other limbs of Veda, music etc. are Adyatmika vidya. Along with worldly happiness they shower non-worldly bliss too. They enhance name and prestige in society. They show the way by which one can tread the path of Supreme Knowledge (para vidya). When travelling to other lands, like a true friend they help us. They shower us with wealth and grains.
Knowledge pertaining to science is classified as worldly knowledge. In this world they grant renown, prestige, comforts, wealth etc. In when in foreign lands, they come of help. However they cannot grant spiritual bliss. Nor can they grant mental bliss.
Having excessive desire towards one particular object is vyasana. Vyasana does not only imply addiction to vices. Some are obsessed with engaging in charitable deeds. Some others are obsessed with reading. Some others are obsessed with worship. Many others are obsessed with bad habits.
Obsession with bad habits throws the person into grave danger. Good addictions turn helpful to the society at large. To such people, their wisdom is their wealth.
With the wealth earned on earth, we can enjoy all material comforts. But, what about enjoying happiness when we reach other planes? Even that can be earned through wealth earned on earth. How? Through the charities, good meritorious deeds and social welfare activities that we engage on earth. When in other planes, they come back to us as wealth.
All the different types of wealth discussed thus far are destructible in nature. Good behaviour, good conduct, the wealth called virtues, soft-spoken nature are all wealth. There is no wealth greater than good character.
In this way, by utilizing that wealth which is not actually termed wealth, the person can obtain all happiness and limitless bliss.