I have recently been taken to task by a famous blogger for suggesting that his use of the promise of “getting rich” to entice people to spend more money on a self-help program is not consistent with the teachings he represents (“Spirituality and Love”).

In service to my own clarity in learning, I thought I would write about this- very briefly:

The reason our current concept of money gets in the way of our path to God is not a question of whether it is “good” or “bad” to make a lot of money.  The issue is not in the making/not making of money- the issue is in the attachment to the making or not making of money- or any other form with which we might identify ourselves (fame/notoriety is another one which entices us as well).

We hear and read about spiritual seekers who renunciate the material world, and we call this “old fashioned”; however, we misinterpret the meaning and purpose of the renunciation.  For the mystics, especially, they realized in their union with Spirit that any of the stuff to which we attach ourselves in the material world not only were irrelevant (because of the infinite Love they discovered within themselves), but in many ways were actually a barrier- another form/false idol to be “worshipped”, and through this create more separation from God.

God doesn’t care if we are rich or poor, famous or unknown- from God’s perspective He/She only cares that we KNOW Him/Her (in the Gnostic sense of the word), and through this we experience the “Peace that passeth all understanding”, and from here compelled to serve those around us, as a channel of lovingkindness, an open conduit for Spirit.

It’s interesting that when we really research those humans who have fully experienced the Peace of God, we find that they went to live lives of loving humility and service, without many possessions- not because they were “supposed to”, but because they transcended any attachment to it.  Some got famous just because of the Consciousness they emanated, or their inspired writings, and every sacred text , from the Bible, to the Gnostic texts, the Bhagavad Gita, the Tao,- all emphasize this exact point- detachment from form is a key to the Path.  This isn’t “old” in the sense of being outdated, it is “old” in the sense of wisdom through the ages.

So again, I am not disagreeing that anyone on the “Spiritual Path” should be free and open to enjoying wealth and/or fame, or any other physical manifestation.  However, if we really want to guide people to a closer communion with God, it is important that we make that the goal.  Make a lot of money- great- but DO NOT make it the incentive, the bottom line- because then we do chase a false idol, we have created a reference point external to ourselves which is determining worth, as opposed to the light within.

The only real bottom line, as always, is to continue to grow in our communion with Spirit, and through this, Love.   That’s the real money.

I am in school with a very nice gentleman- as a young man he wanted to be a famous Rock Star- but after drugs and an overdose, he came to religion.  Now, it is clear he wants to achieve notoriety as a Pastor- he is very charming and eloquent, and I am sure he will.  On the one hand, if he is to achieve fame as something, perhaps better to be a preacher; but from Spirit’s perspective- there is no difference between the Rock Star and the Famous Preacher- in both cases his attachment to fame keeps him separated from the Essence of God, where his true “salvation” lies.