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Money and the Pursuit of Wisdom and Enlightenment

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Money & The Pursuit of Wisdom and Enlightenment

Money, for all intents and purposes, is any system of currency that constitutes value and can be exchanged for material goods or performed services. All people require money in order to satisfy their survival needs and compulsive desires that are unnecessary, yet tempting. Without money, our technological, industrial, self-interested, media-induced society would cease to function – especially since it is the pursuit of money that entices people to work hard. We all appreciate being rewarded for our efforts in a measurable medium, since it allows us a certain level of freedom. It is this obsession with reward that has choked what is left of untethered curiosity and in many ways de-humanized most people. When one's time is consumed by financial worries, it is difficult to participate in socialization, learning, and different kinds of personal growth. It’s human nature to pursue understanding and knowledge. Rather than human beings, we are transformed into machines, whose primary purpose is to pursue money. Money is arguably the greatest hindrance preventing human beings from pursuing happiness through wisdom and spiritual enlightenment.
Wisdom, in this case, is knowledge coupled with understanding. The true pursuit of wisdom has nothing to do with pride or striving for omniscience, but has much to do with reaching a greater level of insight as to how the universe operates and why. To be enlightened is to experience a revelation – to suddenly realize something that was previously unknown. Attempting to get rich is a flaw in human behaviour, since material objects are worthless and enlightenment is paramount. Essentially, the endless quest for finances needed in order to survive is the largest restriction life has to offer, since it suppresses our natural inclination toward personal growth and learning in favour of

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