View source for To be spiritually advanced is different from being materially rich

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[[Category:Spiritually Advanced]]

[[Category:Different]]

[[Category:Rich]]

== Srimad-Bhagavatam ==

=== SB Canto 7 ===

<span class="q_heading">'''If one becomes very rich through his professional activities, through trade or through agriculture, this does not mean that he is spiritually advanced. '''</span>

<span class="SB-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:SB 7.15.29|SB 7.15.29, Translation and Purport]]: As professional activities or business profits cannot help one in spiritual advancement but are a source of material entanglement, the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies cannot help anyone who is not a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.'''

If one becomes very rich through his professional activities, through trade or through agriculture, this does not mean that he is spiritually advanced. To be spiritually advanced is different from being materially rich. Although the purpose of life is to become spiritually rich, unfortunate men, misguided as they are, are always engaged in trying to become materially rich. Such material engagements, however, do not help one in the actual fulfillment of the human mission. On the contrary, material engagements lead one to be attracted to many unnecessary necessities, which are accompanied by the risk that one may be born in a degraded condition. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.18):

:ūrdhvaṁ gacchanti sattva-sthā
:madhye tiṣṭhanti rājasāḥ
:jaghanya-guṇa-vṛtti-sthā
:adho gacchanti tāmasāḥ

"Those situated in the mode of goodness gradually go upward to the higher planets; those in the mode of passion live on the earthly planets; and those in the mode of ignorance go down to the hellish worlds." Especially in this Kali-yuga, material advancement means degradation and attraction to many unwanted necessities that create a low mentality. Therefore, jaghanya-guṇa-vṛtti-sthā: since people are contaminated by the lower qualities, they will lead their next lives either as animals or in other degraded forms of life. Making a show of religion without Kṛṣṇa consciousness may make one popular in the estimation of unintelligent men, but factually such a materialistic display of spiritual advancement does not help one at all; it will not prevent one from missing the goal of life.</span>

== Lectures ==

=== General Lectures ===

<span class="q_heading">'''That "very good man" does not mean that he is spiritually advanced. He may be moralist.'''</span>

<span class="LEC-statistics">'''[[Vanisource:Lecture Engagement and Prasada Distribution -- Boston, April 26, 1969|Lecture Engagement and Prasada Distribution -- Boston, April 26, 1969]]:''' Pure means materially pure. But yoga practice means go to the spiritual platform. Just like in the material qualities, some men are very good men—the quality of goodness—and some men are in passion. That is the rajo-guṇa. And some men are in darkness. So there are three qualities in the material world: sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa, and tamo-guṇa. So those who are situated in the modes of goodness, they are called perfect in the material world, very good men. That "very good man" does not mean that he is spiritually advanced. He may be moralist. He may be philanthropist, just like so many leaders of nations. That is another thing. The spiritual state is called viśuddha-sattva. Viśuddha-sattva means goodness where no other quality can contaminate. Here even one man is very good man, sometimes he is tinged with passion or ignorance. Just like I told you that Mahātmā Gandhi, he was a recognized good man, but he committed so many mistakes. So pure goodness is not possible in this material world. Pure goodness means spiritual life.</span>