Spiritual Capitalism

Madana-gopala das

 According to the ancient scripture Sri Isopanisad: isavasyam idam sarvam yat kinca jagatyam jagat tena tyaktana bhunjitha ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam "Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong."

Property rights begin with God. The Bhagavad-gita (Bg. 7:4-5) says that the elements of nature - earth, fire, water, air, ether, mind, intelligence and ego - all belong to the material energy of the Lord, whereas living beings are the spiritual energies of the Lord. Both emanate from the Lord and ultimately the Lord is the "Paramesvara" or the Supreme Controller of everything that exists. There is nothing in the universe that does not belong to the blessed Lord. Therefore everything is the property of the Supreme Being. He is the owner and self sufficient and inexhaustible supplier of all living entities' insatiable demands. Thus, there are no shortages in God's creation. Any shortage that we experience in our personal lives or as a society is due to our violation of God's natural law, or interference with the secondary property rights of man and/or the principles of the free market economy. At the core of man's interventionism is the deep-seeded need of some (usually those who claim a false power and/or need) to steal the rights, goods or property of others: "knowing well to whom they belong." "He that will not work shall not eat," (II Thessalonians 3,10). Starvation is nature's invitation to work: a clarion call from God. In the Bhagavad-gita (Bg. 3:8) the Lord says, "Perform your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction. A man cannot even maintain his physical body without work."

(The second half of this essay will appear in the next issue of the Nectar News)

For a more in-depth understanding of Spiritual Capitalism, you may order the timeless 1982 philosophical economic treatise, "A Microcosmic Lesson," at the cost of $5.00 from House of Mohan, P.O. 64407, Washington, D.C. 20029 (202) 397-2435.