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Sunday, April 9, 2017

Celebrationism: On Prosperity


There was this lady whom I knew, who married into a wealthy family. Her father-in-law gave the couple a house as their wedding gift.

Two years passed and the value of the house doubled. The lady came to me for advice, asking if she should sell the house away and cash out when the value is high, fearing well that the house might never fetch as high a value in future – a common dilemma.

To which, I only asked: what if the value of the house continues to rise? Wouldn’t there then be a lost opportunity of making more money as well?

The notion of prosperity involves more than just having money. It should, in fact, be basis or source for more money to come, both in gifting and providing.
 


In the case of the lady, it was the house at that point in time because the house was giving her more money than two years before.

Then, while that house was part of her prosperity, it was not all of her prosperity. Prosperity is that which provides even greater prosperity. In her case, it was also her father-in-law—he who gave them a house which appreciated in value.

Then, her father-in-law was not all of her prosperity. Her husband was also part of her prosperity. Because of their matrimonial union, they were gifted a house which appreciated in value.

Then, the husband is not all of her prosperity. The husband married her because he saw beauty in her: her physical beauty, her inner beauty, her kindness, her tenderness, her charisma, her purity in faith, steadfastness and all the lovely qualities she possesses.

Then, her beauty and qualities are not all of her prosperity. The source of her beauty could have come from her spiritual connection and devotion to heaven, to God and to the universe.
 


When we see prosperity only in terms of money, it becomes so dull, so short and so superficial. It also becomes more transient because it makes us worry (Will it devalue? Will we lose out? Would we have lost another wealth opportunity?), thereby making us more fearful and worrisome of losses, more easily regretful and even fustier. It has a danger of turning us negative and ugly.

On the other hand, when we see prosperity as that which provides greater prosperity, we are looking deeper. We look more deeply into ourselves—our hearts and our strengths; we look more deeply into the environment around us and the people who surround us. Suddenly, life becomes richer. We see more possibilities and opportunities. Relationships become part of prosperity. Our relationships with God, the universe and heaven become part of our prosperity. Faith, love and hope become part of our prosperity. Wisdom and strength of character become part of our prosperity. Our ability to give without the need to take back becomes a part of our prosperity. Even a simple but determined belief that there is a reason for everything or always a better tomorrow becomes a part of our prosperity.

And we become more positive. We become more beautiful.

-- Master Yun Long Zi

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