The real obstacle on the spiritual path is not possession, but possessiveness.

By: B.K. Surya
Source: The Daily Guardian https://epaper.thedailyguardian.com/2026/07/03/e-paper-today-delhi-04-july-2026/
Dated: July 4th, 2026

A well-known teaching from the Bible says that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. At first glance, this statement may appear to condemn wealth. However, when understood more deeply, the message is not against prosperity, but against attachment.

Money is simply a resource that can be used either selfishly or selflessly. The real obstacle on the spiritual path is not possession, but possessiveness. It is the consciousness of “this is mine” and the dependence of happiness upon material comforts that bind the soul and prevent it from experiencing inner freedom.

Today we often measure success by external achievements — luxurious homes, expensive possessions, and social status. The richer one becomes, the stronger the temptation to maintain and expand that lifestyle. Gradually, wealth begins to own the person rather than the person owning the wealth. Fear enters the mind: fear of loss, fear of failure, fear of falling behind others. Comparison and competition become the rich man’s constant companions, and even after attaining abundance, the desire for more rarely ends.

Greed is one of the subtle chains that tie the soul to sorrow. Greed creates restlessness because it is rooted in the false belief that happiness lies outside the self. The soul then keeps chasing temporary pleasures, while neglecting the inner treasures of peace, purity, love, and contentment. In this pursuit, there is little time left for silence, self-reflection, meditation, or remembrance of God.

The irony is that material wealth can increase external comfort while inner emptiness continues to grow. We may sleep on a luxurious bed and yet be unable to sleep peacefully. We may possess vast estates and yet feel insecure. The soul longs not merely for possessions, but for meaning, belonging, and spiritual fulfilment.

This is why the true remedy is not poverty, but detachment. Detachment does not mean renouncing responsibilities or abandoning the world. It means remaining internally free while using everything responsibly. A detached person may live amidst wealth, yet remain untouched by arrogance, greed, or dependency. The inspiring tale of King Janak in Indian mythology shows that it is possible to live so. Janak ruled a prosperous kingdom while remaining deeply spiritual and internally detached. Though surrounded by luxury, power, and responsibility, he did not allow material possessions to dominate his consciousness. He performed his duties with wisdom and balance, considering himself a trustee rather than an owner. His life demonstrated that spirituality does not require escaping the world; rather, it requires remaining inwardly free while living and acting within it. Because of his elevated state of mind, King Janak is remembered not merely as a ruler, but as a royal sage.

Whatever wealth, talent, or position we possess has been entrusted to us for a higher purpose. When this awareness develops, money becomes a means for service rather than self-indulgence. Wealth can then support charity and the upliftment of society. Used with spiritual wisdom, riches become instruments of benevolence.

Most importantly, detachment brings contentment. Contentment is the greatest wealth because it frees the mind from endless craving. A contented soul experiences dignity and peace independent of external conditions. Such a person naturally becomes generous, compassionate, and humble. Others feel elevated in their presence because true spirituality radiates through simplicity and kindness, not through displays of status.

God does not reject the wealthy. He invites every soul to become light. When attachment is removed, anxiety and ego disappear. Then the soul can move easily towards the “kingdom of God” — a state of consciousness filled with peace, purity, and love.

In the end, the question is not how much wealth we possess, but whether wealth possesses us. The person who masters detachment while fulfilling worldly responsibilities becomes truly rich — not merely in possessions, but in virtues. Such souls are remembered not for what they accumulated, but for the blessings they gave to the world.

B.K. Surya is a Rajyoga teacher at the Brahma Kumaris headquarters in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.