The Detested and the Coveted
What is it that everyone detests? The answer is “daaridryam” (the state of being a “daridra”). Nobody wishes to be a “daridra”. Who then is a “daridra”, and what is “daaridryam”?
Daridra and Daaridryam defined
The common view is that one who is possessed of wealth is not a “daridra” and one devoid of wealth is a “daridra”. However, when analysed logically, it will be seen that there is no relationship between daaridryam and wealth.
In fact, he who has longings is the true “daridra”, while one bereft of longings is a “bhaagyashali” – the fortunate one. This is the true import of “daridryam”
Consider a man who has a hundred rupees. He feels that he would be fortunate and would be able to carry on his living, if he were to have a thousand rupees. On the other hand, one with a thousand may consider ten thousand to be a necessity. Likewise, one with a ten thousand would feel a lakh to be a necessity and so on. These never-ending longings indicate “daaridryam”, the state of being a “daridra”.
Hence, it would be improper to say that only when a man has no wealth, he is a “daridra”. On the contrary, nowadays, even one with some degree of wealth regards oneself as a “daridra”.
Consider the case of the Rishis of yore. Though not in possession of affluence, they never regarded themselves as “daridras”. What is the reason for this difference?
The reason is that the Rishis were bereft of longings and were ever contented. Contrastingly, there flourishes a veritable kingdom of desires in the minds of people. Even though possessed of wealth and power, there are some who experience misery as they have not been able to uproot their desires.
Hence, to get rid of the feeling of “daaridryam”, eradication of longings leading to contentment is a sine qua non. It is this state that has to be coveted by a Sadhaka (a spiritual seeker).
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