To most people, the word wealth involves money. I am not going to spend much time talking about money in this blog as it actually isn’t relevant to true wealth. If you don’t already know the true nature and origins of how and why money was created, it’s a good idea to watch some documentaries on the topic. “I Want The Earth Plus 5%” by Larry Hannigan is a good brief one, and “The Money Masters: The rise of the bankers” by Bill Still is a long one providing the full story.
To really address all the world’s wealth issues, we really need to bypass money altogether. There are people who have put forward brilliant alternative systems to money. The best material available on the topic that I know of is by Colin Turner, founder of The Free World Charter. I will leave it to Colin to fill you in on all the opportunities that await us, if we are smart enough to abandon the current system.
So instead of talking about money, I’d like to share a perspective on wealth you may never have thought of. We have all probably been exposed to the New Age buzz around abundance and prosperity. The main source of hype on this topic came from the documentary The Secret. I usually refrain from sharing personal views and experiences, but I think it is appropriate to share this one story.
The masters I spent time with in India and elsewhere were absolutely ‘furious’ at the damage that documentary did to the psyche of mankind. When I asked them about it, they bluntly told me that it only contained 3% Truth. One New Ager dismissed this and said, “Oh, well, at least it had some truth in it so it must have done some good.” Well, no. It doesn’t work that way. When something is 97% false, it is obviously going to be the dominant force within its effect, so the result will always have a negative impact.
The truth around money and wealth has been revealed in countless quotes of brilliant people. Gandhi’s quote perhaps captures it the best, “There is enough for every man’s need; not every man’s greed”. I have a saying I share in jest, ”I don’t think the Buddha taught wealth creation seminars on his way to enlightenment.” It is obvious the pursuit of money and material security no longer serves humanity. So before we continue towards a mutual point of understanding, we need to put aside all current beliefs around money and abundance.
I would like to start by sharing my definitions of the words - ABUNDANCE, PROSPERITY and SURPLUS - and perhaps look at them from a more spiritually empowered perspective:
ABUNDANCE - having everything required to maintain the standard of living and state of being necessary to meet all your needs
PROSPERITY - having everything you need to maintain growth on all levels of your being in order to find and fulfil your potential
SURPLUS - having everything you need to maintain your potential in order to find and fulfil your unique purpose, which is to share everything you have with everyone around you - so they can be abundant and prosperous, and fulfil their purpose.
These three words indicate a spiritual evolution within individuals, and their community. I have had rich and renowned people be awestruck by these definitions. They are finally able understand why all their material and financial affluence has left them feeling unfulfilled.
By living according to all natural laws, an individual is able to produce more than they need. Surplus represents an overflowing of natural wealth, where it pours over from the individual into their community.
A community can also function at each of these levels. When a community experiences surplus, it means they are able to serve other communities. Therefore, true wealth can only really be experienced once everyone has a surplus. I love the quote by Cardinal Roger Mahony, "Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members - the last, the least, the littlest." If the conscious sharing and reciprocity does not become our sole focus, then we are doomed to continue the rapid decline of our species.
To make it clear, surplus is the result of the efficient use of resources. This then enables us to become even more efficient to the point where we continue to produce more from less. Buckminster Fuller used the word ‘ephemeralisation’ to describe this reality. Peter Joseph from The Zeitgeist Movement, and the late Jacque Fresco from The Venus Project, have done a lot to bring this concept to the public’s attention.
Again, the truth is always pure and simple. We all just need to accept this to be the case, and return to the basics human values. If we have the courage to take on the challenge, we can turn the visions the greatest minds have held for humanity into a reality.
Brian Gerard Schaefer :)
If you want to find out more on how to create true wealth, read my eBook THE NATURE OF LIFE: How to remain at Peace while living in the modern world. Click on the link below to purchase your copy now.
Brian Gerard Schaefer is an author and a self-educated wholistic natural therapist, specialising in kinesiology, myopractic, spiritual counselling, diet and nutrition. He presents seminars and workshops on healing, kinesiology, meditation and personal development.
