Thus Spake Sri Rama

[Guest guest]

It is true that the world is apparently beautiful but in its true

nature, it is very ugly. In this world, everything ends in sorrow.

Nothing in this world can afford real peace to the mind.

 

Just as a river produces a series of swirling waves during the rains,

wealth too whirls the foolish men into eddies of pride and haughtiness.

 

As the billows are born of the stream, worries without number are born

of wealth. It causes man to be as restless as the billows, and prompts

him to perpetrate evil deeds.

 

As a gem covered with ashes becomes dirty, so also scholars, heroes,

humble and grateful persons lose their respective nature and become

corrupted when they amass wealth.

 

As the poisonous creeper becomes the cause of death, so also worldly

property brings only sorrow instead of happiness. There is possibility

of losing the self if a man spends all his energy only to preserve his

property.

 

The fool feels in his heart that wealth is the highest good and the

only way to happiness. In reality, it causes ignorance, sorrow and all

untoward circumstances.