31 Aug 2024
[Shri Ramakanth asked:- If rich people cannot reach God (even if a camel passes through the eye of a needle), does it not mean that Sudaama, who became rich will also not reach God? Since western people are more rich than poor Indian people, does it also mean that western people will not reach God?]
Swami replied:- The rich people, who cannot reach God are those people, who earned wealth based on their capabilities mingled with ego, not caring about God, who alone made themselves rich by their own efforts. In such people, the riches develop a lot of ego due to which, sometimes they become even atheists. Jesus referred about such rich people only, who are not eligible to reach God. Hence, you shall not generalize that all rich people are bad and all poor people are good. There are several rich people not effected by ego and are very submissive and surrendering to God. There are several poor people, who are very egoistic. Hence, the rich people not reaching God referred here are only such rich people, who are blind by their riches and are very greedy. Generally, wealth blinds the people and poverty opens the eyes. But, there are several exceptions in both these categories. Sudaamaa referred by you has already reached God even before he became rich and hence, cannot be included under the category of blind, greedy, selfish and egoistic rich people. Reaching God depends on the strength of the devotion of the devotee and does not depend on the wealth possessed by the devotee.
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