The Spirit of Money: Understanding its Energy, Emotions, and the Path to True Wealth

Money is more than just a piece of paper; it carries unique designs and often features the image of a notable leader from a country. Each nation has its own currency, such as the Indian Rupee, American Dollar, or British Pound. The value of these currencies fluctuates over time, driven by complex mechanisms that can be challenging to understand.

Sometimes, I wonder: what if the world used a single currency? Could it reduce the intense competition among nations for financial dominance? While this remains a hypothetical idea, one thing is certain—everyone values money.

Money brings comfort, security, fame, power, and much more. Over time, it helps us build wealth and provides stability in our lives.

Money, though it may seem like just a piece of paper, carries an undeniable power. It grants us the privilege of flying business class, dining at five-star hotels, and even attending elite social gatherings where we might meet celebrities. In many ways, money can unlock a world of possibilities—though, of course, there are exceptions.

In his bestselling book, Happy Money, Ken Honda introduces a fascinating concept of emotions attached to money. Yes, you read that right—it is Happy Money. You might wonder, "Does money have emotions, just like us?" The answer is a resounding yes. Just like living beings, money carries emotions. It embodies both positive and negative energy, which it transfers through every transaction.

Happy money is the money earned by pursuing one’s passion or received as a reward for helping others. For instance, a part-time yoga teacher may not amass a fortune, but he finds joy in guiding others toward a healthier life. Thus, the money he earns through teaching yoga represents a pure form of happy money.

If we delve deeper, we might ask: what is the true source of this emotion—happiness—and how is it connected to money?

In this scenario, the yoga teacher helps another person lead a comfortable and healthy life, sparking positive changes. Gradually, the individual begins to hear their inner voice, or antahkarana, with greater clarity. As their practice, or sadhana, deepens, this inner voice becomes even more distinct.

Each time the person benefits from the yoga teacher’s guidance, their inner voice instinctively blesses the teacher, independent of the mind, or manas. This unspoken blessing imbues the money paid as a fee with happiness. Thus, the money becomes a pure form of happy money.

In contrast, there is sad money too. For example, consider the money spent on medical bills at a corporate hospital due to a lack of health insurance, the cost of purchasing expensive medicines from a high-end pharmaceutical company, exorbitant interest paid to a lender, or taxes reluctantly paid by someone dissatisfied with the country’s welfare measures. These are all examples of sad money.

When the giver feels unhappy and distressed during a transaction, they radiate negative energy. As they willfully part with their money, their inner voice silently curses the receiver. Although this curse is inaudible, the receiver remains unaware of the giver’s pain and might even feel a sense of achievement for earning the money. However, the negativity embedded in the transaction often diminishes this sense of accomplishment. Thus, most such exchanges result in sad money, generating negative energy.

Many of us believe that the sole purpose of life is to earn money and settle into a comfortable existence. The pressures of our environment sometimes push us toward earning money at the expense of others, driven by a desire to succeed at any cost. We may view someone with immense wealth as victorious in life, but we rarely realize that this is merely a rat race. This pursuit often clouds our judgment of right and wrong, leading us astray. This illusion is known as Maya.

While many accumulate wealth tied to sad money, only a few gain access to the treasure of the purest form of happy money. Accumulating money through unlawful or unethical means is akin to collecting poison and storing it in one’s home. Over time, this poison contaminates the environment, leading to harm for oneself and one’s family, causing suffering, poor health, broken relationships, and even addictions.

Each time someone earns sad money, their inner voice warns them and attempts to intervene. Yet, the manas—the mind—often overpowers this voice, tricking them into pursuing it. Every action, whether good or bad, generates karma. Bad karma accumulates and manifests consequences at the right time, often spanning multiple lifetimes.

Although we may pray to God for forgiveness after making mistakes, nature keeps an immaculate record of our good and bad karma. Prayers may reduce the intensity of suffering caused by bad karma, but they cannot erase it entirely.

Money is undeniably essential for leading a comfortable life, but it should never come at the cost of suffering. Let us strive to understand the emotions associated with money and focus on earning a fortune of happy money instead.