Category:Well-to-do
Theme Analysis
The accumulation of wealth and taking birth in aristocratic families are karmic results of previous pious activities. Providing profound insight into this phenomenon, Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that opulence can become a snare of illusion if not utilized properly. While a well-to-do position offers a comfortable atmosphere to pursue spiritual realization without the struggle for basic survival, in the modern age, such wealth is almost exclusively used for sense gratification. True intelligence lies in using all material assets for the service of the Supreme Lord.
- The Spiritual Origin of Opulence: Being born into a wealthy or learned family is not accidental; it is an arrangement by the Supreme Lord. It is often the result of incomplete spiritual practice in a past life, given so the soul can continue its spiritual journey without economic anxiety.
- The Trap of Material Vanity: When opulence is disconnected from God consciousness, it breeds false prestige. Wealthy individuals in the Kali-yuga typically squander their assets on intoxication, illicit sex, and opulent displays of vanity, leading to their spiritual degradation.
- The Proper Utilization of Wealth: The true purpose of a well-to-do position is to facilitate a peaceful life dedicated to devotional service. A person situated in such a condition should recognize that their riches are a gift from Kṛṣṇa and use them to advance the mission of the Supreme Lord.
- Vedic Economics and True Wealth: In the traditional Vedic system, being well-to-do meant having an abundance of grains and cows, not necessarily paper money. Even those born into such aristocratic families, like Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma in Vṛndāvana, engaged in simple, practical duties to set an example for society.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Utilizing Well-to-do Material Conditions for Advancement in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness.
Subcategories
This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total.
Pages in category "Well-to-do"
The following 21 pages are in this category, out of 21 total.
A
- A devotee who does not achieve complete perfection is guaranteed to take his birth in a learned and well-to-do family
- After many, many births, millions of births, here is another form of body, human form of body, and especially in the civilized society, in well-to-do society. So just try to utilize it
- Although brahmanas are not the rich men of society, Advaita Acarya, being the leader of the brahmanas in Santipura, was considerably well-to-do. Therefore He presented many ornaments to the baby, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
- As soon as Krsna and Balarama were a little grown up, They were meant for taking care of the calves. Although born of a very well-to-do family, They still had to take care of the calves. This was the system of education
I
- I have traveled in Australia and come to your country, New Zealand. So far material necessities are concerned, you are all well-to-do. So why this question of frustration (among younger section), as Goswami Hanuman-Prasada was speaking?
- In this age it is very difficult to perform all those rituals. First thing, it is very difficult to obtain all the ingredients for sacrificing method. And people are not very well to do. They cannot secure also
- In this connection, there is a story in the Brahma-vaivarta Purana that in the city of Pratisthanapura in South India there was once a brahmana who was not very well-to-do, but who was nevertheless satisfied in himself
- In this iron age the members of well-to-do families generally misuse their wealth. Instead of improving their spiritual condition, they are misled by faulty association and fall victim to sensuality
- In your Western country there is no question of poverty. You are all well-to-do. I have extensively traveled over America and Europe, especially America. They are very opulent
T
- The colorful greenery of the newly grown grass, the seasonal flowers, the frog's umbrellas, the butterflies, and the other variegatedness of the rainy season perfectly represent a well-to-do family absorbed in vanity over their personal assets
- The demigods in the higher level of material existence many, many times excel the most well-to-do human beings, in duration of life, beauty, wealth, paraphernalia, and in all other respects
- They (inhabitants) were not only economically well-to-do, but also physically fit and undisturbed by supernatural power, by enmity from other living beings and by disturbance of bodily and mental agonies
- To become a religious person, to become economically very well-to-do, or to become a salvationist, desiring to merge into the existence, to become one with God, these things are not, I mean to say, very satisfactory to the Supreme Personality of Godhead