In the process of becoming rich, are we forgetting the real meaning of life?

“And in the end, its not the years in your life that count; but the life in your years”, said Abrahim Lincon. Arrange a debate on the connotation of ‘life’ he’s talking about, and you would get scores of real meanings of life. Moreover, you’d be bound to choose the one which suits you the best.

Having a hundred million dollars at your disposal, would you be satisfied with a coffee in the bed as you wake up in your big bungalow, a refreshing meal, watching television or commanding servants to clean every corner properly, just making an attempt to spend your time? Most of us would end up in a strong disagreement with such a life. Imagine Sam Walton doing away with all his stores on a simple note that he has earned enough and he wants to lead a life now, which he was not able to live for so many years. In his process of becoming rich, did he forget the real meaning of life? Ask him, and you would get to know the amount of activity he underwent all through. The risk involved in investments, in new ventures; the vast knowledge of marketing and business that he possesses is his actual treasure. That would be the real meaning of life for him.

Talk about a poor farmer, badly afflicted with the maladies of drought. He too intends to be rich. He works all day long under burning sun, playing with soil, seeds, bulls and a bare land. Without having basic amenities, what could be the real meaning of life for him? Would the knowledge of the real meaning of life improve anything?

The process of becoming rich is not just about accumulating wealth. There are numerous other attributes annexed with it. Development and richness come hand in hand. Had there been no desire, no Aryans would have ever come to India, no Mughals would have ever thought of overpowering the Indian Subcontinent, no British would have ever thought of setting up an East India Company, and start ruling over a nation. Considering the positivity of all these hostile takeovers, there was a lot of development. Though India had to pay a huge price, today India is considered a pool of the best talent. And most of the Indians are in the race of becoming rich. Aren’t they leading a real life?

Going back to the real meaning of life, it is generally related with ethics. Though everyone has a different view about life, but most of the people finally consider a philanthropist as leading a real life. For that matter, if we consider Entrepreneurship as one of the processes of getting rich, then it can surely be considered a philanthropic activity, as it generates employment. So the real meaning of life is not lost. Unlike indirect philanthropy, as discussed above, there are many Sir Tom Hunters’ in this world, who have donated large sums of money, for upliftment of the poor.

Today, when we are facing an economic crunch, all those people who are putting in hard labor to curb the rocketing commodity prices and fuel prices, are fairly rich themselves. In their protest against inflation, they finally end up helping the poor. Maximum amount of tax collected, comes from the rich, which is again utilized to help the citizens. Everything involves money, and most of it is generated during the process of becoming rich.

That was all about philanthropy. Another comprehension of the real meaning of life is enjoyment. A thought prevails among different sections of people, that, if someone works too hard and earns well, it is said that he is just a robot who goes to office daily, works for long hours, comes back, and goes to sleep; who doesn’t even have time to have proper meals; who doesn’t even cares about the performance of his kids at school. So he’s not living a life in real terms. Now ask that person itself. He would be more than satisfied with all the success and all the respect he has earned, hence enjoying his corporate life. And if life is all about enjoyment, then he knows the real meaning of life.

The gist of the above discussion is that the meaning of life is not lost in the process of becoming rich, as this process encounters money working hard for the human to make him rich, to generate more money. And in the midst of this process, the intellectual leads a life, knowing its real meaning.