Across world spiritual traditions, greed refers to excessive desire and attachment to material possessions. Many traditions converge in viewing greed as a hindrance to spiritual growth. They diverge, however, in their unique perspectives on its root causes and consequences.
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The agent who is passionate, seeking the fruits of action, greedy, violent by nature, impure, swayed by joy and grief — that agent is declared to be rajasic.
रागी कर्मफलप्रेप्सुर्लुब्धो हिंसात्मकोऽशुचिः | हर्षशोकान्वितः कर्ता राजसः परिकीर्तितः ||१८-२७||
This is the threefold gate of hell that destroys the self: desire, anger, and greed. Therefore one should abandon these three.
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः | कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ||१६-२१||
From sattva arises knowledge, and from rajas greed; heedlessness and delusion arise from tamas, and so does ignorance.
सत्त्वात्सञ्जायते ज्ञानं रजसो लोभ एव च | प्रमादमोहौ तमसो भवतोऽज्ञानमेव च ||१४-१७||
Alas! We are resolved to commit a great sin, prepared to kill our own people out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom.
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् | यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ||१-४५||
Greed, activity, the undertaking of actions, restlessness, and longing — these arise when rajas is predominant, bull of the Bharatas.
लोभः प्रवृत्तिरारम्भः कर्मणामशमः स्पृहा | रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ ||१४-१२||
Even if these men, their minds overcome by greed, see no wrong in the destruction of the family and no sin in betraying friends,
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः | कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ||१-३८||
He is completely emancipated who does not covet others' belongings, never disregards anyone, transcends all dualities, and has a soul free from attachment.
The Lord said, "It is desire and wrath, born from passion, that is our enemy here, a monster of greed and sin."
bound by hundreds of cords of hope, devoted to desire and anger, they strive to amass wealth by unjust means for the enjoyment of their desires.
आशापाशशतैर्बद्धाः कामक्रोधपरायणाः | ईहन्ते कामभोगार्थमन्यायेनार्थसञ्चयान् ||१६-१२||
"This I have gained today; this longing I shall fulfill. This wealth is mine, and this too shall become mine."
इदमद्य मया लब्धमिमं प्राप्स्ये मनोरथम् | इदमस्तीदमपि मे भविष्यति पुनर्धनम् ||१६-१३||
If our mind is in constant union with God, the flow of our devotion remains unobstructed, we will remain happy all the time. But in case the flow of devotion is interrupted by a blockage in the form of greed for wealth, ego, jealousy and hatred, this pleasure or joy will not reach us.
As soon as the desire for one thing is satisfied, the urge for another follows. Every time man thinks that he will not ask for anything more if he gets this particular object. But he starts wanting something else as soon as the earlier want is satisfied. This chain will never end and you will remain involved in this vast material world.
A person who is always immersed in the pool of the divine knowledge, a devotee, remains unaffected by the allurements of the worldly wealth, the evils like greed and pride, even though they are very much there.
The desire or greed for wealth is like a swamp. Once a man is caught into it and tries himself to come out, he goes deeper and deeper into it. But if somebody outside helps him with a rope or even with hand, the man succeeds to come out. Exactly like this, the world is also a swamp; but if we seek the support of God, take help from saints, we are saved.
An ignorant person treads on the thorns of five notorious instincts — lust, anger, greed, passion and ego — and feels the pain but still continues to walk on the same. Saintly people too walk on these thorns, but they cover their feet with the shoes of spiritual enlightenment, and so the thorns do not prick them.
Greed is their covering and their bedding. They are addicted to greed, always indulging in sensual pleasures and gluttony, with no fear of punishment in the afterlife.
They are the source of kindness and other virtues. They feel sad when they see others in distress and are happy when they see others happy. They are calm, and they don't consider anyone as their enemy. They are free from pride and passion, and they have control over greed, anger, joy, and fear. They are gentle and compassionate towards those in distress, and they have pure devotion to me in their thoughts, words, and actions. They show respect to everyone and are humble themselves. I love such people as I love my own life. They have no personal interests, but they are dedicated to my name and are full of peace, calmness, humility, and good humor.
सम दम नियम नीति नहिꣳ ˛ओलहिꣳ, परुष बचन कबहूउ नहिꣳ बोलहिꣳ
They are free from passion, greed, pride, and arrogance. For them, prosperity and adversity are the same.
Lust, anger, vanity, and covetousness are all paths leading to hell. Abjuring these, adore the Hero of Raghu's line, whom saints worship.
काम क्रोध मद लोभ सब नाथ नरक के पंथ, सब परिहरि रघुबीरहि भजहु भजहिं जेहि संत
One who remains unaffected by the allure of women, stays vigilant even in the darkest night of anger, and is not entangled in greed, is equal to you, O Lord of Raghus.
स्त्रीणाꣳ दृष्टिपातैर् न शल्यो ऽहꣳ यस्तावदान्धकारꣳ मन्येतꣳ क्रोधस्य न च लोभेषु सीदति स त्वम् इव राघवोत्तम
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