Dear Je,
I watched your recent video on money, and it made me reflect on how our understanding of money changes as individuals and societies evolve.
India is still a developing nation. As a society, we are steadily moving from poverty to the middle class. During such a transition, our relationship with money inevitably becomes confused because different economic stages assign different meanings to wealth.
For a poor person, money represents survival. It means food on the table, a roof over one’s head, education for one’s children, and protection from uncertainty. Money is security against hunger and fear.
When people enter the middle class, the meaning changes. Survival is no longer the central concern. Money now represents comfort and convenience—a better house, better education, healthcare, travel, technology, and a more comfortable way of living. Naturally, people begin to compare themselves with others, and consumption becomes a measure of success.
Beyond this stage, for the wealthy, money often becomes a means to luxury. It is no longer about comfort but about exclusivity, prestige, and acquiring things that distinguish one from others. At this level, wealth can easily become an endless pursuit because luxury has no natural limit.
Yet there is another stage that receives far less attention. For a refined and mature person, money ultimately becomes freedom. It is freedom from unnecessary dependence. It is the freedom to spend one’s time as one chooses. It allows a person to pursue intellectual interests, artistic creation, spiritual inquiry, and meaningful service without constantly worrying about financial survival. At this stage, money is no longer the goal of life but the condition that makes a richer life possible.
I feel that our society is struggling because we often fail to shift our understanding of money as our circumstances change. Many people who have already achieved security continue to think like those who are still fighting for survival. Others who have attained comfort remain trapped in the endless desire for luxury. They never discover that the highest value of wealth is not consumption but freedom.
Perhaps this is one of the psychological challenges of a developing nation. Our economic position changes faster than our mindset. We continue to carry yesterday’s definition of money into today’s life. As a result, even after achieving financial success, many people remain anxious, dissatisfied, and endlessly striving. They accumulate wealth without ever asking what that wealth is ultimately meant to provide.
Your video reminded me that the real question is not, “How much money do we have?” but, “What does money mean at this stage of our life?” If we can answer that honestly, our relationship with money becomes healthier. Wealth then becomes a means of living wisely rather than merely living expensively.
Thank you for provoking these reflections. Your talks often encourage us to look beyond the surface of familiar subjects and examine the deeper psychological and philosophical questions hidden within them.
With warm regards,
M.Mohankumar
