The Wealth that You do not Lose

We always look for security. 

We track market indexes, invest in real estate and build emergency savings. We accumulate wealth assuming that this will protect us from whatever follows.

However, external wealth is very fragile. Markets crash, currencies wobble, and anything can change overnight.

A Sanskrit Subhashita (a well-known saying) deals with this:

विदेशेषु धनं विद्या व्यसनेषु धनं मतिः । 

परलोके धनं धर्मः शीलं सर्वत्र वै धनम् ॥ 

Videśeṣu dhanaṃ vidyā vyasaneṣu dhanaṃ matiḥ | 

Paraloke dhanaṃ dharmaḥ śīlaṃ sarvatra vai dhanam ||

This means that "Knowledge ('Vidya') is the real wealth in a foreign land. So is Cleverness (or intellect) at tough times. Righteousness ('Dharma') is the only wealth that can buy Heaven ('Par-loke'). Verily, Good Conduct ('Sheel') is the wealth everywhere and at all the times!"

In the above Subhashita, “foreign country” is not necessarily a place abroad, it just means an unknown location or an unexpected situation. In such an unfamiliar territory, our title, status and native currency do not have any leverage. The only thing that stays with us is what we know and what we can do. 

When familiar things fade away, our adaptability and our capacity to acquire new skills are the only capital that we can rely on. This ‘Vidya’ or knowledge is what will work in every place and situation.

The Subhashita does not end there. It says that when chaos hits and there is a setback, our greatest asset is not our remaining bank balance or past achievements. During these times our true wealth is our ability to think clearly under pressure. 

Resourcefulness matters more than the resources that we have accumulated.

So train yourself to respond instead of react to the situation.

The Subhashita goes on to remind us that our material possessions don't come to the finish line with us. We cannot take what we have created with us. 

So align your work with a cause, higher than personal gain.

This pays off in the long run.

Finally, the punch line of the Subhashita is that your knowledge will help you in any unexpected situation, a calm mind will help you during a setback, and your ethics will secure your legacy. 

But it is your character that will help you everywhere - your consistency and emotional maturity will build trust and create opportunities that wealth cannot buy.

So real security is not about having everything taken care of on the outside. 

It is about becoming someone who can lose it all and still have everything necessary to build it all back.