Working with Money as Spiritual Practice (Regina Sara Ryan, Tom Lennon, Vijaya Fedorschak)

An act of faith that the Divine will provide what we need is behind a vow of poverty taken in some religious orders. Generosity is primary in bodhisattva practice. By paying a little more, we sometimes end up supporting someone rather than getting the best deal. We can track ways we are stingy—with our love, power, graciousness, money. Consumer culture has a big part in creating our personalities and view of money. We can observe how we are with money without judgment. Are our lives more important than money or is money more important than our lives? Spiritual practice has to do with accepting what is as it is and being easeful with what we have. Money represents safety in the way that mother represents safety to a child. Grasping or holding on is the cause of suffering in Buddhism and a common way of relating to money. What are we really holding on to? Patterns of dealing with money get passed on through generations. What messages did we receive about money? Not wasting resources is a spiritual principle. Money is energy, and getting bigger in relationship with money can bring up aspects of ourselves that we are not in touch with. Money is a means to an end, not an end in itself. How can we spiritually profit through use of money? Supporting sources of our spiritual nourishment and something greater than ourselves can create a fluid and friendly relationship with money based on love and gratitude for the Divine. Tithing has been a principle in every tradition. We are trustees and not possessors of wealth. Intention comes first and money follows. We “pay for our work” with honesty and vulnerability, not just money. Money can show us ways that we undervalue ourselves. What we give to others, we give to ourselves. Regina is the editor of Hohm Press. Tom is a retired cultural resource consultant. VJ is organizer of the Western Baul Podcast Series.