NOTE: This blog is based on my understanding and perspective. Any other perspective that is there to what is written, would like the reader to post in the comments. The moderated comments would add knowledge to the other readers as well.

MAnvi: thAthA, there is so much to what life has given us. The importance of strength, protection and valour, I wonder if we take it for granted. We see it present in different situations and sometimes we know it is not. We however need to spend time to understand how we harness what we have, and work on increasing it.

If the characteristics of Durga is what is in us, what Lakshmi stands for, is what is available to us as resources. These resources are looked at as wealth. I have always thought that Lakshmi meant only monetary wealth. It was a huge revelation to know that Lakshmi stands for many more resources or wealth of different kinds.

thAthA: Go on, MAnvi.

MAnvi: There are different forms of wealth, thAthA. Each form of wealth is important and connected with one another.

One – The wealth of freedom – Freedom

– in relationships (not ‘from’ relationships) – which means having the space to be what you are and not what others want you to be

– to be fearless – to give yourself the space to be free from fear

– to be ok with opposites – life and death, pleasant and unpleasant, joy and sorrow etc

– from feeling a sense of bondage to all that one has in life – well thAthA, what we have in life isn’t permanent. Here now and gone the next. So a bondage will only lead to a heartburn!!

thAthA: MAnvi, do we have the freedom and we don’t know that we have it? We have this wealth but we don’t know that we have it. We want it to enrich our lives by working for it, not knowing that we have it already. 

MAnvi:

Two – The wealth of money 

thAthA, money attracts and repels. Some people love money and some people think that money is not important. People who think the latter, feel that money is important to meet the basic needs but not more than that. They think that anyone who needs more than what meets their basic needs, are greedy. Those who are attracted to money seem to look at it differently. They think that it is needed to fulfil their needs and wants; and also to help towards someone else’s needs.

thAthA: Does it mean MAnvi, that those who think money isn’t important, don’t want to help towards other’s needs?

MAnvi: They may want to but their approach to money is as though repelling it. I also think that the more they repel it, money does not eaily come to them. Maybe money as a wealth needs to be welcomed with open arms!!

thAthA: We go to those where we feel invited. Money comes only when we are comfortable in its presence. 

MAnvi:

Three – The wealth of agriculture

thAthA, what we sow is what we reap. What we reap is what we eat. What we eat is what we feel grateful for. What we eat provides the food, not only for our body but for our mind as well. Today people have taken this wealth to a different level. They want to experience the growth of this wealth. No pun intended, thAthA :-).  In my view, people have taken to harvesting vegetables and fruits from their own garden and are being their own agriculturists. They feel enriched seeing the wealth that they have cultivated. Pun intended, thAthA 🙂

thAthA: Sometimes what we eat are also our thoughts. Some of these thoughts lend an unpleasant feeling in us. Neither the food nor the thoughts are digested. Can we find space within ourselves, to eat without the help of these unpleasant thoughts? 

MAnvi:

Four – The wealth of the future

thAthA, for me, children are the future. It is important that we take care of their present so that their future is safe. This means that we are the guardians of this wealth until we hand it over to them, when they grow up. As indivuduals, directly and indirectly, as parents or as caregivers, we have a responsibility towards this wealth. With responsibility comes power. It is important that we use this power and don’t abuse it.

thAthA: Child is the father of man. What they see of the man, is perhaps what they may model in the future. What are we modeling? 

MAnvi:

Five – The wealth of knowledge

We are all seekers of this wealth, thAthA. For some of us, this seems like a piece of cake and for some, this is a hard ask. However, whichever of the some we are, we are in pursuit of this wealth.

thAthA: MAnvi, to gain the other forms of wealth, is this wealth important?

MAnvi: It appears so, thAthA. However, this may not be a formally learnt knowledge but informally learnt from others or thru’ experience. Experience as they say is the best teacher :-). Formally gained or informally gained, is knowldege a wealth that has to be kept to oneself or shared? When we talk about the next Devi, I will elaborate more on this.

thAthA: Knowledge can come from anywhere and from any person. We need to be in the present to recognise it when it comes to us; and be open to receiving it. 

MAnvi:

SIx – The wealth of abilities

thAthA, you know what – strength and valour which are abilities are also considered as wealth.

Grit, resilience and perseverence I think are critical because they need strength and valour to stand their ground. They are critical as they enable us to march towards what we think is our goal and our purpose in life. Many an obstacle we all face in our lives. However, grit, resilience, perseverence, strength and valour makes these obstacles seem like that small dot on that large sheet of white paper. thAthA, I see a connection between Durga and Lakshmi in this aspect, which makes me think that everything is connected. Just that we don’t see it yet. When we see the connection, we understand so much more.

thAthA: Strength and valour is wealth that each of us have. Instead of looking for it outside, we need to look inside and find this treasure. We have it, just that we need to make time and take effort to find it. 

Like in many moments, a silence reigned between MAnvi and her thAthA. They felt that they had contributed to each other’s wealth, enrighing not only themselves but also the other. It was indeed a feeling of being in abundant wealth!!