Is This You?
Your phone buzzes—it’s a notification for a 50% off flash sale. You see an influencer unbox the latest sneakers, and a sudden, powerful urge takes over. You know you don’t need it. You know your credit card bill is already a source of low-key panic. But you buy it anyway, chasing that brief high of a new possession. The excitement fades in a day, but the bill remains. You’re caught in a cycle. You work hard and earn money. Then you spend it on things to make you feel better about how hard you’re working.
Why do we constantly feel like we need more, even when we have enough? This isn’t a new human condition. Our ancient stories have always warned us about the deceptive and destructive nature of unchecked desire.
The Ancient Anchor
The Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 16, Verse 21) identifies the three great enemies of the soul, the gateways to a life of suffering:
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः |कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ||
(Trividham narakasyedam dvaram nashanam atmanah |Kamah krodhas tatha lobhas tasmad etat trayam tyajet ||)
Translation: There are three gates leading to this hell—lust (uncontrolled desire), anger, and greed. Every sane man should give these up, for they lead to the degradation of the soul.
The focus here is Lobha—greed. Not just the desire for money, but the insatiable hunger for more of anything: more status, more possessions, more validation. It’s a fire that can never be quenched.
How This Philosophy Unfolds in the Ancient Texts
Our epics treat greed not as an ambition, but as a curse that brings ruin.
The most vivid example is the story of the Syamantaka jewel. This magnificent gem, gifted by the Sun God, could produce vast quantities of gold every day. It was an object of ultimate wealth. But instead of bringing happiness, it brought only misery. One king was killed for it. Another was falsely accused of stealing it, staining his reputation. The jewel passed from hand to hand, leaving a trail of death, suspicion, and broken relationships in its wake. It only stopped causing chaos when it was finally given away. Then, it was placed in a temple, where its power was neutralized by an act of non-attachment. The story is a powerful allegory. It shows how the single-minded pursuit of wealth can destroy the life it aims to improve.
Next, there is the famous cautionary tale of King Midas from Greek mythology, which shares the same Indian moral core. Granted a wish by a god, Midas foolishly asked that everything he touched turn to gold. He was ecstatic at first, turning roses and stones into precious metal. The joy turned to horror when his food turned to gold in his mouth. He accidentally turned his beloved daughter into a lifeless golden statue. He learned a profound lesson. The blind pursuit of wealth can cost you everything that actually nourishes you. It can take away what gives you joy.
Finally, even the divine aren’t immune to the symbolism of greed. Kubera, the celestial treasurer and God of Wealth, is often depicted as a stout figure. He is not shown as a chiseled, perfect deity but as flawed instead. This portrayal is a subtle reminder that wealth itself doesn’t grant perfection or spiritual purity. It’s a resource to be managed, not an identity to be worshipped.
The Modern Disconnect
We live inside the most sophisticated greed-generating machine ever created. The entire advertising industry, fueled by social media algorithms, is designed to make you feel inadequate. It creates a constant, low-level anxiety that can only be soothed by the next purchase. “Clout culture” ties our self-worth to the brands we wear and the things we own. We are not just buying products; we are buying tiny, temporary patches for our insecurity.
Wisdom at Work
How do we break free from this powerful cycle?
- In Your Career/Hustle: Greed tells you to chase the highest salary above all else. This can lead you to a job you hate, working with people you don’t respect. A wiser approach is to define “enough.” Calculate what you truly need to live a comfortable, secure life. Once you reach that point, you can start optimizing for work-life balance. You can also aim for a positive work culture, or work that feels meaningful. This is real wealth.
- In Your Relationships: Greed can poison relationships. It can make you envious of a friend’s success. It can also make you see your partner in terms of what they provide for you. Practice gratitude instead. Consciously appreciate what you have in your friends and family—their loyalty, their humor, their support. A rich life is a life rich in relationships, not possessions.
- For Your Mental Health: The constant “wanting” is exhausting. It’s a treadmill you can never get off. The cure is to practice contentment. Before you make an impulse purchase, use the 24-Hour Rule. Wait a full day. The intense “need” you felt will almost always fade. This creates a space of conscious choice. It puts you back in control. It saves you from a cycle of buyer’s remorse and financial stress.
Modern Sages
The wisest voices of modern times have all warned against this trap.
- Mahatma Gandhi lived a life of radical simplicity. He famously said, “There is enough on Earth for everybody’s need, but not enough for everybody’s greed.” He saw that the path to both personal and global peace was to master one’s desires.
- The economist E.F. Schumacher argued in his influential book “Small is Beautiful” that our obsession with endless growth was unsustainable. He believed it was also spiritually damaging. He advocated for an economy “as if people mattered,” focusing on sufficiency rather than maximization.
- The Minimalists, Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, have popularized this ancient idea for a new generation. Their mantra is “love people, use things.” It directly challenges the consumerist mindset. This mindset teaches us to use people and love things.
- Warren Buffett, one of the world’s wealthiest people, is known for his remarkably frugal lifestyle. He lives in the same house he bought in 1958. His life shows that accumulating wealth is very different from being enslaved by it.
Your First Step
Unsubscribe. Right now, open your email inbox. Find a promotional email from a brand that constantly tempts you. Scroll to the bottom and click “Unsubscribe.” Do the same for a social media account that makes you feel envious or inadequate. This is a small but powerful act. You are not just cleaning your inbox; you are reclaiming your attention. You are intentionally creating a quiet space. It is free from the constant whispers of greed. In this space, you can finally hear your own voice telling you that you are already enough.
