785. The Treasure

The Count of Monte Cristo is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, the famous French novelist. The Mother said that Dumas, Victor Hugo, etc. had life knowledge. Edmund Dantes was the hero. After meeting Faria in prison, Dantes learnt geometry, philosophy, science, fencing, etc. He became Faria's mental child. Faria had been the secretary of Cardinal Spada of Rome. The Cardinal had an enormous wealth. For fear of the King and the Pope, he hid it somewhere safe. The Pope poisoned him and no one knew what had happened to the treasure. Faria found a bookmark in Spada's library which he used to light a candle. At the touch of the flame, the bookmark revealed some writing - it was invisible ink. Faria was able to find out the treasure's hiding place. Before he could lay his hands on the treasure, he landed in prison. In prison, he offered the officials a million francs in return for his release. No one believed him. He came to be known as the mad priest of millions.

At the end of fourteen years, Faria had a stroke and then revived a little. He began to speak of the treasure to Dantes. Dantes too could not believe him. The deep sincerity of Faria won Dantes over and the secret came into Dantes's possession. During the fourteen years, Faria had developed Dantes's mind. It is the nature of Mind NOT to believe in faith. In the beginning, Faria was hurt when Dantes did not believe him. In his utter sincerity, Dantes asked how could he enjoy Faria's wealth. Faria was again offended. He asked Dantes if he were not his son? Dantes was innately good, loyal, honest and pure. Life does not reward all these good qualities for themselves. Life demands of us capacity, which is mental. Dantes had a lot of capacity to work, NOT to know of life's intricacies. Faria had taught him all the nuances of life one needs to know. He acquired knowledge too, a rare knowledge which the Cardinals of the church possess.

Now that capacity and knowledge had come to Dantes, Life could reward him with wealth. Life would inevitably give him wealth. After he escaped from the prison, he found the treasure and got a fabulous wealth of a hundred million francs. When knowledge and capacity are there, it is NOT possible for life not to give the highest affluence. This is a rule of life true from time immemorial. Our scholars have starved all through the ages. They believed in NOT acquiring wealth. Wealth is sensitive. Once refused, it will refuse to come again. Wealth has a Personality. We cannot afford to offend it even by a mental opinion. Our Pandits constantly spoke, "I am NOT after money." They did not get the thing they refused to accept. The Indian Mind is austere. Not only wealth. Our elders would warn youngsters who are hilariously happy. "It is not good to be this happy" was the advice we grew up with. Spirit is far higher than Mind. Spirit is spiritual wealth. This is a difficult idea for the Indian Psyche to accept. Not only wealth and cheefulness, but health, power, money and every good thing of life should be accepted in the right spirit.