Kannadasan – A Realized Master (Part 24)

 

Donald Trump is currently shaking up the world and making waves. Making money is a family trade for him. Let us see what Trump and Robert Kiyosaki join together have to say. In their book, “Why We Want You to Be Rich: Two Men – One Message”, both Billionaires, along with Meredith Mclver & Sharon Lechter say, "Albert Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” In this case, it is my opinion that it is insanity to keep sending kids to school and not teaching them about money. You cannot learn to swim from a textbook. You cannot learn business from a textbook or from business school. In other words, nothing compares with frontline experience. Most adults struggle financially because they do not have a clue how to do this. They just know how to go to work, get paid and spend what they earn. If you are going to be rich, you will need to know many different ways to make money with money." 

Let us now examine the mindset behind the lyrics penned by the 'King of Poets' (Kaviyarasar): "If you wish to live, you can; is there no way on this earth? Even the deep ocean becomes a garden—if you have the desire, swim across!" (“Vaazha ninaithaal vaazhalaam”) (Film: *Baley Pandiya*). In his book, "Think & Grow Rich", Napoleon Hill details the money-mindset required to become wealthy: "There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge. Both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought. Anybody can wish for riches, and most people do, but only a few know that a definite plan, plus a burning desire for wealth, are the only dependable means of accumulating wealth. Fears are nothing more than states of mind. One's state of mind is subject to control and direction. This fact may be explained by the statement that every human being has the ability to completely control his own mind, and with this control, obviously, every person may open his mind to the tramp thought impulses which are being released by other brains, to close the doors tightly and admit only thought impulses of his own choice." 

Another author, Roger Hamilton twisted the above title to write his book, "Wink and Grow Rich:  A step-by-step guide to making a lot of money" says, "Wealth is all around us, but most of us are too busy looking for it to notice. And when we get close, we're suddenly afraid to get wet. You see, it isn't your knowledge that will make you wealthy, it is what you do with that knowledge." Does that mean Kannadasan never wrote songs reflecting such a positive mindset? He penned lyrics for a sequence featuring three young men searching for jobs (Film: *Nenjirukkum Varai*): 

"We have hope in our hearts

We have a 'tomorrow' to look forward to

We are determined to live life to the fullest.

See where your path leads;

Time will lend a helping hand one day—just be patient until then.

 

Only if one dares, can things be accomplished;

Only if one persists, does the path reveal itself;

Only if one smiles, do worries fade away;

It takes but a few days for burdens to lighten." 

Yet, in that very same song, he also captures the negative mindset of the unemployed shifting towards despair: 

"Only if one has money, can one spend;

Only if one takes something, can one stash it away;

Only if one gives, can another receive;

Only if one is stopped, does one wake up to reality?" 

You likely think, ‘The above authors are just talking theory; the wealthy businessmen possess a secret that they refuse to reveal.’ It is as if Brian Sher has read your minds, he says in his book, "What Rich People Know & Desperately Want to Keep Secret": “Virtually anyone you meet wants to be rich in the monetary sense. Nearly everyone in life wants to make more money. The truth, however, is that being truly rich in life isn't just about having more money. Our formal education system has let us down. It doesn't give us important life skills. School for me meant following the traditional rules, giving people only what they expected, and getting ahead by doing the same things as everyone else. People who ultimately succeed in life are those who recognize early on that success is a state of mind and has nothing to do with their current level of financial assets.” 

In the end, what are you saying as the secret for at least our children to become wealthy? In their book, "What the Rich Teach the Kids about Money – that the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!", Robert T. Kiyosaki with Sharon L. Lechter gives their final advice: "The poor and the middle-class work for money. The rich have money work for them. This book is a starting point for anyone looking to gain control of their financial future.  Most people do not know that it’s their emotions that are doing the thinking.  Your emotions are your emotions, but you have got to learn to do your own thinking. Most people live their lives chasing paychecks, pay raises and job security because of their emotions of desire and fear, not really questioning where those emotion-driven thoughts are leading them. If people are prepared to be flexible, keep an open mind and learn, they will grow richer and richer through the changes. If they think money will solve problems, I am afraid those people will have a rough ride. Intelligence solves problems and produces money.  Money without financial intelligence is money soon gone." 

"The rich buy assets.  The poor only have expenses. The middle class buys liabilities they think are assets. Because school does not think financial intelligence is an intelligence, most workers ‘live within their means’. They work and they pay the bills. So for most people, the reason they don’t win financially is because the pain of losing money is far greater than the joy of being rich. Another saying in Texas is, “Everyone wants to go to Heaven, but no one wants to die.” Most people dream of being rich, but are terrified of losing money. So, they never get to Heaven. The problem is, our financial genius lies asleep, waiting to be called upon.  It lies asleep because our culture has educated us into believing that the love of money is the root of all evil. The earlier you can train yourself and those you love to be masters of money, the better.  Money is a powerful force.  Unfortunately, people use the power of money against them. If your financial intelligence is low, money will run all over you. Money is only an idea.  If you want more money simply change your thinking. Every self-made person started small with an idea, then turned it into something big." 

Even though the following song is positive and popular, Maruthakasi reinforces the mindset—ingrained over years—that one must work hard and save money. "Why are you grinning? Start work!" This is a song about village folk who toil honestly—much like the oxen in the famous "Manapparai Maadu Katti" song (Film: *Makkalai Petra Magarasi*): 

"This is the land where gold grows;

We have tended to our farming with dedication.

For those of us who work with integrity,

Every blessing comes seeking us out.

 

Yoke the Manapparai oxen and the Mayavaram plough-bulls,

And till the fields, Chinnakkannu;

Spread the green manure and toil hard, Chellakkannu.

 

Load the goods onto the cart and head to the Pollachi market;

Sell them to the Virudhunagar merchant, Chinnakkannu,

And count the earnings, Chellakkannu.

 

Spend the saved money wisely and frugally;

Hand it over to Mother, Chinnakkannu—

She will turn a small sum into a fortune, Chellakkannu!" 

Once again, the instruction is to hand the money over to the mother-in-law. The mere mention of a mother-in-law spells trouble. Just what we need—more headaches over money disputes between couples! 

Kannadasan—born with the given name 'Muthaiya'—was certainly not one to lag behind; he even penned a rustic song featuring his own name, celebrating the dignity of hard work (“Kai irukkuthu kaal irukkuthu Muthaiah!”) (Film: *Kalyaniyin Kanavan*): 

"We have hands and feet, Muthaiya,

And the land that God gave us, Muthaiya.

We have a tongue that speaks no lies, Muthaiya,

And meaning in the smiles we share, Muthaiya.

We gripped the plough and tilled the soil, Muthaiya,

We drew the water and irrigated the fields, Muthaiya,

We nurtured the roots and raised the crops, Muthaiya—

Tell me, for whose sake must we live?

Scrambling to earn, toiling away, keeping accounts,

Amassing crores upon crores of wealth, Muthaiya—

Tell me, which tower are we going to build?

Inside a seven-story mansion, piled one atop another,

A man lies restless, unable to find peace, Muthaiya...

There is no sleep in his eyes, Muthaiya!" 

In their sequel, "Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant: Rich Dad’s Guide to Financial Freedom" the co-authors also reveal that, "even though we are all human beings, when it comes to money and the emotions attached to money, we all respond differently. And it’s how we respond to those emotions that often determines which quadrant we choose to generate our income from. Ultimately, it is not how much money you make that matters, but how much money you keep and how long that money works for you. Making money is common sense. It’s not rocket science. But unfortunately, when it comes to money, common sense is uncommon. The good news is that it does not cost much money to change your thinking. In fact, it can be done for free. The bad news is that sometimes it’s hard to change some deep core thoughts about money that are handed down from generation to generation, or thoughts that you learned from friends, from work and from school. Yet, it can be done. Many people believe that simply making more money will solve their money problems but, in most cases, it only causes bigger money problems. On the surface, it seems as if there are laws for the rich and there are laws for everyone else. But in reality, the laws are the same. The only difference is the rich use the laws to their advantage while the poor and middle class do not. It’s too easy to make money legally rather than break the laws and wind up in jail." 

Classical Tamil literature has a rich and balanced view of wealth. Unlike some traditions that glorify poverty, Tamil poets generally regarded wealth as essential for a righteous and dignified life, provided it is earned honestly and used generously. Here are some of the finest examples: In Purananuru, many poems praise generous kings rather than merely rich kings. One famous sentiment is that wealth locked away is worthless; wealth given to relieve others' suffering wins everlasting fame. Poets repeatedly compare generosity to rain that nourishes the world. Naladiyar frequently reminds readers that wealth is impermanent death is certain, therefore wealth should be used for charity before it disappears. The outlook resembles Buddhist and Jain ethics. Our very own Kamban in the Ramayanam, portrays ideal rulers as those whose wealth exists for the welfare of their people, not for personal luxury. He often links prosperity with justice. Even several Sangam poems describe wealth as difficult to earn, unstable, meaningful only when shared. 

Thiruvalluvar devotes an entire section of the Thirukkural to Porutpaal (Wealth). He sings, "For those without wealth, this world scarcely exists." This is one of Valluvar's most realistic observations: without resources, even virtue becomes difficult to practice. Thiruvalluvar was a highly pragmatic philosopher. He did not dismiss money as an illusion. Instead, he realistically acknowledged that money, resources, and material wealth are absolutely necessary to survive, function, and thrive happily in society. However, we also explored a different, spiritually insightful interpretation of this Kural earlier in Episode 21. It suggests that if one focuses the mind on material objects, one acquires material wealth (money); but if one anchors the mind in divine grace, then material wealth ceases to be a matter of consequence. Avvaiyar often stressed that wealth is valuable only when used for good. Her famous saying is "Desire to do righteousness." Her poems imply that wealth becomes meaningful only when it supports righteous living and generosity. 

If we look at the Western writers they have produced many witty observations about money. Some are humorous, some satirical, and some carry a serious truth beneath the joke. Here are some of the best-known ones: Oscar Wilde cracked a practical joke: "When I was young, I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old, I know that it is." But on a serious note, he also said, “Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination." The wise man George Bernard Shaw reversed the Bible statement into: "Lack of money is the root of all evil." "Money - the one thing that keeps us in touch with our children", said Gyles Brandreth. Finally, the famous Benjamin Franklin redirected search for wealth to learning, "If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it from him" meaning, an investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. 

Our protagonist, having read extensively about money, seems gripped by a frenzy to amass wealth; regarding money as the very essence of life, the lyricist Vaali pens these lines (Film: *Uyire Unakkaga*): 

"I want to be a rich man;

My influence shall span all eight directions,

And a palanquin shall await my command.

With a fleet of cars and the cool comfort of A/C,

We shall ride in a grand procession

While the whole town watches and waits;

With throngs of people eager to serve and guard us,

You and I shall reign like kings of kings." 

Amidst a family dynamic akin to a cart pulled by two oxen—where he pulls in one direction and she in another—she sings: 

"Enough, enough, enough—oh, what a yearning!

Peace is found simply by visiting your presence;

The home that is your heart is this maiden's abode,

A sanctuary for this soul.

Though I am poor, I willingly place myself in your service." 

We’ve seen enough of money—I mean, we’ve seen enough regarding money. Finally, our couple has stopped fighting and gone into a 'silent mode'... Let us also observe 'silence' for a week... We shall break that silence in the next episode…

-Jeyes (www.jeyes.in)