This Bank and that Bank Part – Sixty Eight

This Bank and that Bank

This is an excerpt of a beautiful discourse delivered by Bhagavan Baba on the occasion of the inauguration of a branch office of State Bank of India in Prasanthi Nilayam more than 40 years ago.

I am glad that the State Bank of India is opening a branch here in the Prashanthi Nilayam area. Artha (wealth) is one of the Purushaarthas – legitimate objects of human endeavour. The four purushaarthas are dharma, artha, kaama and moksha (righteousness, wealth, desire and liberation). They have been listed so, in that order, on purpose.

Dharma (righteousness) has to direct and control the process of earning wealth (artha) and moksha (liberation) is to be the regulating factor of desire (kaama). All wealth accruing from sources minted by adharma (unrighteous means) is to be treated with contempt as unworthy of man.

All desires that do not subserve the one supreme need for liberation are to be given up as beneath the dignity of man. So, the Adhyaathmic (spiritual) basis of dharma and moksha, has to be the root of both artha and kaama. Without it, earning degenerates into plundering; desire degenerates into death.

This Bank helps you to keep your money safe when you deposit it with them. They are happy to receive it from you; they will allow you to make use of it when you are in difficulty. But your money helps you only in worldly distress. You accumulate it with great care, by thousands of acts of denial, denying yourselves this comfort or that convenience, saving in this item and that, spending less and earning more; but a day comes when you have to leave the pile and go, empty-handed.

This passbook will not be looked into there. Why, even while here, when the pile grows into an attractive quantity, sons start fighting for it, causing you anxiety and fear; taxes take away a large share; thieves and crooks have an eye on it.

There is another Bank which receives deposits and maintains accounts strictly and confidentially. Every little sum is entered and accounted for deeds, thoughts, words, good, bad and indifferent. If this Bank takes good care of your aasthi (properties, wealth), that Bank watches whether you are an aasthika, a person who acts on the assumption that there is asthi – a sovereign guiding principle that is divine, that whispers warnings from the heart when dharma and sathya are infringed, when artha and kaama enslave man unchecked. No son can sue for that aasthi (wealth); no tax-gatherer can lay his hands on it.

No crook can transfer it to his purse. Open a deposit account there, in that Bank, for your prosperity here and hereafter. That deposit, growing by your spiritual efforts, will give you joy and peace.

While you should develop this saving habit here, for the sake of old age and a rainy day, it is necessary that you should develop that “saving habit” for the hereafter, so that you may be saved. Dharmam chara, sathyam vada is the method. Dharma, sathya and prema (Righteousness, Truth and Love) are the currency accepted by that other Bank. All acts, words and feelings ringing with the purity of these metals will be accepted as deposits. So, along with an account in this bank, you must take care to have an account in that other Bank also…

This Bank and that Bank – divine wisdom for positive living

This Bank and that Bank is a meaningful spiritual thought that helps us understand the difference between worldly life and divine life. Every human being stands between two banks. One bank represents attachment, desire, ego, fear, and temporary happiness. The other bank represents peace, truth, love, devotion, and spiritual freedom. Life becomes beautiful when we learn which side truly gives lasting joy.

In ordinary life, people spend most of their energy collecting things from the worldly bank. They seek money, comfort, name, position, and praise. These things may be useful, but they cannot give complete peace. Wealth can provide convenience, but not inner satisfaction. Status can bring attention, but not true love. This is why many people have everything outside, yet still feel empty within.

This Bank and that Bank reminds us that the world is not wrong, but our attachment to it creates suffering. We have responsibilities, duties, families, and work, and we must perform them sincerely. However, when the mind becomes fully dependent on outer things, it loses balance. A small loss, insult, or failure then disturbs the heart deeply. Spiritual wisdom teaches us to live in the world without becoming a prisoner of it.

The spiritual bank is different. It does not deal in coins, property, or pride. It deals in love, compassion, patience, faith, service, and purity of heart. Whatever we deposit in this inner bank never goes waste. A kind action, a sincere prayer, a forgiving heart, and a selfless deed become lasting treasures. These spiritual savings support us during difficult times and guide us toward peace.

This Bank and that Bank also teaches that every choice we make is a deposit. When we speak truth, we deposit strength. When we help someone, we deposit compassion. When we control anger, we deposit discipline. When we remember God, we deposit devotion. In the same way, when we act with selfishness, jealousy, pride, or hatred, we create inner debt. That debt appears later as restlessness, guilt, and sorrow.

A wise person understands the value of the right bank. Such a person does not reject worldly duties, but performs them with a pure mind. Work becomes worship when it is done honestly. Family life becomes sacred when it is filled with love and understanding. Service becomes prayer when it is free from ego. In this way, even ordinary life becomes spiritual.

This Bank and that Bank shows us that the real account is not outside, but within the heart. People may not see our thoughts, but the divine presence within knows everything. A person may appear successful before society, but if the heart is filled with greed and anger, true peace remains far away. Another person may live simply, but if the heart is filled with love and faith, life becomes rich and meaningful.

The worldly bank can close at any moment. Money can be lost, beauty can fade, power can disappear, and relationships can change. Nothing outside is permanent. But the spiritual bank grows stronger with every noble thought and pure action. The more love we give, the more peaceful we become. The more we surrender ego, the more divine strength we receive.

This understanding gives courage during hardship. When life does not go according to our plans, we should not feel defeated. Difficulties are also opportunities to deposit patience, faith, and endurance. Pain can purify the heart when accepted with wisdom. Failure can teach humility. Loss can teach detachment. Every experience can become a step toward growth when seen with spiritual vision.

This Bank and that Bank is a reminder that we must examine where we are investing our life. Are we spending all our time only for temporary gain? Are we filling the heart with comparison and worry? Or are we building inner wealth through devotion, service, and love? The answer to these questions decides the quality of our life.

The great secret is balance. We should not run away from responsibilities, nor should we become slaves of desire. We must earn honestly, live simply, serve lovingly, and remember God sincerely. When the mind is connected to the divine, worldly life becomes lighter. The heart remains steady in success and failure.

True richness is not measured by how much we possess, but by how much peace we carry. A loving heart is richer than a proud mind. A truthful person is stronger than a selfish person. A devotee with faith is safer than one who depends only on outer security. Spiritual wealth follows the soul beyond time, while material wealth remains behind.

This Bank and that Bank finally teaches that human birth is precious. We should not waste it only in collecting temporary things. We should use this life to grow in love, purity, wisdom, and devotion. Every day is a chance to move from fear to faith, from ego to humility, and from restlessness to peace.

When we understand the difference between both banks, life becomes clear. The world may offer many attractions, but the soul longs for something deeper. It longs for truth, love, and divine connection. By choosing noble thoughts, selfless actions, and sincere remembrance of God, we slowly cross from the bank of illusion to the bank of eternal peace.