Everyone deep down wants to become rich, so as not to think about tomorrow and live for their own pleasure. But what is wealth? Do people interpret this concept correctly? And are only material goods meant by this word? Perhaps the category of wealth is not as narrow as is commonly believed in society?
The meaning of wealth
There are many definitions of this term. Thus, wealth can be understood as monetary security or as the breadth of the human mind and body, nobility, compassion, kindness and many other spiritual qualities. Wealth is, on the one hand, a large number of all kinds of material wealth in a person that contribute to a comfortable life. In this sense, this term, as a rule, is synonymous with the income of a member of society, which allows him to spend a lot of money on the image and acquisition of luxury goods.
On the other hand, wealth is a person’s spiritual world, his intellectual capital, a variety of emotions and various positive qualities. In this sense, the term is not tied to any material objects, whether it be money or the attributes of luxurious life (luxury homes, yachts, designer clothes, etc.). Wealth becomes something that cannot be noticed at first sight, without penetrating the essence of human nature.
Synonyms of the word "wealth"
Synonyms for the word "wealth" mainly describe this term from the material side. So, the most common synonymous concept is "luxury". Luxury is a person’s presence of expensive items of clothing, things that increase prestige in society and increase the level of social status. This word implies only material goods that are designed to make a person’s life more comfortable.
Another synonym is abundance. Abundance means a huge, myriad of anything. This concept, of course, can describe both material and spiritual solvency of a person, but more often it is still used to characterize money income.
The word “prosperity” may also in some cases be synonymous with wealth. This happens if we are talking about something inanimate (city, locality, field, region, etc.). The phrase "prosperous city", for example, can describe a settlement with a high standard of living, favorable conditions for its development.
Antonyms for the word "wealth"
The lexical meaning of the word “wealth” can also be explained through antonyms. So, the most common of them is “poverty”. This word can be understood as the lack of funds for creating comfortable living conditions, as well as a narrow horizons, the scarcity of spiritual qualities.
Another antonym is "poverty." This word describes the worst material and spiritual condition of a person than poverty. And again, this term describes the external and internal spheres of the life of society and its individual members.
Another antonym of wealth is need. This word speaks for itself. It includes in its meaning the notion that a person is missing something for a comfortable, well-fed life, that his income is too small for acquiring expensive household items, prestigious clothing models, technical innovations, etc.
Symbols of wealth
In human culture, fairly stable ideas about wealth have developed. Depending on the customs and traditions of each particular nation, certain symbols and talismans have appeared that help to attract wealth and prosperity to the house.
Especially widely the theme of wealth is revealed in eastern cultures. For example, in China, the Feng Shui course not only explains what talismans should be kept in the house to attract wealth and good luck, but also how they should be arranged so that the energies of water, air, fire and earth do not extinguish each other. So, the symbol of wealth in China is the hieroglyph of the same name. It is believed that this image should be placed next to the money, so that its quantity multiplies and increases, for example, draw on a wallet, put a piece of paper with such a pattern in the safe, and also next to valuable items (in a jewelry box or with important papers). Another mascot of the Middle Kingdom is coins with square slots. It must be hung on a rope in the house or worn around the neck. A toad with a coin in your mouth will also help attract wealth. According to Feng Shui, it is necessary to place several figures in each room in the southeast with their backs to the entrance. This will create the illusion that the toad has just jumped into the room and brought with it money.
In Russian culture there is also a symbol of wealth. This is a horseshoe that is traditionally hung above the front door. It is believed that this talisman brings wealth, happiness and good fortune to the house, and also drives away evil spirits that spoil people's things and relationships.
Gods of wealth
Eastern peoples worship a large number of gods who can give people prosperity, wealth and happiness. In Indian mythology, the god of wealth is Kubera. This deity not only increases wealth, but also keeps the secrets of underground treasures and precious metals.
The kind of god to worship depends not only on the preferences of each person, but also on what zodiac sign he was born under and in what year according to the eastern horoscope. So, it is recommended that the Buddhist deity of Zambala pray to people who were born in the year of the Rooster or Monkey.
In ancient Greek mythology, the god of wealth is Plutos. He was brought up from early childhood by two goddesses: Tyche and Eirena. Pluto brings prosperity and profit only to those who work hard. He himself did not know how to properly dispose of material wealth, for which he was punished by the Supreme God of the Greeks Zeus.
Sayings about wealth
Many great people mentioned wealth in their quotes. These are quotes filled with deep meaning. “The greatest wealth is to live and be content with the small,” said the Greek poet and writer Plato about wealth. This statement can be interpreted as follows: wanting a lot, a person becomes greedy and ceases to appreciate what he already has.
“All wealth is a product of labor,” is how John Locke, an English philosopher, described luxury and abundance. It is clear from his quote that a great material condition cannot be achieved without effort. Nothing gets in life just like that.
Wealth as a material category
The first meaning of the word wealth is the availability of material goods, namely money. A large number of monetary units allows a person not to think about what to buy, what to eat, where to relax. On the other hand, wealth does not have to be selfish. For example, many famous people donate a lot of money to charity, help international organizations, send humanitarian aid to areas of armed conflict. All these are examples of how wealth can serve the benefit of the whole society, rather than an individual.
Wealth as a spiritual category
The material component is only a small part of what is included in the concept of "wealth." It is also a skill and a desire to do good deeds, extensive knowledge in various areas of life, high moral principles and strong moral principles. This is what every person should really strive for, not limited to narrow ideas about wealth as a heap of money that can be thoughtlessly spent left and right on all kinds of pleasures.