By Swami Nirmalananda

You always find the money to do the things you really want to do.  You have always been willing to spend money on the things you really care about.  You may choose different things than your neighbor does or than your family members do, but you find a way to make things happen when you really want them.  Other people may spend a lot of money on their car, while you invest your money in remodeling your home.  Or maybe you are the one who cares about having a certain kind of car, while you see others putting their money into the current fashions or expanding their music collection.  For you, it might be about taking great vacations or developing your spiritual depth. 

You already put your money where it matters; you invest in the things you care about.  You can also understand it by looking at it from a different perspective:  you don’t spend money on things that you have no interest in.  You invest your financial resources in the people and things that are closest to your heart, and it shows.  The people around you can tell what is important to you by where you spend your money.

There are two ways to look at where you spend your money:  the daily items and the big-ticket items.  Financial advisors work hard to get you to look at what you do every day.  They show you how, when you add up the little items that drain your wallet on a daily basis, you are spending a significant amount every week, month and year.  They are asking you if your daily latte is what you really care about.

Correspondingly, many charitable organizations explain, “For just 50 cents a day, you can support the change you want to see in the world.”  It’s true!  You are making major financial decisions with the pennies and dollars that you spend every day.  You could choose to do something different with your money, by making a simple change in your daily routine.

You also need to pay attention to the big-ticket items.  When you decide on a big-ticket item, you make a significant change in your lifestyle.  Whether it is a new car, a boat, a new home or an investment in your education, things are different afterward. 

This is true for charitable organizations as well.  Last week, our local news reported that $4.5 million donation was given to a historical organization that was at risk of closing its doors.  This donor knew that there are pivotal times in an organization’s life cycle where they need an infusion in order to accomplish their goals.  When you choose to help with big-ticket items, you might even be inspired to give a little more than you would on a daily basis.  It’s similar to when you are buying new living room furniture, you might decide to spend a little more than you had originally planned, because you can see the impact that a little more money would make on the quality of your life.

It’s a balancing act.  You will never have enough money to fulfill all of your desires — at least I hope not!  You must pick and choose, which means you have to use your head and your heart at the same time.  Make intelligent choices and follow your heart, at the same time.

As our Capital Campaign nears its end, you can choose to help with the big-ticket item or with the daily process.  We still need help with the renovations, an immediate need for significant financial support.  And our mortgage payments start next month, a process that needs continuing support.  Thus we have two ways that you can give:

    a) A one-time donation, to help us with the immediate need and task at hand – getting the Ashram doors open. 

    b) A pledge for 24 months of continuing support, that will help us manage the day-to-day realities of a mortgage, utilities, maintenance and programming for a full-service Ashram serving a world-wide community.

Thank you for your deep caring.  That’s what makes you read these articles.  Your caring is what brings you to the Ashram, whether it is in person or in our Virtual Ashram.  The most important thing is that you can dive in deep, and that we can support you in knowing your own Self.  And if you can help us do that, we deeply appreciate it.