The Bowl of Saki Commentary

When the rich young man came to Jesus Christ for advice and was told to sell all that he had and give to the poor, he did not understand the words of the Master. At that time, it was quite common for the rich to come to spiritual teachers and surrender all their worldly goods. This has been a custom through the ages and there is nothing strange in the story—only the European mind, accustomed to different traditions, has not always understood it.

Now anybody is rich in a worldly sense who is intoxicated with life and places values in things—be they riches, possessions, worldly honor, fame, knowledge, or anything which does not lead one to the realization of God. It is almost self-evident that a person cannot serve two masters, be they God and Mammon, or any two masters. The real truth about wealth is that one is never the possessor of such wealth; one is the servant of such wealth. If one possessed it, one could take it with one, both on earthly travels and beyond this plane when one departed. Obviously this is impossible and it teaches that one does not really own things but serves them when one claims such ownership.

Now to renounce what one does not own is not really surrender; to renounce what is one's possession is surrender. The nufs is nothing but the thought of self, and this stands in the way of all spiritual realization and perfection. Giving that away, throwing one's sense of self down makes it possible to gain the kingdom of Heaven. Misers on earth, though they possesses only a farthing, cannot reach the gates. Kindly people, though they have millions, may be blessed by Allah.