ਲੋਭਾ (lobhaa)
Meaning: noun: Greed.
Quote:
ਹੇ ਲੋਭਾ ਲੰਪਟ ਸੰਗ ਸਿਰਮੋਰਹ ਅਨਿਕ ਲਹਰੀ ਕਲੋਲਤੇ॥
he lobhaa laṁpaṭ saňg sirmorah anik lahree kalolate
O greed! Even the great, clung to you and trapped in your countless waves, behave in strange ways – Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 1358
Message: We all know of people whose goal in life is to accumulate more and more wealth. Some keep their shops or their businesses ‘open all hours.’ Others put in long hours to impress their bosses or work over-time to get more money.
There is no time to ‘stand and stare,’ no work-life balance and no time to reflect on where they are heading, or the meaning and purpose of life. They may go around bloated with pride because of their wealth or status, but rarely have the time to enjoy the wealth.
The true goal of life is to be satisfied with what we earn through honest hard work. Craving or compulsively seeking happiness through acquiring material things is a fundamental hindrance to spiritual enlightenment. Excessive greed leads us to spiritual degradation.
Only by continuously staying in touch with the guidance of Gurbani, can we learn to be content and save ourselves from the sway of greed and hoarding of wealth.
Giving in to temptation is natural but also shows a sign of weakness. You must develop will power to fight the unneeded desires. -Anonymous
Etymology: From Sanskrit lobh (covetousness, avarice, greed) from lubh (to desire greatly).
