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If human life is seen as a mere passage - fleeting, transient, and ultimately finite, then the pursuit of excessive wealth becomes questionable.
Wealth itself isn’t inherently wrong; it can provide comfort, security, and
opportunities to help others.
But when
accumulation becomes excessive, it risks turning into obsession, detachment
from deeper meaning, and neglect of relationships or inner growth.
Philosophers
and spiritual traditions often argue that since life is temporary, true
fulfillment lies not in material hoarding but in cultivating virtues like wisdom,
compassion, and purpose. Excessive wealth can even become a burden,
you spend your short passage guarding it, rather than living freely.
On the
other hand, some argue that wealth, if used wisely, can amplify one’s ability
to leave a positive mark during this passage, funding education, alleviating
poverty, or supporting innovation. In that sense, it’s not the accumulation
itself that matters, but the use of wealth.
So
perhaps the real question isn’t whether man should accumulate wealth,
but whether he can do so without losing sight of the fact that life is a
passage, and that the value of the journey lies in how it’s lived, not in
what’s stored.
But then,
let's look at it deeper at this point:
Introduction
If human
life is understood as a passage - a transient journey from birth to
death - then the pursuit of excessive wealth must be critically
examined. The metaphor of life as a passage emphasizes impermanence, reminding
us that material possessions cannot accompany us beyond the threshold of mortality.
The Nature of Wealth
Wealth, in itself, is neither inherently virtuous nor corrupt. It provides comfort, security, and the means to support others. Yet, when accumulation becomes excessive, it risks transforming into obsession. The pursuit of riches can overshadow the cultivation of wisdom, compassion, and purpose - qualities that endure beyond material possessions.
