Investments and Work

Baba ji said to us to have no blockages in our mind due to fear of past financial losses or emotional rejections.  We realise that we have become very financially straight jacketed since making losses with our properties a few years ago – scared to try any new investments.  And socially we are stunted due to past rejections and fear of getting hurt or ridiculed.  Baba ji said, “have no blocks.  How?  Just put God first.  Don’t chase after business opportunities as it will only bite you.  I.e. if you lose your investment you may end up with a nervous breakdown.  The thing to do is to put God first.  Do Ardas first and ask God to make us go in the direction that HE wants us to go in.  Then wait and listen for an answer.  It could come from anywhere – a thought from Beant (infinite Hirdha within us), or a word from a beggar we pass in the street.  So be alert that God is talking to you now.  However, if no answer comes, or you are confused then the hukam for you is to do nothing.  So even if thereis a plate of diamonds infront of you and there is no Hukam to take it, then don’t touch it.”

Baba ji looks for investments all the time.  Just like Baba Nanak Ji worked as a farmer at the end of his lifetime, Baba ji also works for a living as a landlord.  He has several properties which he rents out to tenants and spends time refurbishing, fixing, painting, redecorating.  Most days he wears an old black t-shirt, jean shorts and gets in his workhorse of a car, which has done over 200,000 Km has manual windows, no AC and needs a good clean as his shoes have brought in a lot of dirt and stones (even that is blessed!).  The trunk is full of tools and equipment.  We offered to do seva of cleaning the car, but Baba ji said, no because he is happy to be the commonest of the common, lowest of the low. Baba ji truly is “eeha ka neech Dargah ka ooch.  Become the lowest here and you are regarded as the highest in Dargah!”

Baba ji looks for investments all the time.  He tries to buy scrap properties, properties that don’t sell and then are reduced in price.  He offers the least amount he thinks is reasonable, and if they accept – good.  If they don’t accept and try to negotiate saying things like “someone else has made a higher offer,” it means its not Hukam for Baba ji to purchase it.  Baba ji said, “offer the price you can afford and you have calcualted is correct after considering the location, future prospects, your refurbishment costs, your expected rental etc. Then don’t budge on the price.”

We said that our brother is 100% business minded and has been quite successful, but he always tries to get us excited about new prospects.  However, when we got excited and invested heavily in some properties we all made huge losses over 3 years.  So now when he talks business we try to resist.  We feel it is his desire arousing our desire for wealth, rather than God talking.  Baba ji said that if you are confused then do nothing.

In terms of work, baba ji said on several occasions to us that, “ARAM IS HARAM … REST IS UNLAWFUL/ANTI-DIVINITY.  So stay busy.  The body is designed to stay active, but also not designed to work 10-18 hours either. Baba ji mentioned some lorry dirvers in the sangat were working 22 hour long days and then complainging that they have not spiritually advanced over the last few years.  Baba ji told them that without enough sleep (at least 3 hours if you are a Sant and know how to do it right, but over 4 hours for most people) your mind becomes rigid, inflexible.  You need sleep for the brain and body to heal whilst the soul slips out to Mansarovar to get rejuvinated as well.”

Baba ji said, “the body is designed for long walks and short sprints (hunter-gatherer ancestors used to hunt like that trackinh prey all day long).  Body is not even designed to do weight.  Walking and swimming is good.”

In terms of work, Baba ji said, “keep gaining skills that get you a job. Stay sharp, stay useful.  Save as much as you can. Reduce costs and outgoings to a bare minimum.  Live like a miser and treat savings as sacred, not to be touched.  In this downturn of the economy reduce the amount you eat as well to save costs.  Remember that eating is to get rid of hunger (bhukh).  Overeating , or eating for tastes is just going to turn bhukh into dukh (suffering).  The time is coming now when people are going to have to strt working two or even three jobs.”

We said to Baba ji our relatives in USA are already working like that.  Really hard workers.  Our sister-in-law works as a nurse from 11pm to 7am.  Then drives home, gets changed, gets the kids ready and works as a school teacher from 8.30 to 3.30.  Comes home and sleeps , then off again.  And her husband works as a security guard, and then in his restaurant which he and his brother bought just before the credit crunch but which running at a loss now, but which they cant even sell.  And then he has a swimming pool business which gives him some extra work as well.  On top of that they are bringing up three kids as well.

Baba ji also said, “since World War II when people were being rationed, so living at one extreme, society has done a rebound and gone to the other extreme of over-indulgence.  Now He had to kick the financial systems, to slap everyone back on track to Him.”

Baba ji then said, “by living like a miser you will save and with your savings you can then invest in some ‘scrap’ low price rental properties.  Keep picking them up, but stop if you make loss.  Always make sure you only invest as much as you can afford to lose, then it doesn’t bite.  Stay calm whatever happens and accept the hukam.”

Baba ji said about his own investments that “whatever I buy turns green, because I only buy what HE tells me to.”

Pritam Anand ji said, “don’t be scared of new challenges or new opportunities, because that is all God as well.  God is with you so there is room for fear.  If you have fear then that is the challenge for you to hold onto God and step into the fear, rather than avoid facing it and never outgrowing it.”