The Concept of Voluntary Poverty

Modern life is filled with the never-ending anxiety of making money. Our approach right from the school days is to earn money and accumulate the things required in society.

It is a powerful cultural force that makes us accumulate stuff, and is not as practical as it is emotionally and psychologically significant. A failure to make money is considered irresponsible, and a poor person who is not earning is shunned in today’s society.

History shows us plenty of examples of people pursuing goals that are not towards earning wealth.

The Roman statesman Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus had a successful public career but made no money, even though he came from an impoverished family. There are many such examples from India, where learned and creative individuals chose to live an impoverished life.