To be safe from the disease of greed and love of fame is the greatest happiness, for these are among the…

To be safe from the disease of greed and love of fame is the greatest happiness, for these are among the inseparable qualities of the ego that commands to evil.

Now among our “progressive” young people the word “growth” is going around a lot. That is, they leave a job on the pretext that they are “not growing.” Supposedly they are not gaining new skills, they are stagnating. And yet the salary and conditions are satisfactory, and there is a leader and a team who have trained them.

These thoughts, besides being a display of a childish mentality, have a little to do with greed and love of fame. That is, the offer from a new workplace promises a bigger salary. And young people look at their peers and cut their coat to match. That is, if a peer seems to have achieved something, or they see him going on trips, that’s it — a fire is lit inside them: “What about me? Why not me? When will it be me?”

It is because of this envy, greed and the wish to make a name among their peers that young people start wanting “growth.”

This is nothing but a whisper of temptation. Those older in years should tell these young people — and here we are telling them: dear young friend, your provision is coming from this very job of yours; do not be ungrateful to the boss who has cared for you; do not rush to turn your back on the one who trained you for the sake of a promise of a couple of extra som; after all, blessing is not in quantity — people may earn millions and find not a speck of blessing. Blessing comes with peace of heart, doing one’s work honestly, living an orderly life, honesty and sincerity.

Double-facedness and striving to show oneself off in every way do not befit a young man; this resembles the work of fashion models who advertise by wearing clothes.

So the conclusion is this: do not keep tormenting yourself — neither your soul nor your body — in pursuit of material comfort. Do not drool looking at your peers whose eyes have been blinded by wealth; what is eaten may be thrown up again; this excitement came to them suddenly through “launches” and things of that kind, and if their property slips out of their hands, their true price and worth will become known.

Sometimes we witness some young people forming what they consider an “elite” group: expensive purchases, expensive restaurants, evenings with an orchestra... Subhan Allah, my dear ones, whom are you imitating? Billionaires? The rich? Moneyed people whose eyes are covered with grime, whose hearts have turned black like a stove chimney, who are far from compassion?

Do not soil yourselves so much!

At your young age, do not be so greedy, so fond of wealth, so enslaved to material things.

Now, this is a piece of advice; in any case, these words will have no effect on those billionaires you envy — revelry and pleasure-seeking have locked up their minds and hearts to such a degree that no reproof or wisdom can enter; but you still read books, you are still curious.

That is why you should remember our words; even if these words cannot rescue you from the river of heedlessness along which you are drifting, it may well be that one day you will remember them, and they will come in handy to lead you to the truth your soul needs.

Akrom MALIK