Namaste,
OK.
Keynote: "approaching materials" in contrast to "dissociation from materials".
My approach is typically to get max out of the material in the min time. And then use that "yield" to later create "more material" than was present earlier. That is, observe, learn, extract, reapply, expand. In the word "Prithvi", prith means "expand". So that is a given (the mandate to expansion); the rest is purushartha.
By spiritual conduct, 'course, you mean the steps: observe, learn and extract. But that leaves out: to reapply and to expand. Larger the base is, the greater the scope for reaching out even higher (Sri Aravind's words). In terms of the individual (when does "moksha" happen?), and also in terms of the contribution towards the progress of society.
For example, at personal level, at homes and such, the material we use is solely for our own advancement (spiritual in the end), and the material that we use at workspace is meant for the advancement of society at large - even there the progress is ultimately of consciousness even though achieved by the "expansion of the possibilities of the material". If one understands these two, he will not waste his time.
If we are only into observe, learn and extract, and don't think/ know about reapply and expand, then basically we are waiting for our next births when we will be getting "better (expanded) personalities" as a result of the past karma.
The whole 9th mandala of the RgVeda talks about the flow of Immortality - of Soma - which is from remotest of the realms to finally ending in the material; result? Expansion, Amaratva.
The bank balance is one of the indicators (not the only ones though) of the amount of "extraction" that has been done by the individual. So instead of feeling sorry or embarrassed, one should be proud of his accomplishment, and again try to "reapply" the "extraction" to get even more "expanded" results.
So giving alms to a beggar may be thought of as flimsy by someone who knows that his work is doing a better job at alleviating in a more systematic manner the poverty of the beggar (though not directly visible).
These are very nicely put thoughts, and certainly has the hallmarks of a Hindu. Some issues raised there are very fundamental. For many big industrialists (heirs of rich parents, mainly) they have no idea, neither talent, about how to invest their money. So in their case their bank balances are not accumulated purushartha but only a way to control poor humans. So they end up trying extract more from the material (and also poor beings) with the aim in mind to not give anything away. But this is not how humanity progresses, so the stupid in the end end up losing all their money to intelligent people. Some other rich people are smarter: they use their money as investment in intelligent people's ideas (inventions, patents, etc); even under this model Prithvi expands.
The problem before a civilised society is to reduce waste of time in letting stupid rich people survive for longer.
The present house is the father's purushartha, not of son's. Let him see that, and also your future vision wherein you intend to "expand" it further in what way. Of course if you continue to be successful, you will end up being a king, and the world will also rejoice with you because it is Dharmically (eternally) done. On the question of wife, I guess she needs to be an equal partner in the venture.
Apart from said earlier, the point is to compete with the rest - apply yourself, use your "extraction" - your vision your body your acquired powers to the best - make a dash.
Beyond this, as you have correctly said, requires the personal touch of a Guru. But I never had any, and yo, I'm kinda okay..
KT
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