Chapter 10 Spiritual Meaning of Money
“The key to humanity’s trouble (focussing as it has in the economic difficulties of the past two hundred years and in the theological impasse of the orthodox churches) has been to take and not give, to accept and not share, to grasp and not to distribute. This has involved the breaking of a law which has placed humanity in a position of positive guilt. War is the dire penalty which mankind has had to pay for this great sin of separateness. Impressions from the Hierarchy have been received, distorted, misapplied and misinterpreted, and the task of the new group of world servers is to offset this evil.” -The Tibetan Master
Money and Spirituality
Money, often regarded as the lifeblood of material progress, plays a paradoxical role in the world. It is simultaneously a tool of power, a measure of value, and, perhaps less understood, a profound spiritual force. Beneath the surface of transactions and trade lies an unrealized potential for money to act as an agent of human transformation, one that aligns material resources with the spiritual evolution of humanity. This chapter seeks to explore how money, when guided by higher principles, can become more than a currency of goods and services; it can become a currency of goodwill, harmony, and progress.
10.1 The Plan Beyond Wealth
Throughout history, philosophers, theologians, and even economists have hinted at the existence of patterns or guiding forces leading humanity toward an ultimate good. Various traditions speak of a divine blueprint or Plan, one that unfolds through human initiative and the forces of evolution. Whether referred to as the Will of God, the inevitabilities of progress, or the guidance of a spiritual Hierarchy, this Plan is said to direct humanity from primal existence toward higher states of civilization.
Within this framework, money assumes a role that transcends commerce. It becomes a form of energy that, like any tool, can be wielded for constructive or destructive purposes. The great challenge, and indeed the great opportunity, is to orient this energy toward the realization of humanity’s higher potential. The spiritual Hierarchy, envisioned as a guiding body of wisdom and compassion, works through individuals who are attuned to the Plan. These individuals, known as the new group of world servers, represent a global network dedicated to fostering goodwill and addressing humanity’s greatest challenges.
10.2 The New Group of World Servers
The new group of world servers does not operate from the heights of isolated spiritual realms but within the very fabric of society. Comprising men and women from all cultures, professions, and walks of life, this group is united not by creed or ideology but by a shared aspiration to serve the common good. They pursue their work across seven spheres of activity, including politics, science, culture, and finance, embodying an international vision that transcends divisions.
The financial field, often perceived as overly materialistic or self-serving, is where the group’s influence is particularly crucial. Economists, financiers, and even ordinary citizens within this collective bear the task of redefining money’s purpose. They are called to direct financial energy toward solutions for inequality, the right distribution of resources, and the cultivation of generosity. This is not an abstract ideal; it is a practical necessity for realigning the global economy with values of sustainability, equity, and shared progress.
Yet, this task is not without its obstacles. Resistance to change runs deep, fueled by fears of scarcity, attachment to power, and entrenched patterns of materialism. Overcoming these barriers requires both a shift in collective consciousness and the personal bravery of those willing to challenge the status quo.
10.3 Courage, Selflessness, and Financial Transformation
What, then, does it take to redirect money toward spiritual and humanitarian aims? At the heart of this transformation lies the courage to revise deeply held beliefs about wealth and responsibility. For many, money is treated not as a means to serve but as a shield against uncertainty, a symbol of individual accomplishment, or even an end in itself. Changing this relationship calls for selflessness, the willingness to relinquish personal gain in favor of contributing to a higher purpose.
It is here that courage becomes critical—not only the courage to give but also the courage to imagine money differently. To allocate financial resources as a tool of goodwill requires boldness in facing societal norms and personal hesitations. Ironically, funding initiatives that promote generosity, education, or spiritual growth is often more challenging than supporting traditional charities or infrastructure projects. And yet, it is precisely these forward-looking endeavors that hold the potential to reshape the future.
The resistance to such redirection is often subtle but pervasive. People shy away from discussing money in moral terms, fearing the stigma or discomfort that such conversations evoke. But the truth remains unavoidable: the correct and ethical use of financial energy is the foundation upon which a more equitable and enlightened world must stand. Without courage and collective effort, the resources required for humanity’s progress will remain locked in patterns of excess and waste.
10.4 Toward Right Human Relations
Ultimately, the spiritual purpose of money is the establishment of right human relations. This concept, which underscores the interconnectedness of all people, calls for a redistribution of resources not as charity, but as justice. It does not suggest sameness or uniformity, but balance and reciprocity. The billions spent on luxuries, excessive industries, and the machinery of war could be redirected to education, healthcare, and sustainable infrastructure. More profoundly, they could amplify the work of those dedicated to spiritual growth and the upliftment of humanity.
Thus, the call is not simply to give, but to rethink the entire philosophy surrounding money. To see it as energy aligned to intention and purpose, as a vehicle for enacting meaningful change. This requires a widespread awakening to the possibilities inherent in financial choices. It invites individuals, regardless of income or influence, to make money an expression of their highest values.
For some, this might mean supporting grassroots initiatives or global nonprofits. For others, it might mean fostering a workplace culture of fairness and opportunity or investing in ethical businesses. At any scale, the principle remains the same: to channel financial energy in ways that reflect and reinforce the unity and dignity of life.
10.5 A Vision Beyond Possession
The words often attributed to Christ, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” (Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34) encapsulate the spiritual dimension of money. Treasure, in this sense, is not merely the money in one’s account but the focus of one’s aspirations, the object of one’s efforts. By shifting the heart and mind away from possession and toward purpose, the full potential of financial energy is unlocked.
The vision of a world where money serves humanity, rather than the other way around, is not an unattainable utopia. It is a possibility that depends on countless small, conscious acts of giving, choosing, and valuing. Money is not inherently selfish or saintly; it is a reflection of us. Its true power is revealed when we allow it to embody our hopes for a better and more harmonious world.
Aligning money with spiritual principles is ultimately a collective task. It is a reordering of priorities, a redirection of energy, and a recommitment to the fundamental truth that we are all connected. Only then can money fulfill its higher purpose—not as a token of material wealth, but as a catalyst for the shared progress of humanity.
Note: The chapter has been adapted from a leaflet published by the Lucis Trust.
10.6 The Task
The task […] is to study the significance of money as directed and appropriated energy. This direction of force produces concretisation, and the work is then in the field of magical endeavour. […] The task to be carried out falls into three categories of endeavour:
- The effort to understand the nature of prana or of vital etheric energy, and the three qualities which distinguish it; these are (as you well know) inertia, activity and rhythm or—giving them their Hindu names—tamas, rajas and sattva. When the mineral wealth of the world was undiscovered and unused, we had the stage of tamas at its deepest and most inert point. Much concerning money today is related to the karma and destiny of the mineral kingdom. With this, however, we need not here concern ourselves. The processes of the pranic life were originally carried out in the realm of barter and the exchange of that which is found upon the surface of the earth and later went down into the depths, thus bringing into fluidity the deepest and densest expression (from the human standpoint) of divinity. This is a point to be remembered. Today the process is being reversed and money is connected with the produce of the vegetable kingdom in the form of paper money, founded upon the mineral wealth of the world. This is an interesting subjective reality to have in mind.
- A study of the processes whereby money has been steadily deflected from personal uses, both in the good and in the evil sense. I do not, however, intend to write a treatise upon finance. It would largely be a record of man’s dire selfishness, but I seek to deal with money as the Hierarchy sees the problem, and to consider it as a form of energy, prostituted at this time to material ends or to the selfish aspirations and ambitions of well-meaning servers. They are limited in their view and need to get a picture of the possibilities inherent in the present situation which could deflect much of this form of concretised divine energy into constructive channels and “ways of light.”
- A study of the Law of Supply and Demand, so that there can be made available for the Masters’ work through the medium of the world disciples (of pure motive and skill in action and tried responsibility) that which is needed, and, my brothers, sorely needed by Them.
Money has been deflected into entirely material ends, even in its philanthropic objectives. The most spiritual use now to be found in the world is the application of money to the purposes of education. When it is turned away from the construction of the form side and the bringing about solely of material well-being of humanity and deflected from its present channels into truly spiritual foundations much good will be done, the philanthropic ends and the educational objectives will not suffer, and a step forward will be made. This time is not yet, but the spiritualising of money and its massing in quantities for the work of the Great Ones, the Disciples of the Christ, is part of a much needed world service and can now make a satisfactory beginning; but it must be carried forward with spiritual insight, right technique and true understanding. Purity of motive and selflessness are taken for granted.” -The Tibetan Master
“0, Thou in Whom we live and move and have our being, the Power that can make all things new, turn to spiritual purposes the money in the world; touch the hearts of men everywhere so that they may give to the work of the Hierarchy that which has hitherto been given to material satisfaction. The New Group of World Servers needs money in large quantities. I ask that the needed vast sums be made available. May this potent energy of Thine be in the hands of the Forces of Light.” -The Tibetan Master