In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores an Ayurvedic perspective on money and how to think spiritually about finances.

You may ask, what does money have to do with Ayurveda? My answer is that Ayurveda has to do with every aspect of life. In the past, it may have been possible for some people to live without money. Even when I first went to India, there were many people who managed without it. Today, however, it is much more difficult.

Money is a form of shakti, just like any other kind of shakti. If you want to live effectively in the world, you need to understand how to work with it.

The first thing to remember is that money is useful. Money is not the root of all evil. The love of money is the root of all evil. If the pursuit of money becomes the chief aim of your life, it can create karmic difficulties and leave you feeling dissatisfied.

What you need is the right amount of money for your life. Money itself will not make you happy, but it can provide what you need to make life easier. You do not need a great pile of money. You need the amount that allows you to fulfil your responsibilities.

The first step is to determine how much money you truly need. The second is to understand how much effort is required to earn that amount. This also means knowing your budget and understanding how much you spend each month.

Everyone should have an emergency fund. It should cover at least six months of your expenses. In the United States, that means at least ten thousand dollars, or six months of expenses, whichever is greater. In India, I would suggest five lakh rupees, or six months of expenses, whichever is greater.

You need to know what you are spending and have this reserve available because life is unpredictable, and you never know when an emergency may arise.

There are only two good reasons to go into debt. The first is to buy a home in which to live. The second is to receive an education that will allow you to do meaningful work and earn enough to support yourself and your family.

Going into debt for those purposes may be reasonable. Going into debt to buy a vehicle, take a vacation, or for similar reasons is generally not a good idea.

If you are already in debt, build your emergency fund before paying down the debt. You cannot know when an emergency will occur, and you need to have resources available when it does.

A large percentage of people, especially in the United States, would have to borrow money or sell something if they suddenly needed four hundred dollars. Do not allow yourself to be in that condition. Do not give away your shakti to the point where you have none available when you truly need it.

If you are looking at a large amount of debt, do not panic. Find out which loan has the highest interest rate and begin paying that one down first. Remain calm and continue making steady payments every week or every month.

Debt is like an energy debt in your body. It becomes a burden on your experience of life. Do not allow that to become your condition.