Two Worlds

[Abhidevananda]

A wealthy priest liked to lecture his congregation about the benefits
of poverty. According to him, rich people in this world will be poor in
the world to come, whereas poor people in this world will be rich in
the next world.

One day a member of the priest's congregation came to him with a
request. He asked: "Is it true that one who is poor in this world will
be wealthy in the world to come?"

The priest replied: "It is certainly so."

The man said: "In that case, as you are rich and I am poor, please loan
me a thousand dollars, which I will return to you in the next world."

Without hesitation, the priest agreed and handed over the money. But
before the poor man could pocket the cash, the priest confronted him:
"What do you intend to do with this money?"

The poor man said: "I will start a business."

"And do you expect to make any money from that business?"

"Well, of course, I do."

"In that case, I cannot give you the thousand dollars." With that, the
priest took his money back.

The poor man was stunned: "Why did you do that?"

The priest said: "As you are going to make money and become rich in
this world, you will surely be poor in the world to come. And if you
are poor in the world to come, you will not be able to repay me there."