Aptavani 02

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Mahavideh Foundation

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always be true to his word. Currently there is no such person in the entire city of Bombay! Arey! Leaving aside word of mouth, nowadays even when people sign documents they will claim, "This is not my signature!" A true Kshatriya will never go back on his word.
The poets and bards have such sweet language even when they worship the Goddess Saraswati in a picture!
Goddess Lakshmiji (Goddess of wealth) Questioner : What are Goddess Lakshmiji's rules?
Dadashri : Her rules are that one cannot make or take money dishonestly. How can Lakshmiji be pleased with you if you violate this rule? Then it matters little whether you worship Goddess Lakshmiji to no end. It is of no consequence when you perform the ritual of washing coins on Lakshmipujan Day prior to Diwali! Everyone does that too! Do they wash coins in England?
Questioner : No Dada, no one washes money there.
Dadashri : Even then does Lakshmiji not grace their homes? What is the meaning in washing coins? Here in India, people wash them with yogurt also! Everyone washes coins. When it comes to money, everyone is shrewd, no one lags behind in doing this. People even come and ask me, "Did you wash coins today?" 'We'ask, "What for?" Whenever Lakshmiji meets me 'we tell her, "Our home address is 6, Mamani Poda, Vadodara. You are welcome there anytime it is convenient for you. It is your home, so you are welcome." This is all 'we' say to her; 'we' never fail to show 'our' respect. Where money is concerned 'we' never say 'we' have no need for money.
You cannot shun Lakshmiji (money). Many ascetics, sages, monks etc., will say "No! No!' when someone offers them money. They are doomed to spend many lifetimes without a penny when they react this way. You fools, do not shun L
Lakshmiji in this way otherwise, you will not have the opportunity to even touch money again. You will not be able to do even darshan of Lakshmiji in your next life. You cannot shut it. You cannot afford to shun anything. Shunning Lakshmiji is same as shunning the interactions of worldly life, that is why 'we say 'Jai Sat Chit Anand' to Lakshmiji when she comes to our home and also when she leaves. You have to tell her, "This is your house, come and go as you please. "Lakshmiji says, "The wealthy businessmen chase me so hard that they have sores on their feet. When they run after me they fall so many times and scrape their knees and they tell themselves it is not worth chasing money. But I entice them again and once more they get up and start chasing me. This is how I am going to beat them until they bruise and bleed. Their feet swell and yet they do not come to their senses." Lakshmiji is very shrewd.
Nature of money in the current time cycle
Money of today is such that it comes as a result of past merit karma, but binds new demerit karma (paap-anubandhi punya) as it leaves, it is money that creates conflicts. Instead it is better that you have less money, which will at least prevent conflicts from entering your home. Today, money creates an atmosphere of conflict wherever it goes. It is better to have a simple meal of vegetables and bhakhree (Indian bread) than thirty-two varieties of delicacies. What use is eating food that creates quarrels while eating? Wealth of current times comes but it brings quarrels with it. Money of today will create misery and suffering in its wake. Otherwise, even one rupee that is destined to bind merit karma (punya-anubandhi-punya) will give peace and happiness to everyone; it creates an atmosphere whereby everyone in the home will have positive and religious thoughts.
What is the nature of money? It gives unhappiness when you earn it, unhappiness when you save it or have to protect it and unhappiness when you spend it. If a person makes a hundred thousand rupees, he will have the added burden of