Noble Use of Money

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Mahavideh Foundation

Page 12

Noble Use of Money
Abhayadaan is higher than gnandaan, but ordinary people cannot give abhayadaan! Only the Gnanis and his followers of enlightened beings can give abhayadaan. The Gnani's followers too, can give abhayadaan. They live in such a way that no being fears them. They will not disturb even a dog. This is because for an enlightened being, even the slightest degree of hurt to another reaches within, and hurts his self. Therefore we should live in such a way that no living being suffers through the medium of our thoughts, speech and actions.
Money Involved In All Three
Questioner: So is there no place for the charity of money in these four major categories?
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Dadashri: The charity of money is included in gnandaan. When money is used to print books that impart knowledge, it is gnandaan.
Questioner: Isn't everything being done through money anyway? We need money even to give donation of food.
Dadashri: Yes, money is needed even to donate medicine. Money is needed for everything, but a donation of money for gnandaan is the highest.
How Can Money Be Given?
Questioner: For any of the donations we should not give cash, is that right?
Dadashri: Correct, money should not be given in cash. For gnandaan you should give in the form of printed books, but if you want to make a donation of food, feed people cooked meals. Nowhere, has it been written that donations should be in the form of money.
Donation of Gold Coins
Questioner: It is said in the scriptures that in the past,
Noble Use of Money
people used to donate gold coins, isn't that considered a form of money?
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Dadashri: Yes donations of gold coins were given to only the Shraman Brahmins (Jain ascetics). They cannot ask anyone for anything so people would give them charity of gold coins for their daily sustenance and for the marriage of their daughters. Back in those days the money-coins were used for a good cause. Nowadays it is different, today even the derasars (Jain temples) are built from illicit money. Such is the influence of this time cycle!
The Gnani's Viewpoint...
Questioner: There is often a dilemma about this, but in your view, which is higher, donation for knowledge (vidyadaan) or education or donation of money?
Dadashri: Charity of education is higher. Those who have money should give towards education and gnan (spiritual knowledge). For gnan you should have books printed and give in other ways to propagate it. How is gnan propagated? The money should be spent only for gnan. Those with and without money, should focus on abayadaan. They should live in such a way that no one fears them. It is not proper for people to donate money for prestige and fame. Monuments have been constructed for fame and prestige, but none of these monuments have survived. When are you able to carry forward credits of what you do in this life? It is when you give for the propagation of gnan and education.
The Book That Helps Is Worth It!
Questioner: Thousands of religious books are printed but no one reads them.
Dadashri: That is true, nobody reads them, and they just collect dust. You are right when you say that a book is worth