Noble Use of Money

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Mahavideh Foundation

Page 24

Noble Use of Money
Noble Use of Money
are, then you have bound merit karma for whatever you spent for Hiraba.
Dadashri: Why would I gain anything? I have nothing to do with it. No merit karma is formed or charged in this. In such a situation, the merit karma is expended when people give you praise for your deeds.
And when you do something wrong, people will criticize you and you have to suffer the consequences, here and now. Everything takes place in this life. When one builds a high school, he is praised for it here in this life. He receives nothing for his next life.
Questioner: But the school is built for the benefit of the children, for their education and for the improvement of their minds.
Dadashri: That is a different matter. But when people sing your praise, all benefits for you are spent here only.
Can One Person Benefit Through Another?
Questioner: The benefit of your donation goes to the person in whose name you are making the donation. You do not get the benefit of it.
Dadashri: Have you ever heard of such an incident where one person does the deed and the other reaps the benefits?
Charity For The Self Only that which you put aside for the Soul, will be carried forward in your next life. You will not gain any benefits for your next life if you receive recognition and fame for what you do, in this life.
Questioner: What will carry forward?
Dadashri: Whatever you do for the Soul, will increase your spiritual energies and that is what carries forward to your next life.
Questioner: And by receiving praise and fame, we use up our reward (punya) in this life, correct?
Dadashri: Yes, you will get the praise and it is all over. None will carry forward.
Feast Of Praises Questioner: When I give donations, my intentions are that the money be used for religious and other good causes. But if people praise me for my deeds, are the benefits not lost?
Dadashri: When large donations are made, they inevitably become publicized and the donor receives praise. Anonymous donations do not receive any recognition and so the rewards remain intact, but you should not involve yourself in the matter of future profits. You should not have any expectations for fame. Even Lord Mahavir received praise from people, but he never accepted it. Dada too gets a lot of praise but he does not accept any of it either. Worldly people (not self-realised), on the other hand, are quick to accept any praise because they have a hunger for it. Donations are bound to be exposed and people cannot refrain from singing your praise, but as long as you do not accept them, what is the problem? The problem begins when you accept the praise. The one who does not accept any praise remains unaffected and therefore does not incur any loss.
Questioner: But did you not make the donation in someone else's name? You are merely an instrument (nimit) in the process.
Dadashri: If that is the case, then what is wrong in eating for him as his nimit? No, it is not like that, this is just a ploy people use to deceive others and lead them down the wrong path. How does a hungry person benefit if you eat on his behalf? In reality the whole world is regulated under very precise rules.