Noble Use of Money

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Mahavideh Foundation

Page 25

Noble Use of Money
Noble Use of Money
Also, those who give praise earn merit karma. Such a person binds merit karma by supporting a good cause even if they do not donate money. Everything works on a very subtle level. These are all laws of nature.
The one, who praises a charitable action, benefits himself and others because when other people hear him, and in turn, they too will think that giving donations is a worthy cause. These people then charge merit karmas with their good intentions.
Questioner: What should we do when we devote our mind, body, and wealth towards a good cause and someone continues to speak ill of us?
Dadashri: The person that discredits you will bind tremendous demerit karma. Your karma of the past with the insult is being washed away at the hands of the one who is discrediting you. He is simply a nimit.
The Hunger Of The Pride I analyze my own nature! I used to visit Srimad Rajchandraji's ashram in Agas, when I was a contractor. At that time, money was not a problem for me. In those days, a hundred rupee note had a lot of value. When I gave a donation, I would make sure that it was recorded. I would give a hundredrupee note and ask them to return seventy-five rupees. I could have easily given the whole amount, but my mind at the time was stingy and beggarly and so I used to take the money back.
Questioner: Dada, even back then you made very subtle observations.
Dadashri: Yes, but what I am saying that this nature of one's prakruti (the body complex with ego) does not go away. People used to tell me that I was a very noble man. I asked myself how I could be regarded as noble, when I was being miserly with my donations. Upon further investigation, I discovered that I would spend thousands of rupees where I
received praise from people, but otherwise I was not willing to spend even a single rupee! It was not that my prakruti was stingy, but if I did not receive any recognition, then I would not give anything, regardless of what the cause may be. Where I received praise, I would give away all my earnings. I would even incur a debt in order to give! Now for how long can such praise last? A few days or so, and then it is all gone.
See how my past incidents come to mind? I still remember very clearly that I gave hundred rupees and took back seventyfive. I can even visualize that office. I asked myself, "Is this what you are all about? Just look at the nobleness of all others!" I understood my behavior. I had a generous mind, but I needed people to praise me. All they needed to do was to sing my praise, and I was at their disposal.
Questioner: Dada, such is the nature of man. Dadashri: Yes, that is all prakruti.
Banias (business caste) are very shrewd people. They do not get sold on praise. They are great thinkers. They will assess whether their reward will be used up in this life or whether it will be carried forward for their next life. A person uses up all his rewards when he receives praise, all his benefits will be expended in this life; he will taste the fruits here and now. We Kshatriyas (warrior caste) are very decisive. We believe in taking action at all costs. Even all the Tirthankaras (the enlightened ones) were Kshatriyas. The sadhus (Jain ascetics) themselves say that they cannot become Tirthankaras, because when they take the vow to become ascetics, they renounce everything, but still keep a little money aside, just in case. That is their basic internal trait, whereas the Kshatriyas will renounce everything on the spot. To a Kshatriya, the promise to pay is a promise for everything, at all costs! They are not capable of anything else; they do not understand anything else. They are not thinkers! Nevertheless liberation comes faster to them.