Money and Divinity
(spiritual leaders - money for divine purposes)

Kaivalya Jnani:
Collecting money for a divine purpose is not wrong... what is wrong is building mansions and accumulating material riches.

Here we need to understand the difference between spirituality and religion. Those who pursue spirituality as the goal of their life are after enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) and salvation (moksha). The stage of enlightenment and salvation can be reached after having crossed the threshold of the five senses and the mind.

If one continues abhorring materialistic riches... it simply implies that one has not yet gained control over the five senses and the mind. If such a one talks spirituality... he is not only fooling mankind but his real self. One who indulges in wanton desires can never be a true seeker of spirituality.

Every serious seeker of spirituality may require money for his livelihood, conducting spiritual seminars, discourses and TV programs. The requirement of money not directly associated with spiritual pursuits of life is unwanted money. One must totally discard such an attempt.

Divine knowledge... cosmic Wisdom need not always be free. In the present Kali Yuga (the metal age)... something that comes free carries no weight age. The present generation... unable to fathom the fact that karma can be done for the benefit of mankind alone... are engrossed in collecting riches for the self and family.

The so-called spiritual masters are not spiritual in any sense. They are religious leaders at the most. They are bound by the dogmas and creeds as specified in sacred scriptures. Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana both gained enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) in their lifetime. Both indulged in discourses lying on a cot. They never built ashrams for themselves.

Having gained enlightenment they were simply dispensing the pearls of wisdom back to the community. No true seeker of the spirituality would ever ask for money in return for wisdom dispensed. Such spiritual masters are above the fold of worldly life. Having gained enlightenment they understand that the manifest bodily form it simply to meet and greet people... when comes the time to depart all would be left behind.

If the cause is genuine... every spiritual master has a right to collect money. In absence of a goal... all money collected is a waste of time.

Essay by: Kaivalya Jnani ... One who realized self in his life time! Send your query!

 
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