Purity in True Religion - Satsang - Happiness - Liberation - Soul - Salvation

Wherever there is discussion of wealth and women, it is all kusang (association of the immoral). And where there is discussion of religion, of real happiness or where there is a desire to make others happy, that association is called satsang (company of the absolute truth). Two things that cannot be on the path to liberation are thoughts about women and thoughts about wealth! There is no religion where there are thoughts about women and wealth. The world exists because of people’s attachment to these two. It is a mistake to look for religion there. Therefore do not involve yourself in anything related to wealth and women. Be careful whom you make your guru. Anyone who has a weakness for either of these, you cannot make him your guru. There is no problem with a guru who enjoys some material comforts but there should be no flaws in his character. Also there is no problem if he has an ego and demands respect. You can forgive anything except flaws in conduct. Conduct is the most important thing.

Vyvahaar(worldly) conduct means one’s conduct should be such that it hurts no one in worldly dealings. Our conduct should be such that it does not hurt even those who hurt us. What are the two main things in worldly conduct? There should be an end to sex and wealth. Proper conduct cannot be found where there is wealth.
There is no religion where money accepted in the form of fees or taxes. Wherever there is money there is no religion and where there is religion there is no money. Is this principle not easy to understand? There is no religion where there is sex and money.

There is no fee where there is liberation (moksha). Doctors charge fees and so what difference is there between the two if they both (doctor and the guru) charge a fee? Should ‘liberators’ be charging a fee for their services?

Money should be spent on the right path. The right path means money should be spent for the benefit of others and not for your own self. It should not be spent solely on the guru, for he may use it for his own children. You should give it to those in need and in misery. If not then spend it towards the printing of religious and spiritual books, so that people can benefit from them. That is called gnan daan (gift/alms of knowledge). If the donation goes for a good cause, then let your money go.

Some gurus take money in return for their blessings and for gracing your home with their presence. Why do they not bless the homes of the poor instead? Why do they treat the poor like this? Should they not be looking out for the poor?

In such situations, first you are losing money and moreover, you are wasting your time. Instead of having your home blessed by the feet of such gurus, why not have some poor man’s feet, within whom resides Darindranarayan (Lord of the helpless), bless your home instead? What good are the feet of all these so-called gurus? But people are so greedy, they will say, “His footsteps will bless our home and our son’s wife will bear a child she has not been able to do so for the last fifteen years.”
Those who become free of desires are given all the powers (sutras) of the world. But this only happens if they become free from all desires! There are so many kinds of desires: desire for wealth, for fame, for sex, for disciples, to build temples, nothing but desires! What meaningful gains will there be?
Everyone is out to fulfill their desires and to satisfy their needs. If it is not to satisfy their basic needs, then it is for fame, money or pride! You can get anything and everything from a man who has no needs. If we go to a man with needs, he cannot improve us because he has not improved himself. Instead such men have started a moneymaking business and sadly they never fall short of customers.

These ‘saints’ have become businessmen. Anyone who has any dealings with money cannot be called a saint. But people do not understand this. Saints do not take money. People go to the saint to alleviate their misery but instead end up paying the so-called saint. These ‘saints’ have been the ruin of India. True saints are those who give their own happiness to others; not take it away from them!

Do you call this happiness? People have miseries and you take money from them? People go to a guru to get rid of their miseries but instead the guru increases their misery by taking money from them! You cannot take even a dime. To take anything from anyone is considered discrimination; it is where the guru is separate from the seeker. This verily is the foundation of the worldly life; there is no unity or a sense of oneness. It is in this worldly life that the guru himself is wandering in vain. Those who take from others are considered vagrants. They take money from others because they consider them separate from themselves. One should not take even a penny from a worshipper. Those who have started this business will themselves lose everything. They will lose whatever siddhis (special powers) they have acquired. They are able to attract people with whatever little siddhis they have acquired, but in taking money, they will eventually lose those powers. When a person misuses his special powers, he will lose them. The purer the person, the more the world belongs to him. Your ownership of this world is in proportion to the purity within you! Purity means that a person has no need for anything in this world!!
The Soul (Atma) is a different thing altogether and yet people want business in religion. Everywhere they say, keep religion (integrity, righteousness) in business. Keep religion in whatever business you do, but do not do business in religion. Otherwise everything will all be destroyed.