Posted on: 22 Apr 2023
[Shri Durgaprasad asked: Paadanamaskaaram Swami, my question is regarding donations done at Tirupati. My wife says - "I have analysed and found Lord Balaji as God and I make the donation at Tirupati temple. How am I responsible if the funds are mis-utilized by TTD trust members? Lord Balaji will punish the sinners misusing the funds. The analysis of Samvida deyam etc., will apply only if someone is donating to a Guru in person in front of us". Kindly enlighten us. At Your lotus feet, -Durgaprasad]
Swami replied:- I told that the funds are wasted and this is not misuse. Wasting the funds is greater sin than misuse. In misuse, God can punish the sinner. But, in wastage, God will put His lotus palm on His forehead and feels sad for the ignorance of devotee. If He punishes the sinner, He will be at least peaceful. In this case, God is deeply pained. Paining God is the greatest sin. Did God not give you best intelligence to do analysis in every action? In worldly life, are you doing things without analysis? Take the case of Shri Satya Sai Trust. God has given practical directions regarding the good use and bad wastage of funds for several years and now also the utilization of funds is running on perfect lines without any misuse or wastage. In God as the human incarnation, this is the advantage. Worshipping God as statue is good for beginners (Pratimā hyalpa buddhīnām) to develop their personal theoretical devotion and the Veda says that God is not in the statue because it is only representative model worship (Na tasya pratimā asti). The Gita says that God comes in human form to receive your direct worship (Mānuṣīṃ tanu māśritam— Gita). While doing representative model worship, you can decorate the statue with flowers after cleaning with water that develops your attraction to the statue. But, other modes of worship involving wastage of food are not to be done. Even if you offer food, that food shall be distributed to devoted poor people because such an offering will improve your theoretical devotion. Statue is like a National flag that represents the Nation to which you can salute. But, if you donate to a committee maintaining that flag, what is the guarantee of no misuse or wastage of funds happening because the committee is constituted by ordinary human beings. If you donate to a Guru preaching spiritual knowledge, at least, he will use it for his livelihood and it is merit since he is helping us in guiding our spiritual journey in the right direction. If the Guru happens to be the Sadguru like Shri Sai Baba, He is both guide and goal. Even if He enjoys your sacrifice, you are serving God directly and such opportunity cannot be achieved by you even in your dream! Such sacrifice is the final step in your spiritual effort. What I say finally is that sharp analysis is very essential in not only worldly actions but is also more important in spiritual actions.