11 Sep 2024
The Veda says that "Satyaṃ Jñānam anantaṃ Brahma". It says that Swami is the true, infinite Brahman. Swami means Guru Datta. Whether you like it or not, Datta will preach you the truth. That is why Datta has not become popular so far. But now He is becoming popular because these days people are realizing the value of truth. The fruit attained through truth is true and eternal. People usually have a business relationship with God. Either to solve a problem or to get a profit, they come to Swami and take oath to offer something as a bribe. Even in that transaction, people have become now over intelligent.
In Tirupati, they are praying to God, "First fulfil this desire of mine and after it is done, I will perform certain pooja or I will give you this much money." In other words, they doubt God to give money before fulfilling their desires. This amounts to doubting the very existence of God. Is it not? Another way is to beg God through meditation (dhyāna) and praise (singing songs), like a beggar begs for the food. When a rich devotee prays to God in this way, his hidden inner thoughts are as following even without his notice. His thinks, “I don't know whether God exists or not. If He exists, I will please Him with praises. If I have to give money to God, it will go waste if He does not exist. It becomes waste because, though I fulifilled my desire with my own capacity, I may have to be still under the illusion that God has fulfilled my desire.”
He does not admit that such a thought exists in his inner mind because this feeling exists in a very subtle form. So, the mind cannot grasp it. So, he thinks that he doesn't have that inner feeling. But Datta knows no matter how subtle any feeling may be. Here, there is nothing wrong when a poor man begs God like a beggar. But the rich man begging in such a way is very cheap.
Offering money to Swami in the form of Gurudakshina is really a test of true love. This is practical sacrifice of fruit of work (Karma phala tyāga). You really love your wife and children. So, you give them your money. If you really love Swami, you will give your money to Swami also. Sacrificing the fruit of your work, which is money, is the Karma phala tyāga that is stressed in the Gita. But aspiring for some help from Swami and giving Gurudakshina as a bribe is horrible.
In the first mantra of the Īśāvāsya Upanishad, it was mentioned that this whole wealth belongs to Swami. Take the minimum amount of money that you need from your earnings. If you take extra, return it back to Swami. The Veda also says – "Give with shyness and fear" because you have stolen the excess money that was not allowed by Swami. Therefore, Guru Dakshina should be offered to Swami without aspiring for any fruit in return. Otherwise, that stolen money will bring you troubles.
The Veda says – "Śraddhayā deyam". In other words, Gurudakshina should be given with love. This is the highest spiritual path. Through this, an eternal bond with Swami is established. But, this will not involve any account like in a financial bank.
You are giving your money to your son. He is serving you. But, is the money given to him proportional to the service done by him? How much does the service cost? Are these two equal or not? No such questions are asked there by anyone. Is it not? You gave him as much money as you could. He served you as best as he could. Similarly, you gave as much Gurudakshina as you could to Swami. Swami will help you as much as you need when you really need it. There are no calculations in this.
Once, Shri Krishna's finger was cut. Immediately, Draupadi tore her sari and tied it to the finger. All Swami wanted at that time was that piece of cloth. It was the real Gurudakshina, which she offered to Swami without aspiring any benefit. So, she forgot about it naturally. When Duśśāsana was pulling her sari in the court, she did not mention about her service while praying Krishna. If that matter was mentioned, she would have gotten a full sari as the accumulated interest. But at that time, she was in need of an infinite number of sarees. The service done without aspiring for any fruit in return has infinite fruits because there is no account in that true bond. So, Swami changed that piece of sari into an infinite number of sarees and gave them to her. In love, need is the basis but not accounts.
Swami is an Excellent Bank
Sacrifice the excess money you have earned to Swami as Gurudakshina with love without expecting any fruit in return and you forget about it. Whenever you need it, Swami will multiply according to your need and give it to you as much as you need at that moment. A rupee sacrificed by a poor person is equal to a lakh sacrificed by a rich person. As the value of minimum money changes according to one’s level, the amount of excess money earned also varies from person to person.
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