Why Do Elders Discourage Youngsters from Following the Path of Practical Spirituality?

(This question is part of a mahā satsaṅga or a great spiritual discussion between Swami and several devotees who had come from various places, seeking the clarification of their doubts.)

Swami replied:- When king Bali was prepared to do the practical sacrifice of three feet land to Vaamana, his preacher Shukraachaarya discouraged it by saying that even though the receiver is the human incarnation of God Vishnu, He is deceiving Bali by that charity. Bali neglected the advice and gave the donation to Vaamana after doing the following analysis:- “This is not fraud human incarnation that has come to deceive me through charity. This is the real human incarnation that has come to deceive me through charity. We shall not be deceived by false incarnations and false devotees, in which case, charity becomes a sin since the receivers are undeserving. But, God Himself came in the human form and is trying to cheat me through this practical sacrifice. I like God to climax as the grandson of Prahlaada. I like even to be cheated if the cheater is God”. Bali gave the donation to Vaamana and was cheated by that. The devotion of Bali to God was marvellous! But God cheated Bali to give the heaven conquered by Bali back to Indra. But, God made Bali as the future king of heaven (Indra). Not only this, God became the permanent gate keeper for king Bali! Hence, the sacrifice of devotee to God is always given back, which is multiplied many times. A piece of cloth given by Draupadi as bandage was multiplied to thousands of saris and was given back to her in actual need. Elders oppose your charity to human form of God also because such human form may not be genuine also. The fraud human incarnation is an undeserving receiver and charity to him is a sin. Hence, the objection from elders shall be understood as a warning to you to verify whether the receiver is deserving or not.

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