The proper utilisation of wealth.

By Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj

I heard from Srila Swami Maharaj, Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj Prabhupad, that when devotees joined his Mission, he gave four rules and regulations to them: no intoxication, no illicit sex, no gambling, and no meat-eating. In Srimad Bhagavatam there are five restrictions given, but Swami Maharaj gave only these four. He did not give restriction for the fifth one, which is money. He kept that for himself. It is a very nice thing; he took charge for that himself. He told the devotees, “You collect money, give that to me, and I shall use it for Mahaprabhu. Then no harm will come to you.”

Once a great devotee of Srila Guru Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, gave a donation to Srila Guru Maharaj. Srila Guru Maharaj was happy and that devotee was also very happy. Srila Guru Maharaj took his donation and asked him many things about the news of other devotees. Then that devotee asked Guru Maharaj, “Maharaj, what will you do with this donation? What seva will you do with this?” Guru Maharaj immediately changed his mood; he took his position and said, “That is not your business.” Guru Maharaj had been very happy talking with that devotee and searching, “What is that devotee doing, and what is that devotee doing?” They were talking in this very happy mood. That devotee was very enthusiastic and had done so much for Guru Maharaj. He happily asked Guru Maharaj, “Maharaj, what seva will you do with this money?”, and Guru Maharaj immediately changed and said, “That is not your duty. That is my duty. Your duty is finished.”

It is necessary to know what Krishna consciousness is. The disciple must fully surrender to the Guru, and through the Guru they will get everything. What conception the Guru gives will be enough for them. Krishna may sometimes be angry with the devotee, but the devotees are not afraid of that because in the middle point is Guru, and Guru can manage everything. Krishna may be unhappy with them, but if they are favoured by their Guru, then there will be no problem for them. They will manage. But if Guru is angry, then Krishna cannot give shelter. In Bengal there is a very nice phrase,

krsna rusta hale guru rakhibare pare
guru rusta hale krsna rakhibare nare

When Krishna is angry, then Guru can give shelter and can modify that. But when Guru is angry, then Krishna will not give shelter and will not modify anything.

Where is all my auspiciousness coming from? That is the position of Guru. All my auspiciousness is coming through Guru.

Source

Spoken on 10 October 1989.