| Giving Krishna consciousness to others is the best | | | | the greatest charity in the world.” (Gita 11.54 purport) |
| form of charity | | | | As far as charity is concerned, one should give fifty |
| Sri Krishna, in the Bhagavad-gita, says that acts of | | | | percent of his earnings to some good cause. And |
| charity, sacrifice, and austerity purify even the great | | | | what is a good cause? It is that which is conducted in |
| souls and should never be given up. | | | | terms of Krishna consciousness. That is not only a |
| “Money is the honey” goes so far as it is | | | | good cause, but it is the best cause. Because Krishna |
| employed for Krishna consciousness. The body is | | | | is good, His cause is also good. Thus charity should be |
| undoubtedly a material vehicle but when it acts for | | | | given to a person who is engaged in Krishna |
| Krishna consciousness it becomes spiritualized. By the | | | | consciousness. According to Vedic literature, it is |
| grace of Krishna, material energy can be transformed | | | | enjoined that charity should be given to the brahmanas. |
| to spiritual energy & spiritual energy is never | | | | This practice is still followed, although not very nicely in |
| deteriorated. To be in Krishna consciousness means to | | | | terms of the Vedic injunction. But still the injunction is |
| be in spiritual energy | | | | that charity should be given to the brahmanas. Why? |
| Lakshmi is the wife of Lord Vishnu, and His association | | | | Because they are engaged in higher cultivation of |
| alone brings Her happiness. Therefore, the means to | | | | spiritual knowledge. |
| keep the Goddess who governs riches pleased is to | | | | “Therefore, all the types of beneficence to others, |
| see that some portion of your wealth is always | | | | like kindness, friendliness, forgiveness, charity, respect, |
| engaged in the service of Lord Vishnu. | | | | etc. are included in Bhakti… Charity of medicines, |
| The legend of wealthy Birla family with mercy of | | | | clothes, food, water, etc. shelter during adversities, |
| Supreme Lord Narayana (Shri Krishna): There is a | | | | teaching of academic and spiritual education, etc. are |
| modern legend in India about the wealthy Birla family. It | | | | the activities included in the devotional culture” |
| is said that three or four generations ago, a grandsire | | | | (Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Tattva-sutram, 35). |
| of that family was blessed by a sadhu. Now, this sage | | | | In Srimad Bhagavatam 4.12.10 Srila Prabhuapda writes, |
| told him that his family would remain wealthy for | | | | “Ksatriyas and vaisyas are therefore especially |
| generations provided whatever they earned was used | | | | advised to give in charity at least fifty percent of their |
| in the service of the Lord. Birla was instructed to | | | | accumulated wealth.” |
| “never allow the mason’s trowel to rest.” | | | | Charity is a very very important principle of spiritual life, |
| Today for the sake of public good, the Birla family has | | | | whether with our life, wealth, intelligence, or words; if |
| constructed many beautiful temples to Lord Vishnu all | | | | anyone wants to make spiritual advancement they |
| over India. I have visited several of the magnificent | | | | must learn to give selflessly for the benefit of others. |
| temples constructed by the Birla family including: the | | | | We collect money directly for serving Krishna. We |
| Lakshmi-Narayana Mandir in Delhi, the Gita Mandir at | | | | give directly, that “We have got our Krishna. We |
| Kurukshetra, the Vyenkateshwar Mandir at Hyderabad | | | | have to serve. We have to do this. Kindly give us |
| and the Gita Mandir at Mathura. Neither has the trowel | | | | some contribution, and you take this book.” |
| rested, the wealthy Birla family, blessed by Goddess | | | | We suffer on account of our sinful activities. So here |
| Lakshmi, continues their service to dharma and society. | | | | everything is sinful. Anything you do in this material |
| Wealth and property are ultimately not ours to hoard, | | | | world, which is sin. Even your so-called service to the |
| so to avoid a miser’s fate in the region of Naraka, | | | | society, country, they are also sinful. |
| where sinful misers are sent, one’s accumulated | | | | Chaitanya-charitamrita says that dvaite bhadrabhadra |
| assets must be engaged for the pleasure and service | | | | sakali samana. This material world is so polluted, |
| of the Almighty Vishnu. Then Lakshmiji may | | | | everything is polluted here. So here we have divided |
| condescend to make our home Her address. In this | | | | that “This is nice, and this is bad.” This is simply |
| all-too-short spot of our life we will be wise to sing in | | | | mental concoction. There is nothing good here; |
| one voice with the great 19th century Acharya Shrila | | | | everything is bad. That should be the conclusion. But |
| Bhaktivinode Thakur, who said, “All that I have I | | | | we have divided: “This is very good, and this is very |
| tender at Thy lotus feet, O Husband of the Goddess | | | | bad.” Everything is very bad. There is no question |
| of Fortune.”-End of Pavan’s Commentary in the | | | | of good because there is no connection of God. |
| matter of Chanakya Niti Shastra 1.5, 6 & 7 | | | | “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender |
| In this world of misery, giving Krishna consciousness to | | | | unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do |
| others is the best form of charity | | | | not fear.” Bhagavad-gita 18.66 |
| Giving knowledge in charity is probably the most | | | | When Christ was asked, “What is the first and |
| valuable gift available to human kind. Other forms of | | | | foremost commandment?” he answered, “Thou |
| charity may alleviate the pain of the body or the mind, | | | | shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all |
| but the gift of knowledge gives the instrument by | | | | thy mind, with all thy soul. And the second is like unto it: |
| which one can solve all problems at the root. | | | | love thy neighbor as thyself.” You speak of society |
| Therefore, it is the most powerful, most effective, and | | | | consciousness, but God consciousness is above |
| most appreciated gift or form of charity. | | | | society consciousness, because when you learn to |
| Srila Prabhupada founded the International Society for | | | | become conscious of God, God being the reservoir of |
| Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) so as to make the | | | | all things and all beings, you automatically become |
| highest form of charity for all living beings | | | | society conscious. If you put your water on the root of |
| “So, if one gives some amount of his money to | | | | a tree, automatically every leaf, flower, fruit and branch |
| persons involved in distributing Krishna consciousness, | | | | will get the water. But if you try to put water on every |
| that charity, given to spread Krishna consciousness, is | | | | leaf and branch and flower, that will be of no use. |