Misuse of Money in the Name of Religion?

A few days ago, the Navbhārat Times, a daily newspaper published from Bombay, printed a speech delivered by India’s Prime Minister, Śrī Nehru, at Mount Abu. The title of that speech was, ‘The Misuse of Money in the Name of Religion.’ In this speech, Śrī Nehru attempted to explain how, in present times, money is being misused in the name of religion, and how such misuse of funds can be prevented by placing checks on religious institutions. However, the real fact is that nowadays, not only in the name of religion, but even in the name of politics, money is being misused to a much greater extent all over the world. In the high courts, several such cases have occurred which reveal that just as the heads of religious institutions and maṭhas have become entangled in criminal and civil cases, in the same way — and to an even greater extent – many ministers and high-ranking government officers in the political sphere are also caught up in criminal and civil cases. Many among them have been removed from government service, many have been let off with a warning, and many have been imprisoned. A neighbouring country of ours is a vivid example of this. There, most of the new and old cabinet ministers and high-ranking government officials were thrown behind bars; they were charged with serious accusations of financial misuse and fraud. They were forcibly made to retire from political life, and many of them still have criminal cases pending against them.

If one were to prepare a reliable list on this subject, showing how much money has been misused in which sector, it would become clear that, compared to the religious sphere, the misuse of public funds in the political sphere has been far greater, and continues even today. I do not mean to say that just because public funds are being misused in the political sphere, the misuse of money in the religious sphere should therefore be considered a trivial matter – the misuse of money, no matter in which sphere it occurs, is indeed a matter of great regret. If, in the religious sphere, any sādhu, sannyāsī, or maṭha head collects money in the name of religion or God, and then misuses that money however he pleases, such a person is absolutely deserving of punishment — can there be any doubt about that?

Yet along with this, there is another point that deserves consideration. That is this – just as the government may collect taxes from the public in the political sphere for the increase of the people’s material comfort and welfare, in the same way, experienced sādhus, sannyāsis, and the heads of religious institutions may also collect a ‘paramārthika tax’ (spiritual tax) in the form of alms, from the public for their spiritual advancement. From this perspective, both the government and the religious authorities, the sādhus and sannyāsīs, are benefactors of the people. If both of them carry out their respective duties properly within their own spheres, then what cause for lament would remain? In such a situation, the people can become happy in every way — that is, both materially and spiritually. But the regrettable fact is that if either the government or the authorities of religious institutions forget their duty and begin to misuse the people’s money, thereby playing with their lives, then the people become distressed. And if their money starts being misused from both sides, then what more need be said? This is nothing less than a warning of complete ruin for the people.

It seems to me that nowadays such a pitiable situation has arisen in which the people have neither the opportunity to become proper citizens nor to become spiritually inclined. Wherever you look, the people are afflicted in every way — unrest, scarcity, strikes, disease, sorrow etc. Call it the influence of Kali-yuga, or consider it the doing of our senior leaders.

I, for my part, thank Pandit Nehru for having issued a warning to the heads of the maṭhas and temples. However, at the same time, it was also necessary to issue an even stronger warning to the authorities in the political sphere. Merely giving a warning will not suffice; what is truly required is that adequate reform be carried out in both the political and the religious spheres. For this, the full cooperation of political leaders is absolutely required.

My suggestion on this matter is that, just as the central cabinet has various departments and their respective ministries, in the same way, one more department should be created — and that department should be named the ‘Bhagavad-gītā Department. There should be a separate, qualified minister for this department. For the spiritual advancement of the nation, such a provision is absolutely necessary. If this is not done, the government will certainly become corrupt, and a corrupt government or nation bereft of religion is surely destined to fall.

If one argues that establishing a Gītā Ministry would violate the government’s policy of secularism, such a claim cannot be made. For the Gītā is not merely a śāstra of the Hindus; it is a complete, supreme, and authoritative text concerning the spiritual upliftment of all humanity — indeed, of all living beings in the world. After carefully considering all these points, I recently submitted a letter in English to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as a suggestion for reforms in both the corrupt political sphere and the spiritual sphere.

For the convenience of the readers, I am giving below a translation of that letter:

Respected Sriman Pandit Ji,

Please accept my respectful namaskāra. I beg to inform you that your speech on 2/8/58 at the Gurukul University, Haridwar, has given me some inspiration to inform you something about Indian culture. The basic principle of Indian culture is spiritualism which defies the external attraction of phenomenal materialism.

You are thinking of adjusting western ways of material adjustment with Indian culture of spiritualism and I beg to give you herewith the clue that materialism conducted with an aim of reaching spiritual perfection, is the right adjustment of human activity.

If the aim of spiritual realisation is missed, the whole plan of materialism is sure to be frustrated and that is the law of nature. The law of nature is so made by a superior authority and nobody can surpass the intricacies of material nature simply by partial adjustment of material science. The history of the West beginning from the time of the Greeks and the Romans down to the modern age of atomic war – is a continuous chain of sense gratificatory materialism and the result is that the westerners were never in peace within the memory of 3000 years of historical records. Neither it will be possible for them at any time in future to live in peace till the message of spiritualism just suitable to the present age does not reach their heart.

Therefore, it would be proper for India not to imitate the materialistic Western nations, but instead to develop her own spiritual wealth and, with a benevolent outlook, distribute that wealth throughout the entire world, thereby establishing real happiness and peace. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has declared this great teaching: that those who have taken birth in Bhārata-varṣa should make their lives successful — that is, attain divya-jñāna (knowledge of Bhagavān) — and then, by distributing that knowledge throughout the world, do true welfare for others.

bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya-janma yāra
janma sārthaka kari’ kara para-upakāra

One who has taken birth as a human in the land of Bhārata should make his life successful and work for the welfare of others. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Ādi-līlā 9.41)

If, instead of imitating those Western nations where people engage in violence toward living beings, indulge in illicit relations with women, consume alcohol, tea, cigarettes, liquor, and meat, and play recklessly with the lives of others, India were to follow her own munis and ṛṣis — and distribute their inexhaustible storehouse of wisdom throughout the entire world — then today the Western countries would not be advancing toward the creation of atomic bombs, nor toward the hidden, ever-smouldering fire of mutual envy and hatred, a fire that at any moment could flare up into a terrible conflagration and destroy the whole world in an instant; and along with this, India’s glory and importance would only have increased.

You have acknowledged that Indian culture is very profound and of a high order. Yet you still desire that material prosperity in India should increase in the same way as in the Western countries. But you must understand how material prosperity actually comes about. For the advancement of material prosperity, the scientific expansion that is required must rest upon a foundation of spirituality. And what is this spirituality? Spirituality is the highest form of scientific realisation. Spirituality is not a child’s play. Only on the basis of spirituality can material prosperity truly develop. Without the development of spiritual knowledge, material happiness and prosperity are absolutely impossible.

Today, through a scientific approach devoid of spirituality, there is an unceasing effort to bring about material prosperity — and because of this, the whole world has reached the very edge of destruction. Who does not perceive this? You yourself know that Mahatma Gandhi’s movement for swarāj succeeded only because it was grounded more in spirituality than in materialism. Your understanding is mistaken in thinking that horseless vehicles, communication through telegraph or wireless, and radio — all of these constitute material prosperity. These are merely manifestations of māyā’s opulence, by which human beings gradually drift toward animalistic tendencies. True material advancement is something entirely different. Real material progress means that a person can eat and drink properly, that this body – which is meant to assist spiritual advancement — is maintained in such a way that it remains strong and healthy, and that the necessities of life are easily available so that self-knowledge may develop. In the absence of self-knowledge, a human being ceases to remain human and becomes like an animal.

Do you believe that your Five-Year Plans and other various schemes can bring about such material prosperity? Or that modern Western civilisation will produce such ideal prosperity? In my understanding, even if your various plans — aided by Western scientific civilisation — were capable of fulfilling these essential needs of human life (which is impossible, but even if we assume it to be so), still the restless human being will continue his efforts endlessly until he attains spiritual satisfaction. Here lies the profound secret of peace.

Russia and America are both highly advanced in terms of material science, yet it cannot be said that they are happy and peaceful — not even from an ordinary material point of view, let alone from a spiritual one. The reason for this is that both of them, like the ignorant, are crying after spiritual realisation in the same way that a small, helpless child—unable to express its thoughts clearly through speech—cries out for its mother. As a true messenger of Indian peace and culture, you can fulfil the spiritual needs of the people of the world and thus assist them. The courageous and praiseworthy efforts you have made, and are still making, for world peace have been sincerely appreciated by people across the globe — they have regarded you as a messenger of peace. Therefore, this is the right time for you to assist your friends and, at the same time, to honour and elevate India’s spiritual excellence in the scientific race for world peace. I humbly request you to consider this matter with a cool and thoughtful mind.

Lack of knowledge is the true form of poverty. The renowned Prime Minister Cāṇakya lived in a simple hut, yet during the reign of Emperor Candragupta Maurya he was the undisputed ruler of India. Your political guru, Mahatma Gandhiji, also voluntarily adopted the principle of ‘simple living’ of India, yet he was the shaper of India’s destiny. But should it be thought that he lived such a simple life merely because of actual poverty, merely because of a small spinning wheel? Never. He always took pride in spiritual knowledge. Therefore, it is spiritual advancement that truly makes a person wealthy, not a radio set or a motor car.

Hence, please make an effort to understand the position of Indian culture and endeavour to offer this culture to your Western brothers. This exchange — Western materialism for Indian spirituality — will alone bring a happy life in this peaceful world.

At first, this letter was not even accepted by the Secretariat. After many reminders, it was finally acknowledged in this way:

Dear Sir,
Your letter dated 30 August 1958 has been received here in due time.
Yours sincerely,
D. P. Chopra
(Private Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office.)

– Tridaṇḍi-Svāmī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Mahārāja

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