Baba
Borrow & expend?
Namaskar,
Baba has given many pointed guidelines about money, expenditure, debt, and loan. Because if one can develop proper understanding and exercise proper control on these points, one will have a greater chance of escaping the deadly noose of materialism.
Specifically, in the chapter "Aparigraha" of A Guide To Human Conduct, Baba condemns the practice of taking loans and living in debt. Baba critiques those seekers of luxury who fall into debt. Such a condition should be avoided at all cost.
Specifically, those who have a strong desire and cannot control their thirst to have fancy things, should exercise caution and refrain from taking any loan. Because taking loans for excess leads to the long spiral downward of a mind sucked into the whirlpool of materialistic mentality—i.e. spend beyond your means by taking loan. But this is very negative because then the mind is not capable of or even interested in higher pursuits.
And Baba has told that those who are extravagant in their expenditure incur debt. Baba guides us that it is the collective responsibility of society to control such people. And those making unnecessary expenditures should be restrained in some way. That's why before purchasing any costly things etc, it is suggested that sadhakas should get permission from their acaryas.
Extravagant expenditures
Baba has condemned the atheistic philosopher Carvak because he was preaching the gospel of materialism. Carvak was telling 'Enjoy the crude material life by taking loans & indulging in crude worldly desires. Spend what you like because you need not pay back anything'.
Baba condemns this preaching of Carvak because remaining in debt is very bad. Often those who are taking loan don't think about the consequences. And the consequences are that this very mentality of acquiring material objects more and more, invites all types of sin, crime, lawlessness, and various negativities. And when people have a desire, or they don't know how else to manage, they fall into debt.
The central idea is that one should not fall into the dark depths of materialism. Because human life is not for satisfying crude worldly desires. Living a life of materialism is sheer waste of human potential. Rather, as human beings, we have come here to move along the spiritual path and enjoy permanent peace. The worldly approach of materialism has not any redeeming quality or lasting value.
If one is in trouble, then others should come forward
In the book, A Guide to Human Conduct, there is a chapter entitled "How To Live In The Society." There Baba has written that the whole society is one integral entity. All members are one joint family. So if one is in trouble, then others should come forward to help. But Baba is very strict. Those margiis and WTs who are making extravagant expenditures beyond their means don't ask their acarya, bhukti pradhan, or top level authorities. That is, at the time of spending they don't take permission but later when they are in debt and problem, they cry for help. This type of mentality, Baba condemns.
Baba says, "Not to consult anybody at the time of spending money but to ask for help from all when in debt, is not a good practice. Such a mentality cannot be encouraged. To purchase, by incurring debt...is surely against the principle of aparigraha." (1)
So we should be very careful that if any of our margii brothers and sisters in our unit are doing unnecessary expenditure we should warn them. And not allow them to fall in unnecessary crisis.
Namaskar,
In Him,
Yogeshvara
Note: In some select circumstances, Baba has condoned business loans with the approval of a board etc.
Reference
1. A Guide to Human Conduct
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
We invite one and all
“Áj egiye calo sakal mánuś bhái, ámantrań sabáre jánái...” (Prabhat Samgiita #0968)
Purport:
O’ human beings, today let us march forward. Let us embark on our collective march towards our cherished neo-humanism. We invite one and all. O’ brothers and sisters, everyone come; no one is neglected; none should think they are left out. All are my kith and kin—nobody is alien. Everyone is invited on this grand occasion. We have to remain united and move together to form one human society.
O’ my sisters and brothers, due to infighting between different theories, dogmas, clans, countries, and the battle over what is “mine” and “yours” etc, all kinds of fissiparous tendencies have divided our human society into pieces. Our universal family is rolling in the dust. The demons have pulverized us by injecting narrow-minded, pseudo-ideologies and dogmatic religious teachings. Various myths and gospels have segregated one person from the next. They all preached the false message of superiority of their clan, religion, or group. And they have destroyed the unity of the entire cosmic society. We are to make one universal human family which is all-inclusive and based on neo-humanism. Our goal is Parama Purusa. We are all one—our Father is one—the Supreme Father. Ours is a paternal family relation. Now we should come together and march forward hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder and wipe away the tears of the suffering and bring them unto the balm of peace. We are to establish ek manav samaj—one human society.
O’ my dear brothers and sisters, the peace and tranquility of our human society was poisoned by myths, gospels, and dogmatic teachings. The flower pollen of peace and tranquility has become one with the dust. These anti-social elements do not want to see people living together in harmony. So they have inserted the seeds of division and poisoned the moonlight too. O’ fellow travelers of the path of life divine, come we can resolve all kinds of problems, whatever comes on the way. By the grace of Parama Purusa, victory is ours. So come, with a strong hand, row the boat, fighting against all obstacles. Let us move forward by His grace…
== Section: Ananda Vanii ==
March on and on
“Marching ahead is life, crushing the pebbles of hindrances and obstacles with a stroke of your feet, disdaining the frowns of tornadoes, meteors and roaring thunder, and rendering all superstitions to ashes without any second thought. March on and on, Parama Puruśa is with you. Victory is yours.” (Ananda Vanii #29)
Note 1: True Ananda Vaniis have a number whereas Fake Ananda Vaniis do not - just as a fake car license plate has no number. By this way, you can easily recognise a Fake Ananda Vanii.
== Section 3: Links ==
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1. PS #0968: We invite one and all
2. Posting: Borrow & expend?
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