Place of Money - in Swadhyay

'Money' has been cause of many evils in the world. And among human groups there is always race for money, power, woman, land! And Pj. Dadaji wanted to stay away from such 'dushan'. So he kept money out of picture in his work.

For any groups or organization, money was THE beginning point. At least in a voluntary organization money should not get such preference. And Swadhyay is a spiritual and cultural work to bring back the vedic thinking. Pj. Dada wanted to keep God (Narayan) in the center of everything not money (Laxmi). Not only he "wanted" - it is the only way.

He says about Karl Marx and Communism in Ishavasyam Upnishad discourses that Karl Marx was pained to see that money, power etc was created by humans and now human feel inferior to such inhuman spirits. Why? That's why Karl Marx created a theory of communism and dreamt of a society where everyone has equal money. Its a different matter whether this idea led communist countries towards right and prosporous path or not. And Pj. Dada does not endorse communism either. But point to note is that money is inferior to humans and humans have no reason to feel inferior for the lack of it and feel superior for having it. And that is why Pj. Dada said God is within you, why should you feel inferior? He did not like to see the son of God begging or feel dejected in the society. He wanted everyone to recognize their own power and spirit within themselves.

And not only he believed in it - he proved this through prayogs in various villages and international community have seen this. Please read Vital Connections by Dr. Shrivastav.

That said, he does recognize the need of money to do any work. Western way of looking towards money is as a commodity - a utilitarian look. While eastern way of looking towards money is a pious look. This comes from quality of 'Krutagnta' towards all being - living and non-living. A Hindu asks for forgiveness even if s/he touches book by foot - because book carry knowledge. Same for food. Same way they don't throw moeny or touch by foot. This is just a way of appreciation. And Pj. Dadaji taught - money used for our purposes is Laxmi but money used for social/divine purpose is Mahalaxmi. And he gave prayogs to famers, fishermen and others to work for God and generate money that helps the needy people.

May prayogs in Swadhyay like Yogeshwar Krushi, Matsyagandha, Vrikshmandir, Shree Darshanam, Bhagavati Parivar Store, Ekvira, Jayashree Cargo Service - generate money. But instead of keeping goal of generating more money, the goal is to work together and to work for God. People working together develop atmiyata (relationship) and come closer. Many villages have come together and many quarraling towns and communities are united because of such prayogs. The generated money was a secondary benefit and it was distributed in needy people without much publicity.

On a later date, media and other people accused Swadhyay of collecting funds through such prayogs as these prayog's sole goal was to generate money. They accused that these prayogs collect money but its not being spent. But there are many swadhyay expenses that are not taken into account by these media.