Bhagavan No Bhag - Bhavsamarpan

Recently, a gujrati daily (gujratsamachar.com) published the meaning of Bhagvan No Bhag as it is interpreted by Pj. Dadaji.

As discussed in earlier post, Pj. Dadaji, quoted 'Ishtan Bhogan Hi Vo Deva' a verse from Geeta (Chapter 3, V 12) that means that every individual should take out portion of his income for God (Bhagavan No Bhag). Newspaper asked Iskon for their interpretation of this verse and the newspaper mentioned that according to Iskon (whose gita translation in English by Pj. Bhaktivedant Swami - Geeta As It Is) - it means taking out portion of your agricultural earning.

Now following is what Iskon site interprets the meaning of this verse (visit http://vedabase.net/bg/3/12/en)

"In charge of the various necessities of life, the demigods, being satisfied by the performance of yajña [sacrifice], will supply all necessities to you. But he who enjoys such gifts without offering them to the demigods in return is certainly a thief."

What the newspaper tried to tell was that Pj. Dadaji interpreted the verse such a way that he can collect money from all people; according to newspaper Pj. Dadaji's interpretation is flawed.

As we know, Pj. Dadaji has translated and explained the meaning of the Geeta verses through discourses (he did not write translation himself) for each and every verse (probably three times). He did not mean to explain only this verse so that he can collect money. He did it while explaining 3rd chapter or wherever it was being referenced.

And how is it that God would say that a farmer should take out his agricultural offering otherwise he is theif and God does not make such comments about any other profession. Even Iskon in this translation does not say anything about farmers or agricultural products. What Iskon says is human necessary things that we use are not created by us humans, but by God (e.g. grains, fruit, water, light, air, sun, moon, rain and so on). And we use all these things but we don't pay any taxes to God for that. While we do pay tax for road/house/parks/electricity etc. So, whoever is using these necessary things created by God, should offer something to God or he is thief.

Now, Pj. Dada did not create Bhav-samarpan so that humans can give 'Bhagavan No Bhag' (donations) to him. He explained Geeta's verse "Ishtan Bhogan Hi Vo Deva" in its own right. And one can give donation to wherever s/he wants. It should be just a conscious effort to do something for God. God does not need anything. God has given you everything, and why would he need money or grain or fruits or flowers? He only created it. YOu can't make him happy with that. God needs your 'mind' in form of 'bhakti' or devotion. And that's the goal of Swadhyay.

Bhavsamarpan - a 'pious word' in swadhyay

This word is used piously - only those who wanted to donate something for Swadhyay learnt about this word. This word was never spoken out in public or mass gatherings until the pre-swadhyayee people who published this word.

Pj. Dadaji - as he was against collecting donations like every other organizations - got many requests from many workers that they wanted to donate for good cause. Pj. Dadaji put a condition that on three days

- Guru Purnima
- Ram Navami
- Janmashtami

at one place, people put their own donations in front of God. And no other time he accepted. This way, only those who really wanted to donate would do it. This way, until 2001 or 2006 noone knew that there is a practice of Bhavsamarpan until media published this.

So much work is being done by Swadhyay without asking for funds; and these activities are supported may be by such donations;

- Tatvagnan Vidhyapeeth (for postgraduate students) in Thane, Maharashtra. Students are not asked for any fees for lodging or boarding and they study for two years;

- Swadhyay secondary and higher secondray schools in Rajula, Kutch, Ahmedabad and Maharashtra - where children of farmer, fishermen and others come to study from 7th grade till college. And they don't pay a penny study. This way farmers and fishermen can send their children to boarding school to get education in English, Gujrati, Sanskrit literature and philosophy.

- In each village, the needy people whether swadhyayee or not, are either given grain or helped monetarily w/o publicity. Each individual is son of god and so our brother. And if we give something to brother in need, we don't humiliate them by telling others that we helped. Based on this principal such help is given w/o publicity.

- Patanjali Chikitsalays are set up in Adivasi villages where doctors volunteer. Tribals get health services at these dispensaries.

- Houses are built at several villages for swadhyayee or non-swadhyayees for those who need it.

- Lakes are dug up as 'Nirmal Neer' prayog, where people get-to-gather to expand the existing lakes or new lakes are created.

- Video Pravachans are recorded in cassettes and sent to each and every kendra throughout the world. Many kendra are rented and rent is costly in some countries. Books are published for various philosophical topics.

- Various cultural events are organized like Kshatriya Sanchalan, Bhav lakshi Samaroh etc. where millions of people gather.

- Every year Elocution Competition is held at every place where there is swadhyay. And depending on the number of attendents, places are rented and stages are set up.

- Many trees are planted each year on 12th of July. In 2006 there is estimate of 5 million new trees to be planted in Gujarat.

- Swadhyay has built or bought few prayer halls and administrative places at few places (like Sandipani Bhavan in Vadodara, Madhav Kendra in Chicago)

Apart from above, Swadhyay may be involved in many other activities where money is being spent, but because of the principal of keeping the focus on the cultural need rather than amount of money spent, its not being publicised in media. And that is why, media has been criticising Swadhyay about not spending money for poor.

General idea of charity in India is just to build hospitals, open up schools and giving away food packets to poor people. This is all what traditional do-gooders do. But Swadhyay believes that this is already being done by others and swadhyay does not have to limit itself with such conventional charity work. It wants to teach people how to catch fish rather than giving them a fish. It believes that doing social work should be done with God in center. And it tries to rejuvenate the indian philosophical values. The process may be slow but it is steady. And Swadhyay has never sway away from its goal. There has been repercussions now and then after Pj. Dadaji passed away and these issues are created to hinder the God's work by anti-swadhyayee.