What if a temple devotee compels us for donations? Etiquettes explained!
A Girl devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna Prabhuji. Prabhuji I want your guidance related to something. So one devotee prabhuji always used to force me to do lakshmi seva. I don’t earn and I am studying right now. Whenever I used to express my inability, he used to cuss (curse) me and my family. He used to say “keep it to yourself. That money will go in diseases and all and all”. He used to often cuss me. My parents are not too much rich. We do seva as per our capacity. I can’t spend Rs 15000 per month on seva for now. We do take our some percentage for seva and we do seva happily. Once he cussed so much that I had only Rs 5000 which I saved for two years. I gave him so that he doesn’t say bad words to me or my family. He used to force me to steal money or to lie related to course and give that money in seva. But, I never did. Once he did seva on my behalf and now he brings it in between very badly. This is affecting me a lot. I still don’t have much money. I get Rs 2000 pocket money per month out of which I do some Gau seva and some ekadashi seva along with seva of my Krishna. Prabhuji is this karma? Do I have to reborn to pay him back the seva if he did on my behalf?”
REPLY:
If a temple or a devotee compels us for donations, it is an important and serious issue.
Whichever temple or society or media it is – whichever sampradhaya it belongs to, compelling for donation is wrong and to be condemned.
Donation is not at all compulsory but advisable as per karma concept.
The purpose of donation is to take part in a spiritual or social cause by supporting those who genuinely promote such spiritual or social activities.
It is true that the severity of the reactions of our previous karma will come down if we donate for a genuine cause or to a poor or a brahmana or a Vaishnava or a temple or a society.
Is it compulsory to donate (Giving dhaan) on Ekadasi? READ HERE!
ETHICS FOR DONORS
Donating is the best parihar one can do to reduce the severity of his/ her karmic reactions. No doubt in it.
Krishna as Narayana says in Garuda Purana that the Purpose of all the rituals recommended by Him is to help the lifeline of Brahmanas who perform those rituals because brahmanas must be protected happily in any society.
So, donating to genuine brahmanas reduces our karma as said by Lord Narayana.
Only condition for achieving such a reduction of karma is that we should support without publicizing it to others and without expecting any personal benefits from the receiver of donation. I mean Nishkam donation. As said by Jesus, the left hand should not know the dhaan given by the right hand. This is the real dhaan, ie, help or donation.
This type of dhaan (donation) will definitely reduce your karma and will also bring the mercy of Krishna and all the demigods.
Even this Online preaching service is supported by the volunteers and well wishers who support with great heart without expecting any praise from me. I never compel them or induce them. So as to give full benefit to them for their donations, I too don’t publicize their names. They may not even like to be publicized. I am happy to say that even our donors are selfless because Krishna has given them the opportunity to support this selfless service that is going on since the year 2011 without break of even a single day.
(Is donating to the sinners who advertise in the media sinful? READ HERE!)
ETHICS FOR DONATION SEEKERS
Similarly, even the seekers of donation have to follow some ethics.
They should not use colourful words to induce the people to donate.
Why?
Because the donations should be paid by the people after they FEEL or REALIZE the greatness of one’s service or genuinity.
Even the doctors and lawyers are prohibited to promote themselves in advts because they do service to the people – Medical services and Legal services.
Similarly, preaching is also a service. So, it should be promoted decently. The seeker of donations can seek donations thru requests after explaining their services to the people decently. But, they should not use cheating pattern or inducing or mesmorizing way of colourful words to generate donations.
If a person seeks donations by giving the false or exaggerated details, the seeker of donations will add karma for cheating the people.
Tell about yourself as it is, prove it thru your selfless service and get the support of the people. This is the right way of seeking donations.
One should not threaten others to make them pay donations. This is very offensive and the misuse of the service to the Lord.
One should just serve the devotees or people and then gently seek donations. If the people have been convinced with your service, they will voluntarily support you.
(Is donating to the sinners who advertise in the media sinful? READ HERE!)
So, in your case, that devotee has committed excesses by cussing you for donating small amount (in their eyes. But, a student paying Rs.5000 by saving her pocket money is not a small donation.)
When the donation seeker compels the people to support him or temple by threatening, excessively praising, compelling, what you can do? Don’t get agitated and donate by borrowing. It is absolutely unnecessary. Donate only if it is possible for you. If it is not possible now, be silent, wait and donate when you start earning well in life.
Don’t worry, you will be blessed by Krishna because you have supported whatever you can to that temple that is good. Krishna does not see the quantity. He just sees the love behind your donations. Only if you refuse to serve the Lord, it will hurt the Lord because, He is very eager to see us to serve Him.
As far as donations are concerned, whatever you can, you can donate. It depends on your earning and family background. Keep also for your current and future needs.
That devotee should be educated and corrected. We should not do that. Just tell the temple manager about that compelling and cussing devotee who cuss you for donating an amount that is less than his expectations. He will advise him. When other devotees also complain, the temple management will enquire this matter and correct that compelling and cussing devotee. If the temple manager himself compels or cusses like that, send a mail to the higher authority of your zone. No one has any right to cuss a devotee for donation related matters.
If the temple is really suffering and the manager or any devotee compels you with no other way and if you are able to understand their difficulties, then, you can decide to help them without taking it wrong. Rarely it happens.
Donate to the genuine sources and do that voluntarily without any hidden motives. This is enough. You will get the mercy of the Lord.
Stage by stage, goodness will happen in life. It may take months or years depending on the severity of Karma you have.
So, if a temple devotee compels or cussed us for donations, we need not donate him.
We should donate whatever amount is possible! No need to compare with others.
Hope you will feel relieved hereafter.
(Three types of Dhaan (Donations) as said by Krishna in Gita? How to do it? READ HERE!)