Are investments in Shares & Mutual funds by devotees allowed?
A devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna Prabhu ji…Good evening sir. I am in my twenties I have read many of your posts in your site. In one post, I saw that long term investment in mutual funds and stocks is not gambling then now I decided to invest in mutual funds but I am confused because, when I searched on this topic more deeply on internet, I came to know that many devotees are against even the long term investments on these funds and regard as gambling but some say that long term investments are ok . I am confused sir can you help me by giving clear explanation on this topics and which type of fund can be invest like a high return for a average return funds thank you Prabhu ji thanks in advance”
REPLY:
Before explaining whether investments in Shares & Mutual funds by devotees are allowed or not, I want to clear one thing in the beginning itself.
In devotion, everything depends on the BHAVA, ie, mindset with which we do anything and the purpose for which we are doing anything!
Let me give some examples:
(i) Chanting is expected to be done from the heart as if we are connecting and speaking to Krishna. Not just mechanically. That is why, it is said that when we chant, the Lord hears it, comes and dance on our tongue.
(PROHIBITED INVESTMENTS FOR DEVOTEES & THE REASONS! READ HERE!)
(ii) We wear the Vaishnava clothes and symbols in a bhava that we are applying Krishna Himself on our body and we get a feel of purity and protection from sinful acts. When we wear rich clothes, we may feel the domination of materialistic thoughts that increase the attachments. Hence simple Vaishnava clothes are recommended.
Moreover, when we wear simple Vaishnava clothes and symbols, materialistic persons will not disturb us speaking mundane things to us.
So, we have less distortion and more feel of Krishna with us.
(iii) Though they are also vegetables, we avoid Garlic and onion because they increase Rajo and thamo gunas and hence we can not focus in devotional way of life.
(iv) We are advised to avoid movies, drama shows, etc, because most of them show vulgar and useless things that may dilute or divert our priority & concentration in the devotional way of life.
(5 SIMPLE TIPS TO AVOID GAMBLING AS A REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE FOR KRISHNA DEVOTEES! READ HERE!)
(v) We are advised to avoid illicit relations because, except the assigned spouse, other men and women are the present (or) past (or) future spouses of someone else. Therefore, we have no right on them.
(vi) We are advised to avoid smoke, liquor, etc., because they are additives that make us unable to live without taking them in regular intervals and ruin our life. So, our focus on Krishna is affected.
Thus, every advice or rule has valid and important reason(s) behind it.
Our ancestors are not fools. They are more intelligent and spiritual than us.
What we learn thru telescopes now were learnt by them through the knowledge given by the God through spiritual process of purifying penances.
Now, let us take investments.
(Is writing entrance exams a gambling as majority fail in the exam? READ HERE!)
There are thousands of devotees worldwide who are doing own business or self employment.
They invest some money in their business and get some returns.
Can we say that doing business is prohibited for the devotees?
The devotees too can do business. Of course honestly – without cheating.
But, they should do leaving the results, ie, the returns to the discretion of Krishna.
Just working effectively keeping Krishna in mind is expected from us as said by Krishna Himself throughout Bhagavad Gita.
Our own business is investing in the business of ourselves; Share and mutual fund investment is investing in the businesses of others. That’s all. Both are similar. For some returns. Isn’t it?
So, we need not hate investing FOR LONG TERM in mutual funds and shares.
(Is it gambling to involve in Politics and IAS for devotees? READ HERE!)
Then, what is the thing we should avoid in those investments?
Many devotees do day trading, ie, they invest in the morning and close in the evening with some profit or loss.
They are always sitting in front of the system and wasting their time and mood in the materialistic manner.
Even frequent small ups and downs affect their mood.
This is not good as it may affect their time and focus for devotional performance.
I know a person who invested in TITAN shares for a few thousands only, 15 years ago and forgot it.
After 15 years, when he decided to buy a house, he was reviewing his financial capacity.
At that time, the old share certificate came to his memory.
He took it and enquired how much it goes.
(Is it wrong for the devotees trying to earn more to make the life better? READ HERE!)
He got about ten lakhs for those shares.
Here, he just invested in shares and forgot it.
He lived peacefully for 15 years.
Suddenly he remembered it and sold it for lakhs.
His devotion and mood was not affected in any way.
Thus, long term investments in shares and selling those shares after some years will not affect our mood.
The point is that we should accept though that share gave us loss as the gift of Krishna. Or, we should wait another year to encash the share.
We should not worry about that share for years.
Same applies for mutual funds.
(Ten Sins through Mind, Words and Body a devotee should avoid! READ HERE!)
You are investing some money for a few years. After a few years, you get some return of money either with profit or loss.
This is also like the profit or loss we get from our own business.
Then, why the devotees are discouraged from investing in shares?
The actual reason is that A devotee should not involve in any activity that wastes his time that prevents him from thinking Krishna more. He should not always involving in manipulating with the shares causing tension, Blood Pressure and heart pain.
This long term share or mutual fund investment is nothing but sharing the profit or loss of others; Not earning by cheating thousands of others. So, Long term share/ mutual fund investments are to be considered like the fixed deposits.
Fixed deposits are secured investments; Shares and mutual funds are unsecured investments. That’s all.
So, any LEGAL investment for long term is like investing in a business only.
So, Long term investments in Shares & Mutual funds by devotees is not condemned IF YOU INVEST, FORGET AND THEN GO FOR DEVOTIONAL DUTIES and OF COURSE, ACCEPTING BOTH PROFIT AND LOSS WITH A BALANCED MIND!
Any time wasting and mind agitating investments like DAY TRADING and any unwanted time killing activity should be avoided because they affect our time and mood for Krishna.
(Is it sinful to work in an illegal company? READ HERE!)