Is devotees trying Lottery for good cause wrong as we don’t cheat anyone?
A girl devotee who requested anonymity asked like this:
“Hare Krsna Prabhu, 3 years ago, I became vegetarian after getting inspired spiritually through the Bhagavad Gita. I have been struggling and still is to get 100% into K.C. Lately I have been thinking about going abroad and working there to as to progress and be able to become 100% independent and look after my parents. And for that to be possible, it is important to have money. I know gambling is bad. I have no choice but to think of trying my luck at time by playing a lottery which will help me to advance in my career. But, I have not done so far because I am very confused of what to do and not to do. I have reached a point where I don’t know what to do next…please advise prabhu..”
REPLY:
You like to become a TOP earner ‘at any cost’. Yes, the devotees trying Lottery for good cause wrong. Trying Online or Offline Lottery is an offense for dedicated devotees, and also waste of the resources given to you by Krishna.
(5 SIMPLE TIPS TO AVOID GAMBLING AS A REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE FOR KRISHNA DEVOTEES! READ HERE!)
For non devotees who like to live as they like, there no such rules. We, the devotees are advised to take up the activities that do not add severe karma to us. Hence some restrictions.
Taking meat is severe karma; Taking vegetables is less karma. And, we can get rid of that karma by offering that food to Krishna. So, we avoid meat eating. But, we too eat and live. Not meat. That’s all.
Having s…x with other women add severe karma; So, we avoid; Having s…x with spouse is less karmic. We can use that approved s…x to get children and make them devotees of Krishna. So, we are advised to have s…x only within marriage.
Similarly, when we earn thru gambling we add more karma from lakhs of people. Because the money lost by lakhs of people goes to a single person. So, the loss of lakhs of people takes the karma of all the losers and add to the gainer.
(Is it gambling to involve in Politics and IAS for devotees? READ HERE!)
But, when we earn through a normal job or business, we make every sale that adds some gains. Both the seller and buyer gains in the normal business.
All the money we have at present is not ours, but, that of Krishna, because it is LAKSHMI, who is that of Krishna.
All the things available on earth is that of Krishna, not ours. We are just using them. That’s all.
Let us come to the Lottery now.
Lottery is a gambling because it collects the wealth of lakhs of people and accumulates the collections to a single person though he has not done any work. This money is karmic one because, it carries the loss of lakhs of people. Before you win Rs.10 lakhs from a lottery, you would have spent lakhs of rupees for purchasing tickets. It may take many years also, that wastes our age.
(Is writing entrance exams a gambling as majority fail in the exam? READ HERE!)
So, forget about lottery. You have written that you like to earn more and take care of parents well. But, Krishna has given some arrangements for your parents even when He gave birth to them. So, do not dream much and deviate from the regulative principles.
One is allowed to perform a job or business that is naturally chosen by him according to his nature. So, if you are talented in any skill, start a business related to that skill and earn. If you do not like to do business, look for a still better job from a good company and earn. These are all straight earnings.
A person’s financial growth should be gradual, not miraculous. Only in the gambling, a person can become rich overnight and loss everything the next day itself. So, you do not need such earnings.
Whatever you earn by your natural job must be accepted as the gift or prasadam from Krishna. That is why, Krishna told that we must do our assigned duties without having attachments with the results.
(Will Performing our Prescribed duties, ie, Karma Yoga give rebirth? READ HERE!)
Why did He say so? Because, if we bother about the results, we will have to follow even some wrong means to earn more. So, we should not care about results, ie, earnings while performing our duties. Just do your duties as efficiently as possible and accept whatever you earn as the blessings of Krishna.
You may think that devotees trying Lottery for good cause of making the parents happy wrong. This is unwanted desire. Since you are feeding your parents well, that is enough. They are not on platforms. They are leading a dignified life with the basic comforts. That is enough. You can not satisfy anyone just by giving them comforts. Such efforts will give only temporary facilities.
If you give them a basic protection, peace of mind and if you remain as a good, disciplined daughter to them, that is enough for them. Parents do not need anything from us. They just need love and care.
So, stop thinking of becoming rich overnight and concentrate in doing your job/ business more effectively. If you feel your earning is less, go for a still better job. Or, do some legal business. That is enough.
All the best.
(SERVING KRISHNA THROUGH ASSIGNED DUTIES AND DIRECTLY! WHICH IS BETTER? READ HERE!)