Babaji and his entourage of faithful walk into the newly spruced drawing –room with the pre-requisite lilies and orchids in place all flanked with the fragrant tea- candles. The flowers were a marvel with the dew-drops entrapped in their virgin blooms set in long crystal vases the pride of Nandini and the envy of her friends who were all sitting in attendance. The room was decorated keeping in mind the opulence of the family name but balanced in subtle ways to receive Babaji. The very fact that babaji was visiting her home had elevated her social position in town and she had arranged a sattvic tea for everyone. Everything was organically sourced, a point she kept on making again and again and served in ethnic stoneware from Jaipur. The theme was cream and she was resplendent in the latest creation from Wendell Roderick’s new Kunba sari (the long-lost sari revived by the designer as a tribute to the heritage of the small state). The mere presence of a Guru makes us reach for our pockets and we will in-voluntarily empty out them in search for appeasing the inner fear which resides in us all.
How come, it is easy to spend an obscene amount on the surroundings to receive him and then to arrange offerings and then offer monetary sums just to appease the conscious? Why do we feel that giving donations one will guarantee the washing away of our sins? Or is it that this monetary sum equals the ‘ paap’ we want to erase. How easy it would be? To commit a sin and then make these little gestures. Why have we all become so hypocritical? Just because, someone walks in wearing the attire of a saint, does that automatically by default ensure of his purity and sanctity of thought? Why are we all willing to be fooled into paying homage and giving vast sums of money in cash or kind.. Isn’t it another ego trip albeit a more powerful one? The mere seduction of being one up on the next one by giving more and then loudly claiming it ; is this what charity is all about?
A poor man walks all day long to sell his wares but we will insist on haggling with him because that poor man in his tattered dirty clothes is trying to swindle us out of a few Rs. Winning the epic battle by saving a mere few rs out of one’s air conditioned chauffer driven car gives us immense pleasure and to some an orgasmic kick!!
I don’t want to sermonize or sound like a sanctimonious prick but seriously look within, why have all forgotten that these poor people did not choose this status. They are poor out of circumstance and out of choice (apart from the Leftist, I say!!). And, do not say, karam / previous birth’s deeds. They need our compassion, our love and some kind benevolence. Next time around, when we go to the Gurudwara, Mandir, or the place of worship of your choice give some there as offering but spare some change for the poor guy sitting outside. Do not stop your hand from reaching in to your fat wallet to pay them some. We all need to look within, to retrospect and to make the change
Trust me try it, the smile is worth a lot and let that veneer of to become less hardened, little less sophisticated and give into impulse…..materialism melt….