SOULS ON FIRE #112 | Srila Prabhupada on Money
Srila Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), spoke extensively about money and its role in human society. He believed that money was a neutral tool that could be used for both good and bad purposes, depending on how it was acquired and utilized.
In his teachings, Srila Prabhupada emphasized the importance of using money in service of spiritual goals, such as supporting the propagation of spiritual knowledge and the establishment of temples and other institutions that promote spiritual values. He encouraged his followers to engage in philanthropic activities and charitable giving as a way of serving others and demonstrating compassion.
At the same time, Srila Prabhupada cautioned against the materialistic attachment to wealth and the pursuit of money for its own sake. He believed that excessive attachment to material possessions and wealth could lead to a false sense of security and happiness, and could ultimately lead to suffering.
Srila Prabhupada also criticized the current economic system, which he saw as being based on a selfish and exploitative mentality that prioritized profit over the well-being of individuals and society as a whole. He believed that a more spiritual and ethical approach to economics was necessary, one that valued the principles of service, compassion, and cooperation.
Lord Chaitanya prays "na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi" meaning:
"I do not desire wealth, nor do I desire followers, nor do I desire a beautiful wife or any number of followers. All I want is to be in a state of uninterrupted, unalloyed devotion to You, O Lord, birth after birth."
This verse expresses the ideal of pure devotion to God, in which one renounces all material desires and attachments in order to cultivate a single-minded devotion to the divine. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu teaches that such devotion should be "ahaituki," or unconditional and unmotivated by any material desires or expectations. By cultivating such devotion, one can attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death and achieve the ultimate goal of human life.
In summary, Srila Prabhupada saw money as a neutral tool that could be used for both good and bad purposes, and emphasized the importance of using it in service of spiritual goals and the well-being of others. At the same time, he cautioned against the materialistic attachment to wealth and criticized the current economic system for its emphasis on profit over ethical and spiritual values.