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Re: pursuit of wealth

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Anand Karalapakkam • July 12, 1999 


SrI:
SrI Lakshminrusimha ParabrahmaNE namaha
SrI Lakshminrusimha divya pAdukA sEvaka SrIvaN-
SatakOpa SrI nArAyaNa yateendra mahAdESikAya namaha

 Dear SrI Mani,
  namO nArAyaNA.

> I thank all of you who have contributed your thoughts
> to my question.  In particular, I found Murali's approach to
> see this as part of the gradual process of karma-yoga
> extremely enlightening.

   adiyEn feels that you are talking  about the "karma-yoga",
   in the sense of performing it as a prapanna (ie. not with
   the aim for moksham / attaining bhakti yOgam).

> In other words, to what extent should we try to build
> wealth to live comfortably, and how should we define
> comfortable, without falling into the trap of chasing
> wealth?

   This depends more on one's own perception. The best
   thing would be seek the guidance of one's own AchArya.
   Do as per AchArya's instruction. That way, whatever you
   do will be AchArya kainkaryam / implementation of
    AchArya Aj~nA. AchArya also will give the instruction,
    depending upon the nature of the sishya.

> My gut feeling is that the example of Sri Desika and other
> gRhastha-s is not an ideal that is to be left merely for saints,
> but something to which all true mumukshus should sincerely
> aspire.

   Certainly ; No doubt in this.


> Is this still practical? Could Desika have survived
> today? (What few disciples he had certainly couldn't have
> given him enough money to pay the rents in San Francisco!)

   It is irrelevant to talk about avatAra purushAs like SwAmi
   dESikan in this context. avatAra purushAs does not appear
    and suffer for their survival ; they appear  for making others
   survive and attain moksham. SrIman nArAyaNA will make all
   the arrangements His great devotees and avatAra purushAs.
   Whenever  ( be it in the past, present or future) and  wherever
  ( let them be at a city like madras or bombay or at some village)
  avatAra  purushAs appear, there is no need for them to go after
  wealth  etc ;  All the neccessary arrangements will automatically
   take place for them - be it through disciples, friends etc etc,
   including personal direct acts of help  by the Divya Dampatis
   themselves.

   It is wise to pose the question this way : " Is this still practical
   for the baddha jIvAtmAs in this age of kali , who hardly have
   any  jn~Anam, vairAgyam, bhakti  and anushtAnam ".

   For some it may be practical ; for many it may not be, depending
   upon various circumstances (family background etc). But,
   whatever be the lowkIka activities one may perform , if one
   makes sure that he/she is learning the sampradAya granthams
   under a sadAchArya and builds the Atma guNAs (ie. SrI Vaishnava
   qualities)  and becomes a prapanna and serve AchArya,
   bhAgavathAs and the Divya Dampati , this is a good way of leading
   the life.

  AzhwAr,yemperumAnAr,dESIkan,Azhagiyasingar thiruvadigaLE SaraNam

 adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan
 ananthapadmanAbha dAsan
 krishNArpaNam