Nisargaddatta's kindness

[Guest guest]

There is an image among people who came to Maharaj, that Maharaj should not

accept any money. But Maharaj did accept money. So, somebody asked him and

his explanation was, " There is no 'me' to demand any money and there is no

'me' to refuse any money! If any money is offered, it is accepted. " There

is a story where a Brahmin priest came from Tiruvannamalai, from

Ramanasramam, to meet Maharaj. He did not have any money, so he

hitch-hiked. He would get into a train and go as far as the ticket

collector would allow him. Then he would be forced to get off the train,

and he would wait until the next train came. So it took him 2 or 3 days to

come to Maharaj and he came straight from the station. So, Maharaj could

see that he had very little, so he asked him, " Where will you stay? " He

says, " I don't know. " So, Maharaj arranged from someone who was there for

him to stay and get boarding and lodging. So he stayed with this family and

did the puja in the house. He was a priest so he collected some money, a

little money. At the end of the month he wanted to go. So he came to

Maharaj and offered a ten rupee note. So Maharaj with great reverence said,

" Thank-you very much " , and he put the money in his pocket as if it were a

thousand rupees. It made no difference to him. So Maharaj asked him, " When

are you leaving? " , and he replied " Tomorrow afternoon. " " So you will be

here tomorrow morning? " , and he said, " Yes " . So in the meantime, Maharaj

bought a set of clothes for him, and before he left, he gave him the set of

clothes and a hundred rupee note. He said, " This is my gift to you. " So,

this is a story reflecting giving and taking. The giving and taking

happens. The giving happens only if it is the destiny of the taker to

receive the money, not otherwise.

 

Balsekar

[Guest guest]

There are many stories of Maharaj's distain for money. I would like

to relate one. A few days after my arrival Maharaj was given an

envelope to open. He removed a letter and many English Pounds. He

gave the letter to an interpreter to read. It was an invitation from

the London Vedanta society (I believe), to come to England for a

speaking tour. The money was for good faith, which he could keep.

They offered 10,000 pounds and all expenses paid for he and his

entourage; at which everybody laughed, as, of course he had no

entourage. Nisargaddata was slapping his leg and laughing so hard he

almost, literally, fell over. He then sat up straight, with a

serious look and asked, " Do you think I should go to London? "

Several people spoke, mostly suggesting he go. Afterwards he

said " Why would I go? I only speak to people about one thing. I

only tell people the truth of who they really are. I think they

would throw rocks at me! I have no need for this money, who needs

money? " Not surprisengly no one spoke-up. He motioned with his hand

to an Indian lady to come up. " I don't want this money, I know you

need money, you take this money! " They exchanged bows, and Maharaj

called someone up to the mat. Nisargadatta, Jan Sultan

<swork@m...> wrote:> There is an image among people who came to

Maharaj, that Maharaj should not

> accept any money. But Maharaj did accept money. So, somebody asked

him and

> his explanation was, " There is no 'me' to demand any money and

there is no

> 'me' to refuse any money! If any money is offered, it is accepted. "

There

> is a story where a Brahmin priest came from Tiruvannamalai, from

> Ramanasramam, to meet Maharaj. He did not have any money, so he

> hitch-hiked. He would get into a train and go as far as the ticket

> collector would allow him. Then he would be forced to get off the

train,

> and he would wait until the next train came. So it took him 2 or 3

days to

> come to Maharaj and he came straight from the station. So, Maharaj

could

> see that he had very little, so he asked him, " Where will you

stay? " He

> says, " I don't know. " So, Maharaj arranged from someone who was

there for

> him to stay and get boarding and lodging. So he stayed with this

family and

> did the puja in the house. He was a priest so he collected some

money, a

> little money. At the end of the month he wanted to go. So he came

to

> Maharaj and offered a ten rupee note. So Maharaj with great

reverence said,

> " Thank-you very much " , and he put the money in his pocket as if it

were a

> thousand rupees. It made no difference to him. So Maharaj asked

him, " When

> are you leaving? " , and he replied " Tomorrow afternoon. " " So you

will be

> here tomorrow morning? " , and he said, " Yes " . So in the meantime,

Maharaj

> bought a set of clothes for him, and before he left, he gave him

the set of

> clothes and a hundred rupee note. He said, " This is my gift to

you. " So,

> this is a story reflecting giving and taking. The giving and taking

> happens. The giving happens only if it is the destiny of the taker

to

> receive the money, not otherwise.

>

> Balsekar

[Guest guest]

Nisargadatta, " jcoxco " <jcoxco> wrote:

> There are many stories of Maharaj's distain for money. I would

like

> to relate one.

 

here is another account from the stories of meeting maharaj:

 

A European came and put a large currency note in front of Maharaj.

" Please take it back. I am not interested in anyone's money. My son

is there and he is feeding me and looking after my needs.

 

http://www.nisargadatta.net/SwamiParamatmananda.html