Against asking donations

Sri Annamalai Swami

Bhagavan (B) did not mind if devotees voluntarily contributed money but he frequently got angry if he heard that ashram officials were asking for money on his behalf. B had spoke to Dandapani Swami about this on several occasions but the matter finally came to a head when we received a visit from the Raja of Ramanathapuram.

When the Raja arrived B was in the kitchen, cleaning some green leaves. B was told that the Raja had come but he paid no attention. He just carried on cleaning the leaves, very slowly and very thoroughly. Finally, when the work was done, he came to the hall and sat on his sofa. The Raja did namaskaram to him, stayed for about an hour, asked a few questions, and then left.

As the Raja was leaving the ashram, Dandapani Swami accompanied him as far as the Dakshinamurti shrine. While he was walking alongside him, Dandapani Swami remarked to the Raja, 'As you can see, B has no proper buildings. We have very little money for such things. Sometimes we don't even have enough to buy food.' Without actually asking for money, he made it quite clear that a donation would be very welcome.

Some other devotees overheard these remarks and reported them to B. When Dandapani Swami returned from seeing the Raja off, B reprimanded him very severely.

'You have spoilt that Raja,' he said. 'He has a palace, a lot of money, and all the pleasures that money can bring, but he became frustrated because he began to realize that money could not buy him happiness. He came to me, a man with a loincloth and nothing else, and asked, "I am an unhappy man. Is there any way that I can attain happiness?" He came here to find happiness but you have shattered his hopes with your begging and your complaints. Now this man will be thinking, "This man is not happy in his state of poverty. He is still asking for things." He will go back to his place thinking, "Poverty is not the answer. Happiness can only come from money and all the things that it can buy." You have ruined this man by speaking like this. Whoever comes here in future, you are never again to say to them that Swami needs money. Don't ever ask for money again.'