Dear Bhaagavatas:
We have received overwhelming responses for the questions.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all those who responded
enthusiastically.
Choice # 1
A handful of friends have honestly admitted that they would pocket
the find, especially in the circumstances provided in the amendment
taking it as a Bhagavad prasaadam (a gift of God).
An analysis would reveal a lot of flaws in this choice:
1. The assumption that nobody is watching is not correct. Saastras
say that there are 16 witnesses to all our actions.
2. In this high-tech age it is possible that even when none is seen
around, you can be seen on the screen in the control room through
hidden cameras. It is common knowledge that in these days, this
method is employed to detect crimes.
3. Assuming that none of the above is in place, your conscience will
tell you that it is morally wrong to pocket what does not belong to
you. Mahatma Gandhi calls conscience as "the little inner voice" and
there can be no greater warning than the dictate of your conscience.
4. Pocketing something that does not belong to you and that too,
without the knowledge and willing consent of the rightful owner is
known as `sthEya" or theft and is obviously illegal besides being
immoral.
5. The excuse that it is a "gift of God" is just a pretext - however
one may try to justify it!
Choice # 2
A majority of respondents have voted for Choice 2, with some
explaining why they preferred it.
The question was "What would you do?" Explanation of rationale for
adopting this course was not called for.
Whether it is put in the Temple Hundi or turned over to the Temple
Administration or handed over to the Archakar (as some have
suggested) makes no difference because even the Hundi collections
are opened, counted and supposed to be added on to the temple funds
(assuming that no pilferage occurs in the process!), while passing
on to the poor Archakar will tantamount to passing on your dilemma
to him!
H.H. Azhagiya Singhar (in his Poorva Asramam) was very emphatic that
you have no business to pick up anything that does not belong to you
and that which you have not earned through your own efforts on
Dharmic lines and you have no right to dispose it of through
donation or offering to the temple or for any charity or
kainkaryams.
In this view, one is advised against collecting funds through "fund
raising" for any cause unless one is sure that arrangements exist
for the proper accounting of the funds both at the collection end
and at the disposal end and proper auditing is in place to guard
against misuse and YOU own absolute responsibility to indemnify the
donors should any irregularity or misuse comes to light at any
stage.
What is collected is NOT one's money and one has no right to dispose
it of as per one's judgment on whether the cause is
worthy or unworthy whether it is from a Registered Trust or not,
whether exemption under the Income Tax rules are in force.
Many of the so called "Trusts" that have mushroomed from time to
time have forfeited their trust by disappearing without trace but
not without the moneys collected!
Handling public money is like playing with fire. This will put the
solicitors in a vulnerable position and they should be prepared to
face investigations in any potential PIL litigation. The solicitors
have to be an open book and have to be scrupulous in keeping
themselves beyond even a shadow of doubt (like Caesar's wife) at all
times.
The argument that no one has raised a finger of accusation SO FAR is
no cause for taking it with smug satisfaction. It does not guarantee
against anyone posing as "pro bono publico" to raise the issue AT
ANY TIME in trying to besmirch the Srivaishnava groups and in the
process damage the fair name of our Acharyas themselves.
This is the reason why, Paragraph 10 of Guidelines was drafted for
those who wish to post "Appeals for funds" in "Sri Ranga Sri"
(reproduced below at the end for your information)
Acharyas being Acharyas are adorned with Jnaanam (Absolute Knowledge
of the divine dispensation) and more importantly Vairaghyam (total
detachment from material world) "Jnaana Vairaaghya bhooshaNam"
Acharyas being Acharyas, they are totally devoted to their calling
in Tureeya Asrama and totally unmindful of Pooja, kyaadi, laaba etc.
Did not Swami Desika throw away the coins he found in the bikshaa he
received on his rounds?
The only undivided concentration of Acharyas will be on Bhagavaan
and the welfare of Sishyas (for whom they instruct through
KaalakshEpams and administer SamasrayaNam, BharaNayaasam etc). They
do not involve themselves in the day to day administration of funds
collected by individuals or groups of individuals on their behalf
and in their names.
Acharyas may, however bless kainkaryams undertaken by devout
Bhaagavatas. But, simply dropping the names of Acharyas like
claiming to have obtained their blessings will not be enough. The
entire responsibility for the accounting rests squarely on the
shoulders of the solicitors who do so in the name of the Acharyas.
Should any irregularity come to light, it will not only spoil the
reputation of the solicitors but might show the Acharyas themselves
in a bad light in the eyes of the public, especially in the backdrop
of a hostile and atheistic administration.
H.H. Azhagiya Singhar in his Poorva Asramam once described asmad
Achharyan, His Holiness Srimad Andavan, Poundarikapuram Swami
Asramam, Srirangam as an ideal Acharya in terms of Swami Desika's
definition in his "Nyaasa Vimsati" and that he was verily
a "NaDamaaDum Deivam" and 'VasishTa'
Asmad Acharyan would never solicit any samrapaNais for any purpose.
He would refuse to accept any offering, if made with ulterior
motives and he had his own methods of finding out this eventuality.
Choice # 3
A few have opted for choice # 3. Some of them, however, would
prefer to donate it to some charity like Spastics Society or
other "noble" causes
The conclusion of H.H. Azhagiya Singhar (in his Poorva Asramam) as
expressed in his KaalakshEpam
The conclusion of H.H. Azhagiya Singhar (in his Poorva Asramam) was
that the best course would be to "consciously ignore the find and
walk away". The reason he gave was that if someone else picks it up,
it is Bhagavaan's Sankalpam that it should be so and we have no role
in it. Obviously, the find was not earned by us through our own
efforts on Dharmic lines. Therefore, we have no right to pick it up
or decide how it should be disposed of. In other words, it is a test
of our `Vairaaghyam".
Thanks again to one and all for your enthusiastic participation.
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
****************************
Clause 10:
"10. APPEALS FOR FUNDS:
Would anyone venture to appeal for funds for an avowedly unworthy
cause?
No appeal for funds is normally made except under the cloak of
some "worthy" cause or other. The money spinning technique of con
artists to beguile the gullible and credulous folks by playing upon
their humanitarian emotions and sympathy have been so perfected that
the pretext of "helping a worthy cause" is routinely touted as a
useful ploy.
(For example, a recent appeal was for a medical treatment that was
found to be false). We should not fall for these.
The same holds good for the some of the much too numerous appeals
for funds for this, that or the other "Kainkaryams" flashed on the
Internet day in and day out impacting on the sentimental
susceptibilities of Bhaagavatas.
Complaints have surfaced, of late, regarding misuse of funds
collected in the name of so called "worthy projects".
This is not to say that all appeals are of this kind.
IMPORTANT:
IN FACT, APPEALS BEARING THE SPECIFIC OFFICIAL SPONSORING BY THE
YATIVARAS THEMSELVES OF MATAMS AND ASHRAMAMS (LIKE AHOBILA MATAM,
PARAKLAALA MATAM, POUNDARIKAPURAM ASHRAMAM, PERIYASHRAMAM,
VANAMAMALAI MATAM ETC) CAN BE FREELY POSTED.
All other appeals solicited by individuals or groups of individuals
for funds for whatever "kainkaryam" will be allowed only with the
express undertaking IN WRITING that the solicitor ensures the
following:
(i) Officially acknowledging the receipt of contributions submitted
(ii) Utilization of the funds fully and precisely for the purposes
for which they are proposed to be mobilized through their appeal and
(iii) Adequate audit and accounting are in place to the entire
satisfaction of the donors both at the collection end and
utilization end
(iv) Responsibility to personally indemnify the donors against any
inconvenience or loss due to any irregularity that might come to
light at any time, with regard to their solicitation.
In the absence of such undertaking, we may be seen as encouraging
indiscriminate fund-raising appeals and also become liable for any
potential legal action later on,
given the conduct of numerous trusts that have mushroomed and
disappeared with the collections"
===============================================================
This applies also to some of our members of Board of Advisory
Consultants. While we have great regard for them personally, such
postings by them invite adverse comments from readers who convey
their displeasure and annoyance through phone and direct
conversations.
Readers complain that we are showing partiality to members of BAC
while rejecting such appeals from others because everyone of their
individual appeals for funds neither indicate any personal /
official involvement / sanction of Yathivaras nor do they contain
any of the "Commitments" required from sponsors in terms of
Paragraph 10 cited above on "Appeal for funds".
We request all (including BAC members) that from now on Appeals for
fund
raisings (whether directly expressed or veiled covertly concealed in
any part of the texts), for this, that or the other cause WILL NOT
BE APPROVED in "Sri Ranga Sri".
If anyone wishes to donate any funds for any kainkaryam, they can do
it from out of their personal funds (as was done in the case of Tiru
Anbil Dwajasthambham kainkaryam without collecting funds from
others) or through private collections or through other Internet
groups that may allow such appeals .
We wish to reiterate that "Sri Ranga Sri" IS NOT the forum for such
appeals that do not conform to Paragraph 10 cited. Besides annoying
the readers, this also places us in an embarrassing situation. We
request them to understand and cooperate with us and save us from
such accusations.
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
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