Economics

Our real business is to listen to Krsna, and Krsna says: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja. "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me." In this way all our problems will be solved. Dharmasya hy apavargyasya nartho 'rthaya. Dharmasya does not mean material gain, but if there is need of material gain, there is accommodation. Narthasya dharmaikantasya. Dharma-eka: those who are actually religious do not look on money as sense gratification. The more money materialists get, the more they spend for sense gratification. One may live humbly with a small income of $500, but if that is not sufficient, he struggles harder to get $1,000, and he immediately takes another apartment which is larger. Then he is not satisfied with that apartment, and eventually he has to work harder to make $2,000, and with that he gets another apartment which is even better, but soon that is not sufficient either. A car is needed, and as soon as one car is bought, another is needed. In this way the more money we get, the more we increase our program for sense gratification. Of course money is required, but we should not increase our artificial wants. We should always keep in aim our view that the purpose in life is to get out of the clutches of material nature. The modern theory of economics increases artificial desires. The bank will say, "Take money from me and purchase a car." And the car manufacturer will show us a new car every year. In this way we become entangled, and the more we earn, the more debts we pay. All this is going on.

We increase our wants, and we become embarrassed when we have to get the money. We struggle hard to get the money and thus increase our sense gratification. Narthasya dharmaikantasya. But for those who are actually religious, more money or income (artha) does not increase sense gratification. The religious man thinks, "Oh, I have more money. Now let me spend it for Krsna." That is dharma. Here is a movement to promote Krsna consciousness, and those who have money can help push this movement forward. Unfortunately, the wealthy spend their money just to purchase a dozen motor cars. Narthasya dharmaikantasya kamo labhaya hi smrtaḥ. Kama means sense gratification. That is how most people waste their money and their lives-increasing sense gratification.

We have already discussed that pure devotional service of the Lord is automatically followed by perfect knowledge and detachment from material existence. Yet there are those who consider that all occupational engagements, including those of religion, are meant for material gain. Such people come to the temple or church and give some contribution, but their aim is that by contributing one dollar they will get a hundred dollars in return. In other words, church is an easy way of earning money. The majority of people do not come to understand what Krsna, God, actually is. Whenever they put money in the collection box, they think, "This will increase." Of course it will increase because Krsna supplies all things, but that should not be the motive of one's worship. We should not make business with Krsna. We should try to serve Krsna and sacrifice everything. Then our life will be successful.

If we want to make business, Krsna will also give us business. Ye yatha mam. If we want money from Krsna, Krsna will give us money. But what will we do with that money? Because we do not know how to spend it, we will simply engage it for sense gratification. In this way we become implicated again. Therefore Krsna renders His devotee a special favor. When one is trying to become Krsna conscious but at the same time wants to have some material enjoyment, Krsna takes away whatever material enjoyment is there. Krsna knows that this is the best course to take with a man who is sincere but who, due to his bad habits, wants some material enjoyment. Krsna takes all material enjoyment away and makes the man completely free. When one is thus freed and helpless, he takes shelter of Krsna. That is Krsna's special favor.