SPIRITUAL MISSIONS --- THE HEADS AND THE TAILS OF THEIR LOT TODAY

Spiritual organisations must not exploit the labour of devotees who work for them for years on end on projects only to be betrayed at the end in terms of scant recognition of their efforts. They are neither provided with the requisite material for rendering their service nor are they given time proper to do so. They are simply in a sophisticated manner exploited over a stretch of time and then cast aside once the work is over. Neither are they apprised of the inauguration day of the pertinent project nor are they thanked personally for their seminal work. After all, are these devotees not supposed to do everything for God in a detached manner and all credit must go to the monks? Forget not they are only householders, lay people of little value! So, they may be dispensed with in any manner taking count only of their social status, academic attainments and monetary possessions to assign them whatever be their 'due' in the estimation of the venerable ones at the Abbey. This is the situation and this is 'dharmaglaani' (the decline of virtue).

Advertisement of product suits the businessman and not the monk. Getting close to corrupt politicians may become the corrupt businessman but not the monk who allows devotees to take the dust of his slipper-clad feet without even bothering to take them off as a mark of respect for the prostrate form of God, his Chosen Ideal, his Ishta in human guise. If a statue of a great one of the Order is to be inaugurated, it should be done without hype and hoopla, and instead of requesting the Prime Minister or the President to do so and the accompanying media to report, better by far will be to invoke the spirit of the great one to be present on the occasion to bless it. After all, wastage of resources and causing public inconvenience by requesting the Constitutional head or the Governmental head to inaugurate such programmes is counterproductive for the nation. It may be argued that such an occasion affords the leaders of our nation to get 'the holy touch' and is, therefore, likely to conduce to the well-being of the character of these politicians. But experience shows that despite all such efforts at reforming politicians, they have gone from bad to worse in terms of ethical discharge of their duties. So, the argument falls flat and needs rejection.

What is it that impels spiritual organisations to hobnob with politicians and the prosperous? Why? loss of spirituality, of course. They need support to run their organisation, monetary grants as well as bureaucratic quick clearance of their welfare projects. So far, so good. But when such intermixing is with political intent and aimed at certain specific agendas which are not wholly conducive to the well-being of the nation, then they assume serious proportions. Even otherwise, pandering to the vanities of the rich does not augur well for a spiritual organisation, for spirituality it is that ultimately sustains a spiritual mission and never material abundance.

Thus far has been fair criticism for spiritual missions. Now, a bit of fair praise, too, and a bit of fair prayer with it.

We all look forward to the monks of our ancient spiritual tradition to show us the way, bless us, awaken self-reverence in us and lead us onto the broad avenue of godhead unto the eventual end of evolution, Self-realisation. May these renounced ones be happy in their renunciation, pure in their pursuits, humble in their attainments and loving in their treatment of hapless souls like us who have lost their way in the maze of life and seek the direction of these children of light for finding the way to their eventual destination!