Pariprashnena — Q&A Archive

If its just for personal profit, then no, imho.

Years ago FFL released a note that no one should collect on behalf of FFL without specific permission, something like that.

If you say the money is for food for a starving child and someone gives you money for that starving child and you dont pass the money on to that destination, then this is in no way different to stealing food directly from the hand of that starving child. Are we expected to believe that Krishna is happy that you stole from a starving child to pay His temple bills and for your wifes sari? If you are going to be a thief, at least be an honourable one and dont steal from the most unfortunate members of society. Or better still, be a man and go and get an honest job.

the sad thing is that you can perfectly sale the book on its own value and say honestly that the profits are for your manteinance. People is happier and you do not go to hell :)

What does Srila Prabhupada have to say about the topic

"Letter to: Yadubara
'97
Bombay
25 December, 1974
74-12-25
Coconut Grove, Florida
My dear Yadubara,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 16, 1974 and I have noted the contents carefully.
I just saw your film last night and it was very nice. We can collect a lot of money with this film, for ISKCON Food-relief program. But not a single farthing of that money should be used for any other thing. It should all go to our ISKCON food-relief fund, nothing else. Otherwise we will definitely run into trouble, such as Hamsaduta has in Germany."

Letter to: Ramesvara
'97
Bombay
1 January, 1975
75-01-01
Los Angeles
Whatever fund is collected for food distribution should be sent to India. Why is it not sent? The other funds coming from sales of books can be accounted for properly, so where is there any fraud? Sometimes a salesman can say something extraordinary in order to sell something, but that is not fraud. Just like they are selling this oil, saying that if you rub it on your bald head, hair will grow. Where is the case where a bald mans hair grew from this oil? But the government is not charging with fraud. Dont use these UNICEF cards, that will not be good. You can make ISKCON FOOD RELIEF cards. But the money collected using this card must be sent to India where we are actually feeding people. If we simply speak nicely to a person and try sincerely to get him to take the book hell take it. Why should we adopt unfair means? We should not do anything which will create a bad impression or make us unpopular. People are after these books, they are hankering for them. We dont need to take cheating method. I never had to use any cheating method when I first began. I simply presented the real thing.
Basically and practically speaking everything that is done sincerely for Krishnas satisfaction is perfect. But we have to be very very careful in our dealings with others so that they will not take the wrong view. Just like the gopis. They left their homes in the dead of night to go and meet this young boy Krishna for kissing and embracing. To the ordinary person, this is sinful, but to the devotee, it is worshipable and it is considered the highest form of devotion even by Lord Caitanya who was himself a very strict sannyasi. Therefore we are very careful not to discuss this rasa-lila in the presence of ordinary men because they will only misunderstand and commit offense. While dealing with the ordinary men, we must spread this movement in such a way that they will not misunderstand us and take offense. Try to sell as many of my books as possible to your best ability.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
ACBS/ps

Letter to: Rupanuga
'97
Bombay
9 January, 1975
75-01-09
Brooklyn

Regarding the controversy about book distribution techniques, you are right. Our occupation must be honest. Everyone should adore our members as honest. If we do something which is deteriorating to the popular sentiments of the public in favor of our movement, that is not good. Somehow or other we should not become unpopular in the public eye. These dishonest methods must be stopped. It is hampering our reputation all over the world. Money collected for feeding people in India should be collected under the name ISKCON Food Relief. Not any other name. And every farthing of that money must be sent to India, or better yet, buy food grains there and ship them here and we will distribute. But every farthing collected for that purpose must be used for that purpose. I have already sent one letter to Ramesvara explaining these points.
I hope this meets you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
N.B. Your idea of having the "summer institute at your farm is nice.

Very tricky question... I actually do not know, but for the morality of some it is certainly immoral, while others think it is perfectly moral (and thus do it). I could not do it and live with myself...

> while others think it is perfectly moral (and thus do it).

I have heard such people justify such techniques calling it "Lakshmi liberation."

In Australia it'b4s called FFW "food for my wife" :)

[quote][cite] deena:[/cite]I have heard such people justify such techniques calling it "Lakshmi liberation."[/quote]

Liberation by Lakshmi! Ha!

liberation of Laksmi - from the hands of little Ravanas :)

The reason why these devotees think it is fine, is because when they used to live in the asrama, this is one of the low investment businesses that they have learned to do.

If it was moral to do while you are a monk, why would it become immoral if you married and do it as FFW=) Now, of course, when in the asrama, the clause of mundane morality was used to dismiss any doubts that this fundraising activity was illegal or immoral. In fact, and to be honest, just to maintain expensive temples a lot of unscrupulous cheats went on and the only person who was prosecuted for it was Kritanananda along other charges. Now, that did not stop the scams, and it went on and on, and is going on, not so much in the temple anymore, but by the groups not working directly under the authority, while some temples still do it as well I must say. I clearly remember a meeting in 1999, when one whole devotee group who did sticker/basket FFL collections was scorned and criticized. And it was exactly for these reasons, that it is illegal and local devotees here in Ireland did not appreciate such activity. Of course arguments that it was accepted and bona fide activity just 5 years before that, when this devotee was the director and and TP in Ireland, were dismissed (of course underlining issue was that the devotees were coming from England and Irish are extremely sensitive to any foreign troops). I have to admit that due to respect to this devotee I was the only person who objected to censuring his team of fundraising, at least they used the money for preaching on the same continent where the starving kids were located... but it did not stop all the leaders then insisting that he should be banned and warned, because it is immoral and is cheating. (Of course, just 2 years later he passed away in Brazil and he became a local saint and his photo is prominently placed in the temple room with a garland, but that was later). So the question is -- if it was not immoral and illegal when you lived in the temple, at what point it became immoral and illegal? I guess... actually I do not know...

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati discouraged deceptive methods of collection and did not acknowledge that end justifies the means. He inculcated that bhiksa was to be accompanied by and was a function of preaching, and that its real purpose, and indeed of the whole Gaudiya Math institution, was to collect souls, not money. (Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhava, part 2, Collection and Spending)

There is a famous story of BSST refusing to give back money collecting by his disciples under the plea of support to Independence movement. I think we have inherited some of the "madhukari" tactics. Of course he did not "know", but he accepted the money and used it in the service. Yes its true that he spoke against and discouraged it, but we know of no direct recorded words to this effect.

> So the question is -- if it was not immoral and illegal when you lived in the temple, at what point it became immoral and illegal?

It was never moral in the temple or out of the temple.