Do not be afraid to follow the Franciscan way of life.
The karma of not having wealth is weighing on many of you, but that is not bad at all; it is good in terms of higher spiritual goals and aspirations. There is a good reason why truly spiritual people renounce money and worldly possessions at the beginning of their conversion to God and leave their homes like the Franciscans, wandering yogis and monks of all world religions. Therefore, do not regret that you are somewhat destitute; it can be a stimulus and a means to your higher spiritual growth. You just have to learn to live frugally and modestly, and then you will have enough means of living. For example, disciplining oneself in the matter of one’s diet and private bodily needs is highly desirable. Do not regret having little worldly goods, for that is the essence of monasticism! Be like my great role model, St. Francis of Assisi; give away some of your surplus wealth to charities and foundations, or just to ordinary beggars and homeless people on the street, and you will surely have a karmic treasure in heaven. That’s what I did. While I had money, I just gave it away and invested it in spiritual items, such as my altar and spiritual projects. Now that I am destitute, or rather relatively destitute, once more, I am following my own path, which I call “Franciscanism”, a voluntary discipline. Be like me; do let go of your surplus property, for example, to Vishvaguruji Maheshwarananda – which is the very best use of all your material possessions – for his biggest project: the charitable and philanthropic Om Ashram in Jadan, India. If I inherit any property one day, I will give it away again and I will sponsor various charitable projects, here in the Czech Republic, where I live as a hermit, for example the Charity, the Salvation Army, the Good Angel, Greenpeace… or the destitute Trappist monastery Nový Dvůr. I am really looking forward to being richer and being able to give money to the needy again on a larger scale. Franciscanism, as I call this way of life, is the most positive, most harmonious, most loving way of life one could wish for and choose in this world. I discovered this spiritual vision some thirty years ago and I am still faithful to it as a monk.
© Swami Gyaneshwarpuri
E-mail: yoga@gyaneshwarpuri.cz
Web: www.hermityoga.cz
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SWAMI GYANESHWARPURI POUSTEVNÍK
