Category:Giving Money in Charity
Theme Analysis
In the Vedic system, giving money in charity is a fundamental duty, particularly for householders, kṣatriyas, and vaiśyas, who are advised to distribute a significant portion of their accumulated wealth. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that charity must be performed in the mode of goodness, with careful consideration of the recipient, time, and place. Giving money in the modes of passion or ignorance—such as funding someone's intoxication or donating with the expectation of material prestige and multiplied returns—merely binds one further to the cycle of karma. True spiritual charity involves giving hard-earned money to qualified brāhmaṇas, Vaiṣṇavas, and specifically to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement to spread the knowledge of God worldwide. When surplus wealth is utilized for the satisfaction of Lord Viṣṇu, it transcends mundane philanthropy and guarantees eternal spiritual benefits. Ultimately, the highest and most magnanimous charity is the free distribution of love of Godhead, as perfectly exemplified by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
- The Duty and Proper Mode of Charity: The scriptures mandate that those with wealth must perform charity, but it must be executed in the mode of goodness. Giving money indiscriminately, especially to those who will misuse it for sinful activities like intoxication, is charity in the mode of ignorance and brings no spiritual benefit.
- Bestowing Charity Upon Qualified Recipients: To yield true benefit, wealth should be given to highly elevated persons, such as learned brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas. Because these individuals know how to employ wealth for the pleasure of the Lord, charity given to them is multiplied and returned infinitely in the future.
- Utilizing Wealth for the Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Movement: The natural human tendency to give in charity should be directed entirely toward Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasized that all surplus money collected by devotees must be strictly employed to advance the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and spread transcendental knowledge throughout the world.
- Ideal Examples and the Ultimate Spiritual Welfare: Great kings and devotees like Dhruva Mahārāja and the brothers Hiraṇya and Govardhana set the perfect example of liberally giving their wealth to brāhmaṇas. Yet, the highest welfare activity surpasses mundane philanthropy; it is the distribution of the science of God, freely giving the love of Kṛṣṇa to the suffering humanity.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Purifying Hard-Earned Money by Giving in Charity to Advancing Devotees.
Subcategories
This category has only the following subcategory.
Pages in category "Giving Money in Charity"
The following 37 pages are in this category, out of 37 total.
A
- A ksatriya or a rich man is sometimes visited by persons who are in need of money. When they are asked for a donation, it is the duty of the possessor of wealth to give in charity in consideration of the person, place and time
- Although Navadvipa was very opulent & populous during Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s time, practically all the brahmanas depended on the charity of Hiranya & Govardhana. Because the brothers highly respected the brahmanas, they very liberally gave them money
- And when there was need of giving charity, he used to distribute money exactly as the cloud distributes rain. The distribution of rain by clouds is so sumptuous that it is compared to the distribution of wealth by a great, munificent person
- As far as charity is concerned, it is plain that charity should be given to the devotees of Krsna who are engaged in His devotional service to spread the Krsna philosophy or Krsna consciousness throughout the world. BG 1972 purports
D
E
- Everyone has a tendency to give something in charity; Krsna says, "Give it to Me," and this means that all surplus money accummulated should be utilized in furthering the Krsna consciousness movement. BG 1972 purports
- Everyone has a tendency to give something in charity; Krsna says, "Give it to Me," and this means that all surplus money accumulated should be utilized in furthering the Krsna consciousness movement
I
- If the money is given in charity to a learned & fully qualified brahmana, the money is returned a hundred & a thousand times, if the money is given to a veda-paraga (one who has realized the path of the Vedas) it is returned by unlimited multiplication
- If the money is given in charity to a non-brahmana (without brahminical qualification) the money is returned in the next life in the same proportion. If it is given in charity to a half-educated brahmana, even then the money is returned double
- In our sastra charity is recommended to be given to the high-class men, brahmanas and Vaisnavas. They know how to spend money
- In this material world, activities for material enjoyment which are considered to be pious are also sinful. For example, one sometimes gives something in charity to a needy person with a view to getting back the money four times increased
- It is like a charitable person who opens his treasury for distribution and who does not discriminate whether the charity is needed or not. He gives in charity openhandedly
K
S
- Since our money and possessions do not last but will somehow or other be taken away, as long as they are in our possession it is better to use them for charity to a noble cause
- Sometimes we see pious men earn money with great hardship and then spend the money for some pious cause by opening public charities, schools and hospitals. Whether one earns money for himself or for the public benefit, he is called a karma-nistha
- Suppose as business man, I've done very nicely. I have given in charity. That's nice. You get better life. But for business sake, I have earned money by hook and crook, my mentality's just like crocodile or dog; then I have to become a crocodile
T
- That (giving charity to beggar) may still be goodness. But in your Bowery Street, they give some charity, and immediately he (a beggar) purchases one bottle of wine & drinks & lies down flat. So that is charity. But that is not goodness; that is ignorance
- The brahmana accepts all kinds of contributions (pratigraha) from his followers - namely, the ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras. But he does not keep all the money. He keeps only as much as required and gives the balance to others in charity - dana
- The government should take up, American government, and cooperate with us, teach the people the science of God. Then it will be a great, benevolent welfare activity. Simply giving their money to the poor, to the needy, will not help
- The tendency of modern civilization is to give money in charity to the poor. Such charity has no spiritual value
- The ultimate end of Vedic knowledge is realization of the Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna, as stated in the Bhagavad-gita.There is a guarantee of money's being returned if given in charity, regardless of the proportion
- There are many charitable institution and foundation, they are giving charities to many institution and many function. But here Lord Caitanya's charity, giving free the love of Krsna
- To give charity is one of the householder's main functions, and he should be prepared to give in charity at least fifty percent of his hard-earned money
- Tyagena means charity. Not that you starve. No. That kind of starvation . . . you keep yourself fit to execute Krsna consciousness, but don't keep much money. Immediately give in charity to Krsna
W
- We should not execute dharma for some material gain, arthaya. Just like people are very busy to give in charity, because he'll get some exalted post. Yajna dana tapa kriya. These are karma-kandiyas
- Whatever money came because of the influence of his transcendental son, he gave it in charity to the brahmanas for the satisfaction of Visnu
- When our Krsna conscious devotees go out to beg charity or collect contributions in the form of membership fees, the money thus coming to the Krsna consciousness movement is strictly employed to advance Krsna consciousness all over the world
- Worship the Lord with great faith, through sensory control, religious observances, austerities and gifts of your money in charity