While my parents were saying that, “You should give money to beggars even if they drink alcohol or gamble. Look, how a particular monk distributed all the money he received without any care.”
But I feel that if I am a trustee of the money owned by the Mother, I should judge whether I am spending it correctly, whether it is for my personal expenses or for donations. So my question is whether my thinking is on the right track?
You are absolutely right, without a doubt. The Gita even goes on to say that something given without due consideration of Time, place and circumstance simply brings delusion (moha) to the giver and the receiver both. Even from a purely philanthropic point of view, it is much better to directly pay fees for educating a girl child or an underprivileged boy whose family is struggling despite effort, than to just give money to beggars.
Begging is almost like a profession and involves the art of deception. It only increases indolence and inertia rather than a real engagement with the challenges of life that help one to evolve. I am not sure about monks who may want to dispose of their things, but most saints that I know don’t do it this way. They distribute prasad to anyone and everyone who comes, but its purpose is not to appease hunger but awaken spiritually.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
