Ans. Materialism Vs Pragmatism
I am confused about Materialism and Pragmatism.

Money and Materialism are Maya., right?

Where should one draw line in today's world as this, this and that are the basic needs and the rest of them are for comfort?

If one uses every excess single paisa/penny/cent (other than to feed oneself, one's family and fulfill one's basic needs) of our earnings, for spreading Krishna Consciousness, then we shouldn't keep any money for our own personal savings to fulfill our personal needs (that are not connected to realizing/promoting Krishna Consciousness) or for future personal emergency needs. Is that right or at least partially correct?

Even if there was some emergency in the future, one has to go through that, pray Lord Krishna and take the suffering as our Karma. After all, saving money for emergency is like a safeguard measure or like having an insurance, arising due to the fear of something might go wrong with our body or our materialistic possessions in the future - correct? Who knows? You may have saved up to 1,00,000 over a long time and one fine day you may end up with a emergency hospital bill of 10,00,000. On the other hand, you have faith in Lord Krishna and not really save anything for yourself and your life may go on very well, right?

You may think I am crazy and stupid for saying the above. I can almost see you laughing at me reading it. If you are saving some money and taking insurance, etc, you are actually being practical. That may be your argument and I Agree !! Let's go a little further.

Imagine if you had lived hundreds of years ago, you won't have a phone, tv, internet, electricity, bike, car, cd player, radio, mixie, grinder.. nothing.. Still there was more Krishna Consciousness than now. People in general have become more materialistic now.. It's hard to live our lives without TV, internet, computer, phone, etc..


(Contd below)..

Ans. Materialism Vs Pragmatism (Continuation)
(Contd from above)....

If and only if it becomes completely impossible for you to make a living out of a non materialistic world, we should indulge ourselves in the materialistic world.

Sure, some of these materialistic things can be put to use for spreading Krishna Consciousness... But we also use it for many other things more than Krishna consciousness. For entertainment and comfortable life.. We are no less materialistic than a non-devotee. In fact I feel like a hypocrite.. As a conclusion, not being materialstic makes your life impractical and vice versa..

If you still wouldn't agree with me.. When you have free time, make a list of all the things that you possess.. or at least take a look at them.. Ask this question.. Is this thing really, really, necessary? If the answer is no,, then isn't that a materialistic need? TV, Cable, Camera, Jewelery, etc for example.. are surely for entertainment and materialistic comforts, no?

I think that some of us may donate some money for Krishna consciousness. But we still are in possession of many materialstic things. It is truly unfortunate that we are locked up in this materialistic world. We give lame excuses for using such materialistic things and at the same time criticize others for doing that. Unless we truly utilize those materialistic things 100% for promoting Krishna consciousness and self realization, aren't we materialistic persons?

In conclusion - My understanding is that one should not possess any *unnecessary* materialistic things. We should not get "attached" to even the *necessary* materialistic things, if we happen to lose them. For ex. if your bike is stolen, you should not feel terrible about it.

I think my understanding is completely weird..
Friends, brothers and sisters.. I would really love to hear your sincere and honest opinion about what you feel about this...

Hari Bol !!!

Ans. I agree with you. This has been in my mind too, but whenever i think about it I come to a conclusion to donate everything you have to ISKCON, become a full time devotee, If your family is with you fine otherwise leave them. But then I remember the verses in Bhagavadgita which say that renunciation without purification is useless. So are we pure yet to renounce everything?
I finally answered myself that purification will happen slowly, go into details of things you are attached to try to change them slowly, this will not even bewilder your family. Quick changes are dangerous, and no change at all is dangerous too.

Ans. My opinion is

Just pray to Lord krishna., Every thing goes good. Don't consider any thing more than Krishna . Bcoz at the last moment of life, we have to say "Hare krishna". The seat at swrgha will reserved for u. Then u can enjoy what ever you want. . The facilities there are sooo much. Believe in that.

Ans. money is a power , if it is on the hand of a krishna devitie, he might be able to use it to spread /do good things in a better way..

better be money in good hands than all money flow to bad hands. as money is a power.