Yesterday my friend Govind came by and we had a nice time talking about different topics. One of those topics was my blog and how I write about those gurus who fool their followers. My friend obviously reads my diary entries and said “When I talk about Sanyasis or Sadhus, I have a picture in my mind of how they are described in the scriptures. I think of how Adi Shankara was. I don’t think of those fake Sadhus and corrupt gurus about whom you write in your blog!”
We then talked about the definition of a Sanyasi or a Sadhu. Originally and traditionally that is a person who has left everything material behind and is not even attached to his body anymore. He does not even think of himself as his body anymore. Sadhus eat only as much as can come in their hand but they do not keep anything for the next day. They don’t have pots. They don’t even have a house, they live under a tree. This is how Sadhus and Sanyasis are described in the scriptures. And there were people who really lived like this.
At this point of the conversation Purnendu asked Govind ‘Can you name one single person here in Vrindavan or the surrounding who is like that?’ He said ‘No, I cannot tell you any single person but when I think of a Sadhu, I will always have this picture and none else.’ So it seems that this kind of person now exists only in the books, like a figure of a fairy tale, just that there were, someday, people like this on this world, in this country and in our town.
The people who now call themselves Sanyasis or Sadhus have huge Ashrams and temples. They have big amounts of gold and have bank accounts with lots of money. They live their lives like big corporate businessmen. What is the difference between them and business people?
Actually, a normal businessman earns his money by working. He is honestly doing effort and says that he earns money for it. These so-called Sanyasis however have many houses and big buildings and they earn their money by selling religion and belief while telling everyone that they are not attached to any material. They tell people to leave material but themselves sit on their thrones, crowns on their heads, collecting followers and money.
I always wonder why religious people follow these hypocrites? They think they follow a Sanyasi but they obviously don’t realize that that person is not following the definition of a Sanyasi.
No, they are not Sadhus. If they were, they would not touch any metal. Real Sanyasis would never take money or gold because the scriptures say clearly that Sanyasis should not touch metal. Today’s Sanyasis wear golden necklaces around their neck. Imagine what could be done if they gave all the wealth they have to children, needy, people who are suffering and don’t have that much! With such an action, they would earn my respect.
So maybe the real Sadhus and Sanyasis only exist in old books today. Read about them and imagine their life – because you may never get to see one alive.
Related posts
Don’t get cheated when choosing a Taxi at the Airport in Delhi! – 29 Feb 16
Can you get away with financial Problems by providing a false Address? – 2 Feb 16
Online World – how much is fake, how much is real? – 15 Dec 15
Trust is good – but trust your Doubts as well! – 16 Nov 15
Esoteric Nonsense claiming C-Sections prevent Bonding of Mother and Child – 12 Aug 15
Can Asaram’s little mistake with a minor be forgiven and forgotten? – 5 Sep 13
Asaram and his alleged constant Need for young Girls in his Bedroom – 4 Sep 13
Does the Indian Law work different for religious and wealthy Gurus like Asaram? – 3 Sep 13
Asaram Bapu accused of sexual Harassment of a minor Girl! – 2 Sep 13
Dear Swami Ji, I can really see your point here. Getting money in the name of religion and never giving anything back is just not right. Also to foul people likek this. They give their money to someone who is not doing any good and only wants to fill his own pockets.
Yes I do agree that they are not real Sannyasi. Real Sannyasi have left everything and roaming here and there for spirituality. Often we do mistake about some terms like sadhu Sannyasi muni rishi ovtar and consider same word.a muni can worship God with wife in a forest,he can built a small hut also but he does not have any big ashram with large number of disciples which is applicable for rishi,who does not stay in Samsar but have wifeIn ashram,having some spiritual power and can influence others,takes money or kindes to run the ashram. A sadhu cane be found in samsar who is not greedy but earn limited to maintain his family and helps poor and think always the god ,they can be found also in different moth missions.A Sannyasi neither have ashram nor family not attached with missions or ashram,they have no fixed home no planing for next days food, never save anything, but all the said sadhu Sannyasi muni rishi are more or less yogi they do practice yoga, and in highest level he or she hide themselves for ghor tapasys inside cave nobody can meet him unless he wants himself.
This is my personal opinion and conception,may be wrong .