orgorgcomSome churches require that the members give 10% of their income. Some churches go as far as to request their income tax statements. God, is not a person, nor a king, and requires no money. The best donation is from the heart as it comes from pure intention. Required donations are forced and are given hesitantly. If you'd like to give, give from your heart, but know that God (what people think is God) does not need your money.Be aware of where the money is spent. Is your hard-working money paying off lawsuits and scandals? Be aware.TranscriptionIs giving 10% of your money the right thing to do?There was an old tradition in the Jain religion that if one person in the community lost his business or went bankrupt each family in the community would donate 1 "dollar" and 1 brick to that person's family. So if there are 10,000 families in the community the person would receive 10,000 dollars and 10,000 bricks so he can have a small house and start a business. That was the commitment among Jains and that is why Jains are the richest in India today. It is unclear where the origin of tithing 10% of one's income to the church comes from. Today tithing is done in the name of God and that is the wrong thing to do. First of all, God is not a person. He does not need your money and he will not punish you if you do not give. According to the church's teaching, we are all God's children so why would God punish his children? For churches to ask 10% of a person's income means the church wants to get rich. No wonder churches are very rich. The fact that the church requires tithing is a practice gone too far. Some churches will go as far as looking at the tax returns of its members. This makes these churches very greedy.If someone goes to church to learn good things it is respectable to give voluntarily. Whatever amount he can give is the equal to what someone else gives. Whatever is given from the heart has meaning. It brings good karma. What is taken by force does not bring good karma to the church. If a church gets too greedy eventually it defaults. Money that is collected by forceful means is the wrong money. That church will never flourish. When money is given by heart that church or organization will flourish. The greedier a church gets for money that money does not serve the community but only benefits them.*tags* spiritual, spirituality, spiritual teacher, spiritual guru, spiritual master, seeker, truth, enlightenment, peace, self-realization, meditation, awareness

orgorgcomA question was asked: Why do enlightened masters have many followers, that contribute thousands of dollars, in order to build temples, buy luxurious cars, and wear jewelry?There are many so-called enlightened masters, fake gurus, and fake spiritual teachers. They make a fool of those people that contribute to their causes.A real enlightened master is above all materialistic desires, including fame, money, and jewelry.These so-called enlightened masters and fake spiritual teachers emphasize to their following of the need of building temples, places of worship, and charge money to enter their ashram, in order to buy themselves popularity and wealth.A true enlightened master does not need these things.Great masters like Buddha and Mahavir, taught under trees and in the nature delivering their messages to awaken the soul. They didn't need temples, need luxurious cars, and wear jewelry to attract the real seeker.The seekers are trapped by these so-called fake gurus. They are not learning the truth they are seeking, because they are trapped in the small box of bad traditions and religious teachers.The messages of Spirituality and Enlightenment are free to ALL. No one should have to pay to get access to information.Acharya Shree Yogeesh condemns those that claim themselves to be enlightened, yet are materialistic.For example, he mentions the guru that lives in the United States that has nearly 100 luxurious car. He mentions, Anand Murti, also known as Gurumaa, for her wearing of gold jewelry. He names Swami Vishwananda for wearing diamond earings. He also, refers to the Swamis that wear BIG rudraksha beads (mala beads) that wears the Bindhi in order to show-off his "enlightenment."Acharya Shree mentions that Westerners get trapped by these fake gurus, and can never learn what they are really seeking.Temples, cars, and jewelry do not lead the seeker to Truth. Look at your own heart, and see if your enlightened teacher is really REAL.