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There is a saying –“Fools are the food for the intelligent.” Today this saying is being actualised everywhere in the Indian society, especially among the Hindus. Schemes of various kinds are being devised daily to befool the people and grab their money. Big ‘philanthropists’ have emerged. Some offer to bestow the riches of Kuber (mythological king of riches). Some promise heaven after death.

Nothing in this world is entirely good or bad. Everything has its own specific attribute which can be either good or bad depending upon the use and the user. Fire can be used for cooking; it can also be used for burning someone’s house. Food is essential for life, but many a glutton fall ill due to overeating. Similarly, religion is meant to give benefit in this life, and also in the life after death (lok-parlok). But several cunning fellows have started misusing it for their sinful selfish ends.

India is a religious-spiritual country. Those who follow the path of religion are held in high esteem. The devout shower them with money and gifts, and feel privileged in doing service for them. But this mentality has given birth to many thugs and charlatans who masquerade as sanyasi, vairagi, baba, shaiva, vaishnava etc. Some smear ash all over the body, some apply sandal. Some stand in water, some walk over ember. They have no intention of self-realization at all; their sole aim is to earn name as a saint or sanyasi, create an empire of blind followers and live in filthy opulence at the latter’s expense.

Such persons and their practices have attracted even foreigners to our country and they have rushed to teach us. Some came as avatar (reincarnation), some as mahayogi. Some tempted people with a sure shot path to selfrealisation, some assured moksha (salvation). We, in good faith, did not scrutinize much and believed in ‘all that glitters is gold’. As a result we are looking like fools today. Our highly scientific religion is being sneered at even by many of us. This is proving an obstacle in our progress. On the other hand, those who are inimical to our progress are deriving benefit from our fake religiosity.

What is more disturbing is that the number of such frauds is increasing in the society. They have hit upon the formula to mint easy money by brainwashing people through their trickery. People go to them and think –‘My work has been done without spending money. How smart and intelligent I am!’ Honesty and integrity carry no value for them. Some are openly selling their integrity for small gains. They feel no compunction in deceiving others and betraying their trust as a matter of routine.

Society is here to stay. Even a bad society will stay. Someday, its good times will come. All people cannot go on committing mistakes simultaneously and for all the time. Their eyes will open. What will happen then to those who are selling their integrity? They do not realise it today but they are actually indulging in a costly bargain.

The lazy and the shirker are shrewd in their own way. Their greed has increased to the extent that they cannot control it now. So what could they do; from where money will come? They shun work, and nobody will offer jobs to such persons. For doing business, capital is needed and also credibility. Then, there is no guarantee that there would be no loss in business. In this situation, such persons are left with two choices. One is that they should improve their habits, do some labour, and remain content with whatever they earn. Second choice is to manage money somehow. Thus, they start with selling household items like furniture, then landed property, then wife’s jewellery, and lastly their scruples and honesty. Some begin with selling honesty. These persons are not very educated, and have an ill-developed sense of right and wrong. But they are bold and determined. They become brokers of religion and live off betraying people’s trust.

Many of them adopt a facade of ‘detached soul’. They live in ‘huts’. Even if they live in opulent bungalows they name it ‘kuti’ (hut). The faithful do not doubt their utterances and action. Occasionally, however, a sceptical person might ask - “Maharaj, you are a tyagi (renouncer). Then why have you amassed such things of luxury?”

This question would embarrass a normal person, but not these fake mahatmas. They are past masters and are well prepared for such questions. Their reply would be - “It is the wish of the disciples. For me, wearing a royal dress or no dress is all the same.” Sometimes they would just smile fakely and keep quiet. Sometimes they would say - “You are English educated. How could you know such things? If you had lived in the company of a sadhu, you would have known.” Occasionally, they get angry and shout -“This fellow is a non-believer. Drive him out. He is making the ashram impure.” Thus they have many ploys to deal with different situations. And if nothing works, they proclaim - “The scriptural limitations do not apply to the liberated souls (jeevan-mukta)”. Now no one will utter any word at this verdict because it is considered discourteous to counter this by saying that the claimant was not a liberated soul. Through all these tricks and ploys they keep on deceiving people and exploiting their faith. Their own purpose is, no doubt, served fully, but the society and genuine religion suffer deeply. So, what is needed is that we should not be taken in by outer appearances. We must learn to value the virtues and internal attributes.

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