Young man asks Radhanath Swami: I heard you speak sometime ago that every action of human beings should be to help others, to benefit others. I was planning to start on a business of distributing French wine across the nation….After I heard you, I was a little confused whether this action of mine will help human beings. Will it help them?
Radhanath Swami: Can I ask you a question?
Young Man: yes please.
Radhanath Swami: What is your opinion? Your honest opinion?
Young man: It is a passion to do business. This is an opportunity which I have got after a lot of struggle. But now I don’t know if it’s correct or not. It is hard to distinguish between what is bad and what is good.
Radhanath Swami: Still, what is your opinion?
Young Man: Until now, yes. I would have gone with it
Radhanath Swami: I am not asking about that. Now please search your own consciousness. Is it helping humanity or is it a potential disturbance to humanity? Intoxication is one of the largest causes of suffering and death in the world. Most people, about 90%, who are killed in automobile accidents all over the world, are people under the influence of alcohol. And alcoholism has created havoc in people’s lives. Some years ago I was a regular key note speaker at the Alcoholic Anonymous chapters of Mumbai. I was addressing probably 30 organizations all over the city. But before I would speak, I would hear alcoholics give their testimonies. Every alcoholic begins with a glass of wine or glass of beer, and they never ever think that they will ever become an alcoholic. And they think the people warning them to be crazy. This is how they respond to warnings, “You are out of touch with reality. It is just to feel a little good, it’s just for social purposes.” You do feel a little good. And it does take the edge off the anxieties of life, superficially. But meanwhile, you are already conditioned to take shelter of that relief when faced with problems. So when problems get bigger you need to drink more, and then you are hooked. Alcoholism is one of the biggest problems in the world today. It is a fact. I am not here to tell you what to do in business, but we must all search our consciousness to see how we are affecting the world through our actions. My humble request is contemplate that.
