9 June 2014 - QA 22

Gurudev, we have a tradition of donating a person’s valuables after they die. Some people are able to do this and some cannot. How relevant is this in Hinduism?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

See, many priests nowadays exploit the sentiments of people in this way to make money. If you go to Haridwar or Kashi, the priests in the temples force you to make donations. They make you feel so guilty, or they induce a sort of culprit-consciousness in you. Do not listen to what they say. You do what you feel is right.
They may ask you to donate a cow or some money. You do what you can and as per your faith. Do not blindly follow what a priest tells you.