A group of people from Punjab, including an ex-Member of Parliament, come to Maharaj ji saying that they have a lot of problems. He immediately begins telling them not to take money for spiritual services:
In our heritage, even those who do puja are to work to support themselves (kirat). Wherever Guru Nanak went, he spoke of Nam to the general public, but when he spoke to pujaris (professional conductors of worship), he said, “Get up and work!” It is good to do kirtan, but don’t take money for that. Then all the Gurus will be happy, for kirtan is praising God. Start some work, but don’t make kirtan your source of income. The Gurus said that if there is any difficulty, give everything—even your head. No problem—God gave you a good brain and body.
The true granthis [ceremonial readers of Guru Granth Sahib] were people like Baba Deep Singh and Baba Buddha. Baba Buddha was a farm manager, not only a granthi. He was given spiritual duties when he worked hard with his own hands.
A person may say, “I am meditating,” but Guru Nanak gave all his income to others—he shared his own earned income as well as his enlightened wisdom. He said that God’s path is not for the idle but for those who are working.
These days people have no power. Satan is in every inch. But from today your worries will be over if you do work as well as kirtan, and turn your mind to God. He can make a king from a pauper.
Guru Nanak’s base is work and meditation. Our mission is hard work. If you do kirtan and the thought comes, “How much money will they give?”, your concentration will then be on money, not kirtan. Your greatest service would be to spread what the Guru said, leaving aside your own thoughts.