Is practice of economy and avoiding wastage also conducive to spiritual progress?
If we want to eliminate bad qualities like hatred, envy, pride and ostentation, we have to employ Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa as the cleaning agents. You have to cultivate the human values and undertake spiritual sadhana. In cultivating human values, emphasis should also be placed on avoiding wastage of money, food and time. In matters concerning expenditure, My attitude is strict. For anything that is legitimate and essential, I am prepared to offer even lakhs of rupees. But I will grudge giving even a paisa for something unnecessary and useless. This is because money breeds all evils in the world. You should avoid extravagant and wasteful use of money.(SSS Vol 19, pg 50 - 52)