Hare Krishna,
How can I live a Vaishnava lifestyle?
- When should I wake up in the morning?
- What I should eat?
- How should I get dressed?
- Can I go to the gym?
- Can I dine out with family or friends?
- My family enjoys non-veg. How can I keep my food untouched by others? or is it okay if someone who ate non-veg touches my food?
- Demi-gods are also worshiped in form of female goddesses in my family, they are offered sheep, goats, or hens how can I avoid my presence in such events?
Many more questions are bothering me.
Please help me.....
Replies
Hare Krishna,
You cannot follow Vaishnava lifstyle fully 100% if intimate and close memebers of the family don't cooperate. For time being until you move in to live seperately from your family you can follow some basic rules.
eating and cooking in the same vessels in which the family cooks non veg food is to be avoided. if possible keep a separate cooking vessels and pots and pans for cooking Vegetarian food ( without egg, onion or garlic or fish meat). If you are cook it will be much better.
getting up at brahmamuhurta at 4 am and finishing ur nature calls and taking shower and cleaning the pooja altar and offering diya, and bhog for Lord with tulasi leaf is must. dressing is not so important. The body is nothing but an outer covering or dress for the soul. If you dress appropriately with fresh neat and washed clothing it is enough. Doing your daily 16 rounds or to start with maybe 4 rounds also is fine. but being consistent is what matters more. daily doing chanting Mahamantra will make you perfect in all ways.
Avoid going to places where there is animal sacrifices. Tell your family memebers that you don't like these practices of animal killing. If they listen to you and follow ur path It is well Good!!! One has to start somewhere. Keep chanting and pray to Lord Nitaai to remove all the obstacles which are coming in ur parth for progressing in bhakti.
No one is perfect in this world. But trying to achieve perfection shouldn't be left out. We keep striving to become perfected!!!!
start slowly and peacfully explain to your elders and family members your preferences and to you friends also. Do not impose and act like you are too high and they are low. Everybody will come to KC at some point of life. So be considerate and simple and don't make them fear you or distance you away. Be friendly, cheerful and yet show them that this is my way of living and I am opting this way for a better life. If possible you also can change or take your time. But don't force them or act superior don't look down on them. Just show them that being a good human being is more important than living just for satisfying taste buds at the expense of animal's life. And these selfish deeds of killing animals for pleasing demigods wont work. No God will love any killing of animals. All living organisms have life and all are most dear to God as much as you are. So don't encourage this type of activity. If they do then keep away from such events. If you strictly say "NO" sometimes they will realize it slowly.
It is must that you make food preparation at home as much as possible and in case of some illness or you have no time to prepare food for your self than you may opt to eat out but reduce it slowly. If at all you have to eat out than opt Govinda's restaurants they provide organic healthy meals and that too prasadam which has been offered to Lord and you can have those kind of meals. They make sure that food is cooked as per ISKCON standards ( free of meat, free of onion garlic etc. avoiding all prohibited food).
Personally, when I am sick and not able to prepare food at home for some reason.. I go opt Govinda's resturant only!!!!
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna,
Thank you for your reply 🙏🏻 😊. I'll try my level best to follow the Vaishnava lifestyle, I'll keep myself away from animal sacrifice events and try to convince my parents and elders in family.
Hare Krishna.