Haribol all glories to Srila Prabhupada;
Most of what if read so far, and my knowledge is very limited in this matter, so forgive my ignorance, it speaks mostly of Bhramachari life when referring to KC, as a married person what are some or the ways to practice Krishna consciousness
thanks in advance for your humble reply
haribol
Replies
Yes, You are right dear Alka Mataji, unfortunately at these days we do not live proper varna and ashrama.
But the main thing here that only Krishna Consciousness make people happy. Not only people but all animals, cows...
And also Earth planet. People will be happy only if they start to chant the Holy Names.
No other way!
And what can do Grihasthas in this? They do not have enough time to go out distribute books, give lectures at the colleges, do harinamas...and somehow reach people all around the world and try to give them the Holy Names.
But Grihasthas at least can do some home programs invite some friends, do kirtan, give lecture, and honor together Prasadam.
For example, Srila Prabhupada's Father used to call everyday 6-10 sadhus and feed them with nice Prasadam and serve to them.
Or help for book printing or for cow protection.
We all have to remember one thing: "we take to the next life the things not which we took but those which we gave".
Brahmacharis and sannyasis gave all their selves into the service of Krishna. They do not eat what ever they like but what ever comes, they do not sleep where ever they want but in the flour with lots of other Brahmacharis.
They do not have choice what to wear, they do not have own houses ...fully given to the service just to be fully engaged with the service of Guru and Krishna and elevate me and You.
Your servant,
haribol
Mataji, your reply was an awaken and so true, I have great respect to the Brahmacharis and sannyasis for what to do,
I heard a wonderful lecture by HH Radanath swamiji, and this same question was posed and his reply I will share, he stated one can do this but by 3 main principle --Knowlegde, detachment, and bakti. I will try by best and let Krsna be my driver, thanks again for the wonderful advices, haribol
Hare Krishna dear Devotees, please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
When we say "Krishna Consciousness" we have to mean it in that way also "Krishna CONSCIOUSNESS", isn't it?
Brahmachari can perform puja or live renounced life externally but if while performing service his mind - consciousness not Krishna conscious then what is the use of it?
Or grihastha works, earns money and spends for family or even gives charity but if his/her consciousness is not to please Krishna then what is the use of it???
In this way we have to be sincere.
If we have desire towards getting married then we should also be responsible and accept grihastha ashram. We cannot renounce something artificially. Renunciation will come by the mercy of Krishna.
Grihastha's duty is to earn money and provide other ahsrams like brahmacharis, sannyasis, vanaprasthas.
Here we should understand if we provide them with money their gross body with food they as an answer provide us with the food for our soul by giving spiritual knowledge. In this way no need to become proud.
Here we have to understand the nature of energy. When we work outside we spend our energy and get that energy back in the form of our salary. And when we give that salary for the service of Deities then it means our job which we did outside is equal to Deity worship. Exchange of energies. but the same energy.
In this way sometimes i get upset when somebody tells that brahmachari is greater than some grihasthas....we all depend from each other.
Somebody may say that "oh who is that simple mataji, sits at home - housewife..." but if she was not there her husband could not serve to the society, or her children. Just because she cooks for them on time, washes their clothes, takes care of them they are satisfied, not hungry and can perform their duties in the society. Everything is connected.
And each particle is very important.
And while doing all these duties we have just chant the Holy Names in our mind and in our beads minimum 16 rounds. Srila Prabhupada says that no need to leave household life if in that one can serve to Krishna with his family. But if if there are some difficulties in worshiping then only one must leave that family.
For the sake of worship to Krishna we can leave even family. i read it few days back in Bhagavad Gita please do not criticize me for this!
Your servant,
haribol All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
that was very nice respond Mataji, it does not depend on the place but what we have in the heart,
As family we do our chanting, reading, go the temple when time permits, I am still learning the ways of KC but with the grace of the Lord that time will come where all I can do is think of Krsna only and if it does not come that fine as well as long I can continue chanting the the name of the Krsna, with the help of wonderful devotee like yourself KC will be possible for a neophyte like me,
i ramble too much, haribol,
One Devotee asked Srila Prabhupada on the morning walk:
D: Prabhupad, what are the duties of grihastha people?
Prabhupada stopped, turned back and told: before sitting to take prasdam to go out and loudly call :"IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO IS HUNGRY? IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO IS HUNGRY? IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO IS HUNGRY?"
After some while again Devotee: what is the mission of grihastha life?
Prabhupada: " IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO IS HUNGRY? IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO IS HUNGRY? IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO IS HUNGRY?"
the 3rd time Srila Prabhupada again gave this answer and nothing else.
In this way when we enter into family life our greed will increase and increase. Grihasthas are only people who earn money and if they do not provide other ashrams with food and cloths they are living life full of sin.
Vedic life means COOPERATION! When we are brahmacharis we gain knowledge and provided by grihasthas. Then we enter into grihansta ashram then our turn to help others. When we enter into vanaprastha ahsram we again become depended on grihasthas in some extent.
In this way we have to help each other to progress in life. Human life is meant for giving debts. Debts not only to our own children but for other children also.
Dear Parasram Prabhu, i did not say it to You but just telling it. i am sure that You already know these laws very nicely.
Your servant,
haribol;
that is the problem Mataji, I still try to learn the ways of KC while at the same time not neglecting the duty of family person, that is why I ask the question can some one really be KC while involved in grihastha live?
so what is one suppose to do if they are in Grithastha live, can one progress??
I am working to this higher process, by chanting, listing, associated with devotee for guidance, install what the devotee recommend, so am still doom by doing this process because I am in Grihastha life??
please forgive my ignorance I just trying to learn the ways of KC without offenses,
haribol
Hare Krishna Mataji
"In this way when we enter into family life our greed will increase and increase. Grihasthas are only people who earn money and if they do not provide other ashrams with food and cloths they are living life full of sin."
What kind of other ashrams are we suppose to provide food and cloths? Please clarify.
These days (in kalyug)the proper ashram systems doesn't exists. So does it mean we should provide food,clothing to anath ashrams (orphanage), temples etc..
Jai shree Gokulesh
there is no difference in the practice of KC (Krishna consciousness) in any ashram. If one is a boy or a girl, married or unmarried, rich or poor, educated or illiterate,.... all can practice KC in the best possible way and it is completely up to us how we want to do it. I was hearing one lecture in which the speaker was giving nice analogy. say, we have to go by foot from kanyakumari to kashi. I may be carrying a hugh bag on my back and walking and my co-passenger may be having a small bag which is very light. So, what is the difference between them ? Both of them need to travel same distance and have to go throw same path to reach the destination. Only difference is that I, carrying extra luggage may need to put some extra effort to travel as compared to the other person. Similarly, getting married, one gets additional responsibility of the family while a brahamachari does not have this burden. However, a brahamachari still need to fight hard to control his mind and senses while living in aashram. And on the other hand, a grahasta may be completly in KC by the support of his wife and children and his life will be a cake walk. HDG Bhakthivinodh thakura says that when he would come back to his home, he sees vrindavan manifesting in front of his eyes because all his family was completely KC.
Hari bol!!
haribol,
thank you for clearing some of my doubt, that was a beautiful example,
haribol,