Hare Krishna to all the devotees!Dandavat pranam!When a devotee gets deeper into the Krishna Consciousness, he/she becomesMore and more humble. If I may quote "a devotee should humble then a bladeOf grass". This is very true as you progress further.my query is, if the devotee becomes humbler, and is also working inGood company. But there are times when this humblenessOf the devotee is taken advantage of at the work place byHis/her colleagues who are atheists or of different faiths.So if a devotee is getting exploited for his/her skills on theBasis of his/her humbleness, then how should one address thisProblem?And also second question is : is it sinful if a workingDevotee asks for a salary increment not for greediness butOnly for serving his/her family needs ?Any experienced & senior devotees guidance would beVery helpful.Hare Krishna!
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I do not fulfill your criteria of "senior devotee". Still I will try to answer because I am also working.
Bhakti is internal prabhuji, we do not need to carry our devotion on our sleeve. Atleast intially, till you settle down in your job or sadhana (either one should be very strong), it is advisable that your sadhana should not be public knowledge. Otherwise there will be people adivising you what you should do to behave like a devotee. At all times, please protect yourself such that others do not get a chance to exploit you. Still if it is happening and you are helpless, accept it as the will of the lord, as a test and grin and bear it. All the while pray to Krsna to show you direction and give you strength to follow your chosen path of devotion.
My experience on salary raise is that prabhuji ultimately it is hankering. Unless one is in a situation where one cannot make ends meet, one should be content and not ask for a raise. In my life, when I wanted good appraisal ratings and a raise, I didnt get any. When that hankering inside me stopped, it started happening. Some years, if it doesnt happen, it doesnt bother me. I dont ever try to find out anyone's salary package or performance rating. I dont want to think about it. Yes, we all need to plan for our family's future. Do your job diligently, plan properly and try to execute. There is no need to ask for a raise - if you are good enough and the time is right for you, nobody can stop. If either of the factors are not there, nobody can give. Ultimately, what has to come to us will come to us, some way or the other.
Externally one has to lament for salary in keeping with peers or company culture, pls do that. Ensure that the complaining is only external, internally keep thanking Krsna for how He is taking care of you - how undeserved you are, still the lord is so merciful.
Pls remember one thing - whatever you earn is not for yourself alone - pls take out some money for charity/ donation (unless there is a major financial crisis you are going through). Another one of life's experiences, the more you give, the more you get. The giving has to be intelligent, to the right source, for the right cause, in the right consciousness. The getting you leave to Krsna. Getting is not only in terms of money alone, its in terms of satisfaction and contentment also.
Sorry for so much gyaan, I just got carried away. I hope I have answered your queries without offending you too much.
Hare Krsna, My obeisances to all devotees, guru and gauranga.
I wouldn't worry too much about exploitation at work place by the colleagues unless it becomes really hard for you to do your job based on the external factors. If you are good at what you are doing and your immediate manager has no problems with your work, then I wouldn't worry too much. Just pray to Krsna that you are doing the best you can for Him and move on. Leave the results of your work to Him. Having said that you have to stand up for your position if it comes to a point that you might lose your job due to the exploitation. Then you have to stand up and fight.
There is nothing wrong is asking for a salary raise to provide for your family. It is your duty to see that your dependents (wife + kids + parents - not in that order) are taken care of on their basic needs. If your current salary provides well and you are also able to save some, then there is no need to "ask" for a raise unless it comes to you from the company. But if its like your current salary makes just ends meet, then it would be wrong to seek a raise to save up for a rainy day. Just make sure that your mind is not saying that i am doing this for Krsna when you internally feel that I need money to provide other comforts for the family.
Just my 2 cents prabhu. Please don't take any offense to my response.
Please never write "Senior devotees guidance would be Very helpful" . It is very uncomfortable even for those who wish to answer.Even if they are actually senior devotees. That is why I believe you didn't get any answer so long.
Though I am not a senior devotee I am also a working Grihastha so I am experienced. But still I don not fulfill the criteria of your expectations . Please forgive me and never mind.
Hanumaan was also humble but he destroyed Lanka as he loved Rama and wanted to destroy the ego of Ravana who was envious to Lord and looked down upon Him and His army as weak .
Saint Tukaram was also humble and he took the insults and beating by another Brahmin devotee and did not say anything. He accepted everything as his fault.
So we can see two types of attitudes by two Humble servants of Lord in different situations . I guess your first question is answered.
The answer to your second question is No, it is not sinful as you are a grihastha . But you should know the limits as per your family and future plans as there is no end of desire for salary increments.
Please forgive me as I am sure you will be slightly uncomfortable with first part of my reply.
Arjun C Patel > GopalKrishna DasNovember 11, 2015 at 5:41pm
Hare Krishna Prabhuji!
First of all please accept my deep apologies. I feel really sorry to distinguish between devotees and only asking senior devotees help, forgetting the fact that the guidance can come from any devotees irrespective of their age & progress in Krishna Consciousness.
Prahalad Maharaj was a young devotee and his father was not one. This itself is very powerful to make one understand that true devotion can reap fruits at any age.
Now coming to the answer, thank you for providing two different approaches i.e of Hanumanji and Saint Tukaram. Both approaches reap fruit in the end. It depends on person whether he/she is the enduring type or with a fighting spirit.
Both of them offer services humbly and with no self gratifying motive.
And regarding 2nd question, a devotee advised me to read chapter 18 of Bhagavad Gita, where It is mentioned that one should do prescribed duties based on their profession. And for. Business people (vaisyas), it is no harm if he/she desires for profit and he should. But it should be archieved keeping a service motive to the lord in mind of the person.
Please forgive me if I am interpreting it in wrong way.
And please don't apologize, I am actually thank ful to you that you pointed out my mistake.
Replies
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
I do not fulfill your criteria of "senior devotee". Still I will try to answer because I am also working.
Bhakti is internal prabhuji, we do not need to carry our devotion on our sleeve. Atleast intially, till you settle down in your job or sadhana (either one should be very strong), it is advisable that your sadhana should not be public knowledge. Otherwise there will be people adivising you what you should do to behave like a devotee. At all times, please protect yourself such that others do not get a chance to exploit you. Still if it is happening and you are helpless, accept it as the will of the lord, as a test and grin and bear it. All the while pray to Krsna to show you direction and give you strength to follow your chosen path of devotion.
My experience on salary raise is that prabhuji ultimately it is hankering. Unless one is in a situation where one cannot make ends meet, one should be content and not ask for a raise. In my life, when I wanted good appraisal ratings and a raise, I didnt get any. When that hankering inside me stopped, it started happening. Some years, if it doesnt happen, it doesnt bother me. I dont ever try to find out anyone's salary package or performance rating. I dont want to think about it. Yes, we all need to plan for our family's future. Do your job diligently, plan properly and try to execute. There is no need to ask for a raise - if you are good enough and the time is right for you, nobody can stop. If either of the factors are not there, nobody can give. Ultimately, what has to come to us will come to us, some way or the other.
Externally one has to lament for salary in keeping with peers or company culture, pls do that. Ensure that the complaining is only external, internally keep thanking Krsna for how He is taking care of you - how undeserved you are, still the lord is so merciful.
Pls remember one thing - whatever you earn is not for yourself alone - pls take out some money for charity/ donation (unless there is a major financial crisis you are going through). Another one of life's experiences, the more you give, the more you get. The giving has to be intelligent, to the right source, for the right cause, in the right consciousness. The getting you leave to Krsna. Getting is not only in terms of money alone, its in terms of satisfaction and contentment also.
Sorry for so much gyaan, I just got carried away. I hope I have answered your queries without offending you too much.
Haribol,
YOur servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
Hare Krsna,
My obeisances to all devotees, guru and gauranga.
I wouldn't worry too much about exploitation at work place by the colleagues unless it becomes really hard for you to do your job based on the external factors. If you are good at what you are doing and your immediate manager has no problems with your work, then I wouldn't worry too much. Just pray to Krsna that you are doing the best you can for Him and move on. Leave the results of your work to Him. Having said that you have to stand up for your position if it comes to a point that you might lose your job due to the exploitation. Then you have to stand up and fight.
There is nothing wrong is asking for a salary raise to provide for your family. It is your duty to see that your dependents (wife + kids + parents - not in that order) are taken care of on their basic needs. If your current salary provides well and you are also able to save some, then there is no need to "ask" for a raise unless it comes to you from the company. But if its like your current salary makes just ends meet, then it would be wrong to seek a raise to save up for a rainy day. Just make sure that your mind is not saying that i am doing this for Krsna when you internally feel that I need money to provide other comforts for the family.
Just my 2 cents prabhu. Please don't take any offense to my response.
Srila prabhupada ki jai..
Hare krsna
Hare Krishna Dear Arjun ji . Dandavat Pranam.
Please never write "Senior devotees guidance would be Very helpful" . It is very uncomfortable even for those who wish to answer.Even if they are actually senior devotees. That is why I believe you didn't get any answer so long.
Though I am not a senior devotee I am also a working Grihastha so I am experienced. But still I don not fulfill the criteria of your expectations . Please forgive me and never mind.
Hanumaan was also humble but he destroyed Lanka as he loved Rama and wanted to destroy the ego of Ravana who was envious to Lord and looked down upon Him and His army as weak .
Saint Tukaram was also humble and he took the insults and beating by another Brahmin devotee and did not say anything. He accepted everything as his fault.
So we can see two types of attitudes by two Humble servants of Lord in different situations . I guess your first question is answered.
The answer to your second question is No, it is not sinful as you are a grihastha . But you should know the limits as per your family and future plans as there is no end of desire for salary increments.
Please forgive me as I am sure you will be slightly uncomfortable with first part of my reply.
First of all please accept my deep apologies. I feel really sorry to distinguish between devotees and only asking senior devotees help, forgetting the fact that the guidance can come from any devotees irrespective of their age & progress in Krishna Consciousness.
Prahalad Maharaj was a young devotee and his father was not one. This itself is very powerful to make one understand that true devotion can reap fruits at any age.
Now coming to the answer, thank you for providing two different approaches i.e of Hanumanji and Saint Tukaram. Both approaches reap fruit in the end. It depends on person whether he/she is the enduring type or with a fighting spirit.
Both of them offer services humbly and with no self gratifying motive.
And regarding 2nd question, a devotee advised me to read chapter 18 of Bhagavad Gita, where It is mentioned that one should do prescribed duties based on their profession. And for. Business people (vaisyas), it is no harm if he/she desires for profit and he should. But it should be archieved keeping a service motive to the lord in mind of the person.
Please forgive me if I am interpreting it in wrong way.
And please don't apologize, I am actually thank ful to you that you pointed out my mistake.
Hare Krishna!