Hare Krishna dear Devotees!
Please accept my humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Life was nice when i followed the strict sadhana put by Srila Prabhupada: rising early, Mangala Arati, Tulasi seva, Japa, reading...
but something happened, just i lived with Devotee family who had different Sadhana and now also lost determination. Lost the understanding that the Holy Names are all and everything. That it is very important to read books and to wake up early, to eat only Prasadam... i became weak spiritually.
Please, shower me with Your kind and wise advises!
Thank You! Your servant, maral
Replies
Yes, You are right Mayapur Vasi Prabhu, AUSTERITY! Austerity to please Krishna and His Devotees. We should not forget that any good thing in the beginning seems like a poison at the end nectar. But those things which bring sorrow in the beginning seems like nectar.
In the early mornings we want to sleep more and more but never we get satisfaction. We do not read SP's books, do not control our mind - it is very hard work...because we became lazy. Laziness comes when we satisfy our material senses. Austerity means to control sense gratification. and as a result austerity gives us strength, strength to our mind. We become determinate.
In the lecture Srila Prabhupada was asked a question "why we sometimes loose our determination?" Srila Prabhupada strictly told that if you are not determinate than you are an ANIMAL.
i am grateful to You all dear Devotees!
Hare Krishna!
Hare Krsna,
His Divine Grace, A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, has given explanations in books, lectures and especially in conversations with other devotees. The quotes below come from his Divine Grace.
From the Srimad Bhagavatam:
"Association with devotees is recommended by all the sastras because by even a moment of such association one can receive the seed for all perfection." In the beginning of his life Ajamila was certainly very pure, and he associated with devotees and brahmanas; because of that pious activity, even though he was fallen, he was inspired to name hisson Narayana."
From the book "Nectar of Instruction":
"Endeavor executed with intelligence in Krsna consciousness is called utsaha, or enthusiasm. The devotees find the correct means by which everything can be utilized in the service of the Lord (nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam ucyate). The execution of devotional service is not a matter of idle meditation but practical action in the
foreground of spiritual life. These activities must be executed with patience. One should not be impatient in Krsna consciousness. Indeed, this Krsna consciousness movement was started single-handedly, and in the beginning there was no response, but because we continued to execute our devotional activities with patience, people gradually began to understand the importance of this movement, and now they are eagerly participating. One should not be
impatient in discharging devotional service, but should take instructions from the spiritual master and execute them with patience, depending on the mercy of guru and Krsna."
Hari Bol,