Regards,
I am visiting chandigarh iskcon temple for last three years. I have a strong desire to follow krishna conciousness. But i have developed a fear of krishna. Somehow this thought has entered into my mind: If i do not follow the rules (four rules) of temple, then there is no use of doing bhakti. I assume that not following the rules is a sin and krishna will transform me in lower species in next births. All this affects my concentration on my work. Due to all this i remain in the state of anxiety. Plz help me
Replies
Dandavat Pranaam,AGTSP
If you stop studying because of fear of failure-you will most likely fail in your exam and remain in the same class.Can you blame your teacher for your failure? NO- coz YOU decided not to study.Similarly you have the free will to decide what to do with your life-your decision will ultimately decide whether you will go back to Krishna or what body you will take in your next life.
Your fear seems to be " whether I will be able to follow the four regulative principles?" This comes from attachment -to any of the forbidden activity- sometimes could be as trivial as attachment to tea or coffee.Try to go gradual in KC rather than changing your lifestyle overnight. Follow at least the basic requirements religiously -Chanting and association of devotees. The other things will follow.
Krishna the Supreme Father is extremely merciful and full of love for us-He is more keen on us going back to Him than we are.We just have to endeavour on this path.This shloka from Bhagwad Gita should put your anxiety to rest:
Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 2.40
nehābhikrama-nāśo 'sti
pratyavāyo na vidyate
sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya
trāyate mahato bhayāt
TRANSLATION
In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.
PURPORT
Activity in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or acting for the benefit of Kṛṣṇa without expectation of sense gratification, is the highest transcendental quality of work. Even a small beginning of such activity finds no impediment, nor can that small beginning be lost at any stage. Any work begun on the material plane has to be completed, otherwise the whole attempt becomes a failure. But any work begun in Kṛṣṇa consciousness has a permanent effect, even though not finished. The performer of such work is therefore not at a loss even if his work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is incomplete. One percent done in Kṛṣṇa consciousness bears permanent results, so that the next beginning is from the point of two percent, whereas in material activity without a hundred percent success there is no profit. Ajāmila performed his duty in some percentage of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but the result he enjoyed at the end was a hundred percent, by the grace of the Lord. There is a nice verse in this connection in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.17):
tyaktvā sva-dharmaḿ caraṇāmbujaḿ harer
bhajann apakvo 'tha patet tato yadi
yatra kva vābhadram abhūd amuṣya kiḿ
ko vārtha āpto 'bhajatāḿ sva-dharmataḥ
"If someone gives up his occupational duties and works in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and then falls down on account of not completing his work, what loss is there on his part? And what can one gain if one performs his material activities perfectly?" Or, as the Christians say, "What profiteth a man if he gain the whole world yet suffers the loss of his eternal soul?"
Material activities and their results end with the body. But work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness carries a person again to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, even after the loss of the body. At least one is sure to have a chance in the next life of being born again as a human being, either in the family of a great cultured brāhmaṇa or in a rich aristocratic family that will give one a further chance for elevation. That is the unique quality of work done in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
HariHaribol
YS
dipti
But that should not affect your work