In search for devotee association

Hare Krishna Everyone, PAMHO

Please correct any mistakes done by me through this post!

I am a student going to be promoted in grade 11 soon enough, as i am in class 11 i have started preparing for exams like JEE, the only problem I am facing is association-
The society I live in, is in a state of early preaching and most of the people of my age group (16-17 years) who come in the preaching programmes or temple programmes are matajis, as a result I cannot associate with them. I have the option to associate with my old materiallistic friends but due to instructions received by a Senior Vaisnav I cannot associate with them.
I cannot go to the temple to study in non schooling times as my family wont allow and they are also forcing me to go out of the house and associate as well as I need to associate with someone having somilar aspirations to have my studies go well.
What should I do? I seriously need guidance.

Thanks a lot! To consider my question worthy enough to be answered and giving your precious time in answering this post!!

Seeker of your vaisnav blessings and your humble servant,

Yuvraj.

Hare Krsna Prabhuji,

PAMHO.

I understand your situation. So if the same age group is mostly matajis, then maybe there are some prabhujis also that you could hang around with. Or maybe slightly older - 20-25 age group?

Regarding associating with other non devotees for furthering career options and knowing what is going on - what courses are happening where and when and how to apply - you must. If we keep differentiating that this is devotee and this is non devotee, we will find it very difficult to navigate throught the world. Look at everyone as future devotees, not as non devotees. Be nice to them and learn from them these things. Everyone has something to offer - it is our choice what we want to learn from them. Dont be a fly, be a swan. Look for good n others and what you can learn from them. Everyone has faults - try to ignore to the extent possible.

This shoudl not affect your consiousness. You should be able to chant nicely your committed number of rounds.

Get some small books of Srila Prabhupada and read them at home. You can read online also.

Read Bhagavad Gita daily.

Join some online Gita class - lots of classes are happening now online.

Best of luck,

Haribol,

Your servant,

Radha Rasamayi DD

Replies

E-Counselor

Radha Rasamayi DD April 19, 2023 at 5:18pm

Hare Krsna Prabhuji,

PAMHO.

I understand your situation. So if the same age group is mostly matajis, then maybe there are some prabhujis also that you could hang around with. Or maybe slightly older - 20-25 age group?

Regarding associating with other non devotees for furthering career options and knowing what is going on - what courses are happening where and when and how to apply - you must. If we keep differentiating that this is devotee and this is non devotee, we will find it very difficult to navigate throught the world. Look at everyone as future devotees, not as non devotees. Be nice to them and learn from them these things. Everyone has something to offer - it is our choice what we want to learn from them. Dont be a fly, be a swan. Look for good n others and what you can learn from them. Everyone has faults - try to ignore to the extent possible.

This shoudl not affect your consiousness. You should be able to chant nicely your committed number of rounds.

Get some small books of Srila Prabhupada and read them at home. You can read online also.

Read Bhagavad Gita daily.

Join some online Gita class - lots of classes are happening now online.

Best of luck,

Haribol,

Your servant,

Radha Rasamayi DD

This reply was deleted.