Hare Krishna to all,
In this couples of months i'm feeling that i need retire myself, for the temple, for a more profund knowlodge, more deep connection with Krishna, also chanting, reading, I feel that i like to do that, like a journey to myself and not going to the small very small temple in my town, not installed dieties there.
Why sometimes we have that feeling?
It is good to take a few time, maybe days or months to do a spiritual retire at home or another place?
What are the benefits?
Thank you,
Hare Krishna
Replies
dear devotee, when you say "retire" do you mean for good or just for a short time, a short time we in the west would call this a "retreat" from the busy activities of daily life and could be for a week or two maybe a month, and engage only in reading and chanting and service around the temple for this period of time,which is a good thing. I am concerned at you rejection of the local Temple, or is it a preaching centre of course if you know the people there that in itself could be a distraction, but do not discount it just because the Dieties are not installed. they do not have to be installed to accept an offering of service or bhoga.
ys
Hare Krishna Mataji!
One cannot live outside the society of devotees; one must live in the association of devotees, where there is constant chanting and hearing of the glories of the Lord.
Narada Muni Instructs Vyasadeva in SB 1.5.28: Transcendental loving service for the Supreme Lord is the natural inclination of every living being. The instinct is dormant in everyone, but due to the association of material nature the modes of passion and ignorance cover this from time immemorial. If, by the grace of the Lord and the great-souled devotees of the Lord, a living being becomes fortunate enough to associate with the unadulterated devotees of the Lord and gets a chance to hear the unadulterated glories of the Lord, certainly the flow of devotional service takes place like the flow of a river. As the river flows on till she reaches the sea, similarly pure devotional service flows by the association of pure devotees till it reaches the ultimate goal, namely, transcendental love of God.
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Instructs Srila Rupa Gosvami in Cc Madhya Lila 19.152:
To live with devotees or to live in a temple means to associate with the sravana-kirtana process. Sometimes neophyte devotees think that they can continue the sravana-kirtana process without worshiping the Deity, but the execution of sravana-kirtana is meant for highly developed devotees like Haridasa Thakura, who engaged in the sravana-kirtana process without worshiping the Deity. However, one should not falsely imitate Haridasa Thakura and abandon Deity worship just to try to engage in sravana-kirtana.
Prabhupada in one of his lectures on SB in Los Angeles, states: So our principle should be not to disassociate ourself from the devotees. Narottama dasa Thakura therefore sings, tandera carana-sebi-bhakta-sane bas, janame janame hoy ei abhilas: “I desire birth after birth to serve the acaryas and to live with devotees.” So our this association, society’s is giving these two opportunity: you serve the purpose or the orders of the acaryas and live with devotees. Then you will be secure in devotional service. Tandera carana-sebi-bhakta-sane bas. Bhakta-sane bas is very important thing. Even there is little inconvenience, still we should stick to live with the devotees. Then we shall be profited. Go on.
Thus, by staying in the association of devotees we get the opportunity to hear and chant, to accept the spiritual master and to disassociate ourselves from persons who are materially interested and stay fixed on the path of bhakti.
Ys,
Mathura Vasi Devi Dasi.
Retiring from Home and Work for Krishna is the best!! But it should not be a "Markat" retirement. One can take long breaks and contemplate intelligently of escaping material nature. Great thought indeed!! I have actually retired from work and now reside with my family in Goverdhan permenantly. My family of wife three children and mother-in-law stay with me. We try to serve Krishna in whatever way!!
Read More...
Back in the '80s, this was one of the first books we received from Temple devotees when we showed interest in the Bhakti process.
They gave the order "Try this at Home".
"The classic home-bhakta book"
Hare KRsna dear Mataji,
PAMHO.
By retire, if you mean retiring from daily resposibilities like work and social responsibilities, then its fine. One can retreat into a meditative mood and read scriptures and chant maha mantra. Why that means giving up the local temple? It may be a very very small temple, still there are devotees over there. By going to the temple, you can associate with those devotees, thereby keeping your enthusiasm to pursue spirituality. Association is very important - its not possible to practise spirituality without association. Temporarily, if you do not want personal association, then maybe you can connect through mayapur.tv and hare krsna tube on internet and listen to lectures, watch kirtans and aratis. Basically associate.
The more you do the ABCDs of devotion the more you will progress. Associate, Books, Chanting and Diet - these are the ABCDs of devotion.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Rashmi