Hare Krishna, PAMHO
I want to ask if someone has family responsibsilities how can he begin his Vanprastha ashrama after 50 years. If there is no other earning member in family, how can he move forward on his spritual journey.
In continuation of this, I want to ask as people are living upto 80 generally, so age is decreased. Why is it 25-25 years partition applicable now too?
Thanks
Hare Krishna
~Your Servent
Replies
Hare Krishna,
Bhakti is not limited to any ashrama. Bhakti can be simply practised at any stage of life even if you are a 5 yr old or 35 yr old or 65 yr- old. If not possible to sit alone and spend whole time for realizing God even at 50yrs that means his praradha is very bad. Duty has to be done. If there is responsiblity you cannot leave the responsibilities and run to jungles and say I am vanaprastha age now I wont earn or I wont maintain the
family. That again is running away from your prescribed duties and it has its own side effects.
In such cases one can just keep doing his prescibed duties and take some time out of the day and sit and do chanting, chintan, reading scriptures and doing deity service. If nothing is possible due to too much
prarabdh karma that is also not possible then do Nishkaam karma yoga. Offering all the fruits of the duties to Krishna and do as yajna for satisfying or for the pleasure of Krishna.
Basic chanting holy name can be done at any stage of life at any time.
Every work which we do can be offered to Krishna if we make Sri Krishna as our center. Think that you are doing the work for Krishna.
That said it reminds me of one beautiful katha.
One time Narada muni asked Lord Sri Vishnu that who is the best devotee among all. Reading Narad's mind that Narad muni is feeling a little bit pride that he is able to chant 24/7 365 days harinama he is feeling he is the best devotee of all, Lord Sri Maha Vishnu said- My best devotee is that farmer who is working there in the fields. Listening to this Narada got upset.. what?? how can it be? He went to the farmer and started to follow the farmer's routine day to day activities. Narad became astonished to see that the farmer was just remembering Lord's name just twice a day. One time in the morning and one time when he was about to sleep.
Narad muni came back to Vishnu and said how can that farmer be a great devotee?? he only takes 2 times your name and I am here taking 24/7 365 days your holy name.
Vishnu says- okay, before I answer that. You have to do this task. Take a flat plate and fill it with oil upto the brim and walk all around the universe three lokas without spilling a drop of this oil. This is my order. Narada said Right Sir. I am going on my way. Narada took the flat plate poured oil and carefully walked about the whole universe and returned back without spilling a drop and happy that he has accomplished the job perfectly as told by Lord Sri Hari came back to Vaikuntha.
I did YOUR job perfect now I want my answer. Why YOU think that the farmer is a best devotee and not me?
Lord smiled and said.. Oh Narada, pls. tell me how many times did you chant my name when you were travelling around the Universe with this vessel full of oil? Narada was speechless at this point.
Narada said Prabhu I don't know somehow I was totally foccused on doing the job and not able to even chant one time also.
Lord smiles now and says.. well., that farmer is also given so many duties and he is poor, old man still working in fields to make money to feed his family and busy working whole day in fields and yet still able to take my name and selflessly even while performing his duties. He is also given the same tough challenging circumstances but he still finds time to take my Name at least twice. I consider Him as best devotee.
Narada's pride was broken at once.
The purpose of this all chanting is to please Lord not to please self.
It is not about how many times you chanted it is about are you able to please Lord with your chanting or seva. Be is little seva also.
Omg!@
I am reminded of an other interesting story.
One time this temple of Lord Narayana had a priest who used to light ghee lamps daily to Lord. One mice somehow got attracted to the smell and taste of the ghee and started to lick it from the lamps. One day while it was licking that ghee lamp. The cotton wick got struck in between the teeth. It started to jump jump jump and the cotton wick burned and whole throat of the rat and whole body of rat caught fire and it started to jump in fear and pain in front of the main deity. Lord accepted its small seva and sacrifice which has some selfish tint also in it as aarti for the Lord and gave the rat Moksha.
Selfish toh sabhi hote hi hai. Lekin kitte log hote hai jo even when doing selfish earning money or feeding their own family members think Lord also as a family member one among them and feeding Lord or chanting the name of Lord even when totally busy in suffering Prarabdha karma.
That is a tough job Even when while being busy in day to day activities to take time for Krishna is not easy and it is also by the mercy of Krishna only it can happen.
But try to fight the praradbdha karma and mind and make time for Krishna just by considering HIM also as one of the family member and He is also requiring the same priority as much as other members in the family.
Hare Krishna.
Hare Krsna
Why is it 25-25 years partition applicable now too?
It was never a rule, it was more of a general guideline to prepare for spiritual uplifetment. Some prominent acaryas are exception to this guideline- Adi Shankaracarya , Madhwacaraya, Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Someone has family responsibsilities how can he begin his Vanprastha ashrama after 50 years.
Transition from one ashrama to another is a gradual and organic process. Just like when a bride gets married and moves to her new home. She will slowly and gradually start playing her new role.
If someone feels they have not yet fulfilled their responsibilities, then they probably cannot move to next Ashrama. But by the will of Sri Krsna, anything is possible.
If there is no other earning member in family, how can he move forward on his spritual journey.
By chanting & hearing Hare Krsna Mahamantra regularly and attentively.
Hare Krsna