Hare krsna ,
I would like to ask and enquire how other practitioners are able to incorporate bhakti yoga into there current life.
I am self employed and do quite long hours , from 7am till 6pm 5-6 days a week. I also only really am able to get devotee association once a week by going to a programme
In the past i have tried to live in temples but i found it too much so i know that is not the answer. In any case Krsna said to Arjuna "think of me in the form of krsna and at same time carry out your prescribed duty of fighting.."
It just seems very difficult to be both a bhakti yogi and also pay the bills and run a business.
Thank you.
Replies
Hare Krishna!
I understand you problem because I myself have a full time job. Luckily enough I also attend Bhakti Vriksha programs once a week, that helps a lot, association with devotees always does.
So about practicing bhakti yoga and paying the bills - all is possible! There is nothing wrong with working and paying the bills as long as your priorities are set straight. If you work to live and not live to work then you are fine. Apart from paying the bills you can sponsor Sunday feast now and then, donate for the main festivals or other temple needs, so in such way your work becomes a devotion service!
There is a lot to say about this matter, but the main thing is to always remember Krishna and never forget Him. Always keep in mind the real aim in life and do other things as a duty, do not get attached.
I hope that this helps!
Hare Krishna!
PAMHO.
Bottomline is - there's always time for what is important to us. Make Krsna important, then there will be time for Krsna.
Always Remember Krsna, never Forget Krsna.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
I understand your predicament. Most of us are faced with the same dilemma - how to integrate Krsna Conscoiousness into our lives seamlessly.
The trick is to be very strict in our personal sadhana. If possible, get up in the morning and chant 16 rounds before the rest of the family wakes up. No restrictions of taking bath even. Just chant. Even mangalarati can be forgone until you are comfortable to chant. If this is not possible, then you follow what Krsna Dasa prabhuji has mentioned.
Even while working, we have some breathing space. We do not have the same level of concentration all the hours, I am sure. Those are the times I am on this website. I even chant on my laptop, so that colleagues do not know what I am doing. I open an excel sheet, use the coloumns for no of rounds and rows for no of times in a round. Keep writing HK everytime i chant once. This way, even if there is a break in the middle of a round, the count remains and I can pick up chanting from where I left. Not ideal, but I consider it better than not completing my rounds.
Travel time can be utilised to hear lectures/ kirtan in the car or on headphones.
Reading also, try to incorporate to the extent possible. It is a good habit to read everyday Srila Prabhupada books.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
Bg 3.9
loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ
tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya
mukta-saṅgaḥ samācara
Since one has to work even for the simple maintenance of the body, the prescribed duties for a particular social position and quality are so made that that purpose can be fulfilled. Yajña means Lord Viṣṇu, or sacrificial performances. All sacrificial performances also are meant for the satisfaction of Lord Viṣṇu. The Vedas enjoin: yajño vai viṣṇuḥ. In other words, the same purpose is served whether one performs prescribed yajñas or directly serves Lord Viṣṇu. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is therefore performance of yajña as it is prescribed in this verse. The varṇāśrama institution also aims at satisfying Lord Viṣṇu. Varṇāśramācāravatā puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān/ viṣṇur ārādhyate (Viṣṇu Purāṇa 3.8.8).
Therefore one has to work for the satisfaction of Viṣṇu. Any other work done in this material world will be a cause of bondage, for both good and evil work have their reactions, and any reaction binds the performer. Therefore, one has to work in Kṛṣṇa consciousness to satisfy Kṛṣṇa (or Viṣṇu); and while performing such activities one is in a liberated stage. This is the great art of doing work, and in the beginning this process requires very expert guidance. One should therefore act very diligently, under the expert guidance of a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, or under the direct instruction of Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself (under whom Arjuna had the opportunity to work). Nothing should be performed for sense gratification, but everything should be done for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. This practice will not only save one from the reaction of work, but also gradually elevate one to transcendental loving service of the Lord, which alone can raise one to the kingdom of God.
Hare krsna,
some quick tips to accommodate bhakthi in your day - (please try and accommodate depending on your situation)
1. wake up early - bath, do mangala arati and chant ONE round.
2. during your break times - read Gita on your mobile while you eat or if you finish quickly, chant ONE round.
3. after you are home - refresh and do evening arati, offer milk to the lordships, chant ONE round or read Gita from the book. Or you can attend the arati at the temple if you have the option to visit one in your suburb or nearest.
4. after dinner - chant ONE round.
5. if you are currently watching tv, stop that and read or chant couple of rounds.
These activities, shouldnt affect your current routine nor affect in paying your bills and run a business. If you have a family and young kids, then you can alter the above 4 to an extent that you can still follow 1 or 2.
The point is, do SOMETHING for krsna and krsna will do everything for you to progress towards Him. Bhakthi can be accommodated into our current routine, no matter how busy we are. Just like how we try and find time to play with our kids even if we are super busy, we have to take a similar approach and try and make some time for our spiritual life too.
pratyavayo na vidyate
sv-alpam apy asya dharmasya
trayate mahato bhayat
Hope that helps prabhu.
All glories to Srila Prabhupad!!!
Hare krsna.
Hi Krsna Dasa, thanks for the reply... What you suggest sounds doable. There are lots of moments in the day to squeeze in chanting and so on infact
One last question, I just have a simple altar by my desk at home. How should i do Mangala Arti, IE What should i include ?
Thanks V much...
Nick
Hare krsna prabhuji,
If you have a photo of Radha and Krsna, then use few incense sticks (agarbathi) and do an arati (Incense is offered with 3 circles around the whole body to the lordships). It doesnt have to be extensive at this stage. Krsna just sees the devotion in you.
I would suggest, keep it simple for now and light few incense every morning and evening (if possible).
If you want to take it further then, you would ideal want to light what is called as a deepa, like the below and also light the incense sticks. What I have suggested is both very basic arati that you can do to the lordships.
Please try and keep it as practical as you can for now. Try and concentrate on your chanting and reading prabhuji.
All glories to Srila Prabhupad!!!
hare krsna
What ever one do, one need to do ONLY for the pleasure of Lord, in this way one may progress.
Hare Krishna! Please accept Adiyen's humble respects.
Dear Prabhuji - We can only start from "where we are" today. Our mind is soaked into the thoughts of "I" and "mine" over countless iteration of birth and death, so it is not easy to get out of it. Chanting, reading scriptures & devotee association will slowly get us to the path of realization that "body" is not self and what ever is related/possessed through body is not "ours'". The more we realize, we would be able to see self (Aatma) away from mind & body and all the work we do is only for 'body' maintenance. We can feel this realization "while" at work (itself) so our attachment towards the "outcome" will start fading away and we will focus more on "serving" the lord through ways that acharyas have prescribed.
Chanting is prescribed to be the "lifeline" of bakti yoga and the rest of the services will follow (the chanting) naturally.
Sarvam Sri Krishnaarpanam!