Haribol,
So currently I am a student who lives at university. I was born into KC but I had an unsteady upbringing bounding between different religions, atheism and krishna consciousness.
Before I started university I was very dedicated to my chanting and devotion, waking up for mangal aarati and regulating my senses. I was really enjoying it and had some amazing experiences which have kept encouraging me.
However since I have moved to university I no longer have the devotee network I did have for those short few months. I chant and offer still but when I engage with other students I just do the same sort of carrying on that they do. I'm very strict to not eat flesh or products of it.
It's quite a confusing time trying to become an adult while trying to maintain my principals without completely isolating myself from the world and losing my network of friends as there are no devotees around to replace them.
My Guru passed away a few years ago so I have been left without any instruction or care. I have been maintaining my readings.
How do you devotees manage isolation from devotees and do you have difficulties having meaningful and good relationships with non-devotees without compromising principals?
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If your guru passed away, take one of his God brothers, a sincere devotee (who is not into power or politics, one who is not too fond of his wife, and not too attached to material things) as your Siksha guru and follow their instructions. By associating with materialist you will fall down, eventually. Have association of Prabhupada, by reading his books.
Thanks, I was able to see the god brother of my guru once. I wrote to him but haven't received a reply unfortunately.
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
I am so sorry to read of your plight. I went through your profile. So you were born into KC. Then why is it that you chant only 1 round? Pls chant minimum of 4 rounds for a minimum of 6 months to become firm in KC. REad Bhagavad Gita alongwith it.
You already appear to be doing the B & D of devotion - books and diet. You are craving for A - Association. That will come if you take care of C - chanting.
The way to gel with the world outside is - do not wear your religion on your sleeve - if someone asks you why you are vegeterian or why you dont smoke, you can pretend to be a health freak, a non violent person who doesnt eat meat because of violence to animals and stuff. Dont be in a hurry to explain KC to people when you are yourself trying to find your feet - materially and spiritually.
You need to find devotee network - it could be online, through whatsapp or physical proximity to devotees. Since you are born to devotee parents, maybe they can help. Apart from them, i can put you in atleast 2 international whatsapp groups of devotees - pls send me mail separately with your number.
Online, you can be in touch through this site, www.dandvats.com, you can watch daily aratis and darshans on http://mayapur.tv; videos of ISKCON gurus and speakers on youtube. Of course, you have to do all this when you are alone and it may take up your time from your assignments and studies.
Regarding whether devotees are isolated or can make friends in the material world -- I can say from personal example that I have a lot of non devotee friends - who are aware of my devotion and accept it. Similarly, I also accept their non devotee status and do not try to convert them at every instance.
Couple of paragraphs before I told you not to wear your religion on your sleeve and now I am telling you my non devotee friends are aware of my devotion. Appears to be a contradiction? Actually, we have to learn to differentiate between friends and acquaintances. Friends are fewer, closer. So the larger circle need not know, but the smaller, more intimate circle should know and respect your choice. Otherwise that person is not your friend.
Tell me if any of what I said makes any sense to you - then we can discuss further.
Best of luck dear.
Haribol,
YOur servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD