I read somewhere that watching tv for 30 min undoes 3 months worth of devotional service. I love Krsna with all my heart but why is it a bad thing to also have interests of my own. I can't sit down and watch a basketball game. I like to watch movies. I don't see how that means I don't love Krsna. Sometimes I just need a break. I apologize if I sound crass.Hare Krsna
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If you want Him as much as your breath, then yes, you will have Him Now!
If you are wishy washy casual about it, like we all been, then it will take millions of lifetimes.
Yes, occasionally, is ok. Not as an everyday thing, at least for me.
I find a million Names, videos, audios, passtimes about the Lord, I find far more interesting.
Key is, the more we learn about the Lord, the more we get attracted to Him. Hang out with people of similar interests.
Prabhupada said, in the beginning we must force ourselves to serve Krishna. Chanting His Names, Watching His passtimes, Listening to Prabhupad Lectures and passtimes and more importantly serving other devotees is same as serving the Lord.
You will realize that you will like certain things more than others. Continue to do more of what you love doing for the Lord, predominantly.
Hope I made sense. Good luck.
Haribol. Thanks for asking and reading my humble suggestions.
Firstly, to sin means "to miss the mark." Sinning means not performing our sanatana dharma or duty of devotional service. Anything not in Krsna consciousness is missing the mark, the goal of life.
In Bhagavad Gita, Krsna says "The unsuccessful yogi, after many, many years of enjoyment on the planets of the pious living entities, is born into a family of righteous people, or into a family of rich aristocracy. (Bhag. 6-41)
Or he takes birth in a family of transcendentalists who are surely great in wisdom..." (Bhag. 6-42)
Krsna says that progress towards him is never lost. So what is this talk about "undoing 3 months of devotional service" with 30 minutes of tv? Is Krsna going to forget all of that time you spent serving Him? No, Krsna will never forget.
Krsna loves you very much dear prabhu...
Forgive me if I have misspoken
Radha Rasamayi, your words are a beacon of light in this community. You are a very special soul. Thank you for sharing.
I apologize I do not know exactly where I heard that statement. It was on a website. Now that I hear you say that no progress in devotional service is ever lost I do remember that from the Gita. Sometimes I just have a hard time distinguishing what is bad for my devotional service and what isn't. For example if I watch an educational documentary on animals or the ancient Egyptians is that maya? Sometimes I am interested in learning about other things as well. Thank you for your reply.
Pls go ahead, watch movies, watch baseball, pursue your interests. There is no force in Krsna Consciousness. It is completely voluntary. I understand what you say completely. Still, take time out and do your sadhana, whatever it is that you have committed.
The ideal is to chant 16 rounds of mahamantra and follow 4 regulative principles. Continue reading, associating with devotees and eating prasadam. Automatically, the change will come in you and you will not even notice. Give up when you are comfortable. If you are not comfortable, dont give up.
The idea is to enjoy your journey back home, back to Krsna. It should not be a burden and cumbersome.
Having said all that, I will now attempt to explain to you why these things are not considered appropriate for one on the journey back home.
Imagine a loved one has had an accident and you are taking him to the hospital. On the way, you see a mall or a shop where it is mentioned 90% sale, of some brand you covet. Would you be interested in checking out the brands and take benefit of the sale, or would you be interested in taking the patient to the hospital and getting him treated? I am sure your answer would be the latter. This is an emergency situation and therefore you would rather attend to the emergency, than give in to your lesser important desires.
Same way, as and when we progress in spirituality, we realise that it is an emergency to take the lords name and purify ourselves enough to develop genuine love for Krsna. Human birth is so rare, on top of that the influence of Kali, there is no garauntee how long we will live in this lifetime, and there is no garauntee we will get the benefit of association and spirituality in our next birth - so better to go back home at the earliest.
Another example I can give is - suppose you have to appear for a very big competitive exam after 2 years, for which you have started preparing now itself. Your friend is also preparing for the same exam as you. One is interested in movies, basketball, basically taking a break while the other is interested in only and only studying. Who do you think will do better in the exam?
The one pointed determination that is required to pass the exam is what is required to pass the exam of life - so that at the last moment of our life, we can remember only and only the lotus feet of the lord. This is called vyavasayatmika budhih - profit mentality of a businessman.
You dont sound crass at all prabhu, you are honest. That is what Krsna likes, our sincerity to please Him and our honesty to admit our shortcomings.
Best of luck,
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
Anthony > Radha Rasamayi DDApril 5, 2017 at 3:19am
Replies
Not everything is sin!!
Anything that moves you away from Krishna should be examined and stayed away from.
Hare Krsna
It depends how much you want the Lord.
If you want Him as much as your breath, then yes, you will have Him Now!
If you are wishy washy casual about it, like we all been, then it will take millions of lifetimes.
Yes, occasionally, is ok. Not as an everyday thing, at least for me.
I find a million Names, videos, audios, passtimes about the Lord, I find far more interesting.
Key is, the more we learn about the Lord, the more we get attracted to Him. Hang out with people of similar interests.
Prabhupada said, in the beginning we must force ourselves to serve Krishna. Chanting His Names, Watching His passtimes, Listening to Prabhupad Lectures and passtimes and more importantly serving other devotees is same as serving the Lord.
You will realize that you will like certain things more than others. Continue to do more of what you love doing for the Lord, predominantly.
Hope I made sense. Good luck.
Haribol. Thanks for asking and reading my humble suggestions.
Where did you read this prabhu?
Firstly, to sin means "to miss the mark." Sinning means not performing our sanatana dharma or duty of devotional service. Anything not in Krsna consciousness is missing the mark, the goal of life.
In Bhagavad Gita, Krsna says "The unsuccessful yogi, after many, many years of enjoyment on the planets of the pious living entities, is born into a family of righteous people, or into a family of rich aristocracy. (Bhag. 6-41)
Or he takes birth in a family of transcendentalists who are surely great in wisdom..." (Bhag. 6-42)
Krsna says that progress towards him is never lost. So what is this talk about "undoing 3 months of devotional service" with 30 minutes of tv? Is Krsna going to forget all of that time you spent serving Him? No, Krsna will never forget.
Krsna loves you very much dear prabhu...
Forgive me if I have misspoken
Radha Rasamayi, your words are a beacon of light in this community. You are a very special soul. Thank you for sharing.
Hare Krsna
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
Pls go ahead, watch movies, watch baseball, pursue your interests. There is no force in Krsna Consciousness. It is completely voluntary. I understand what you say completely. Still, take time out and do your sadhana, whatever it is that you have committed.
The ideal is to chant 16 rounds of mahamantra and follow 4 regulative principles. Continue reading, associating with devotees and eating prasadam. Automatically, the change will come in you and you will not even notice. Give up when you are comfortable. If you are not comfortable, dont give up.
The idea is to enjoy your journey back home, back to Krsna. It should not be a burden and cumbersome.
Having said all that, I will now attempt to explain to you why these things are not considered appropriate for one on the journey back home.
Imagine a loved one has had an accident and you are taking him to the hospital. On the way, you see a mall or a shop where it is mentioned 90% sale, of some brand you covet. Would you be interested in checking out the brands and take benefit of the sale, or would you be interested in taking the patient to the hospital and getting him treated? I am sure your answer would be the latter. This is an emergency situation and therefore you would rather attend to the emergency, than give in to your lesser important desires.
Same way, as and when we progress in spirituality, we realise that it is an emergency to take the lords name and purify ourselves enough to develop genuine love for Krsna. Human birth is so rare, on top of that the influence of Kali, there is no garauntee how long we will live in this lifetime, and there is no garauntee we will get the benefit of association and spirituality in our next birth - so better to go back home at the earliest.
Another example I can give is - suppose you have to appear for a very big competitive exam after 2 years, for which you have started preparing now itself. Your friend is also preparing for the same exam as you. One is interested in movies, basketball, basically taking a break while the other is interested in only and only studying. Who do you think will do better in the exam?
The one pointed determination that is required to pass the exam is what is required to pass the exam of life - so that at the last moment of our life, we can remember only and only the lotus feet of the lord. This is called vyavasayatmika budhih - profit mentality of a businessman.
You dont sound crass at all prabhu, you are honest. That is what Krsna likes, our sincerity to please Him and our honesty to admit our shortcomings.
Best of luck,
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
Hare Krsna