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Dear Prabhujis and Matajis,

Hare Krishna. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

 

In our yesterday's offering, there were a couple of points which were rather crisp and many devotees had written asking for more clarification. I thought that it is better to share the explanation of Maharaj from the lecture itself that can throw light on these points.

 

1. Real devotional service means till we are in this world, the flow of lakshmi must be continuous.

[Maharaj said]: Please go on working very hard. First duty of the hearer is that you have to be immaculate in your earning job. You do whatever is required at the office. Don't disturb each other in the office time. Mobile should be switched off so that you are not disturbed. Our whole existence of discussing these things (Bhagavat-gita, Srimad Bhagavatam) depend upon the continuous flow of lakshmi. Nobody can change this. If we do not have lakshmi, we cannot go on. The source on which we depend upon, should not be mishandled. That is our attachment to the job. Once your age is mature, then you can worry about the money you are getting. In your young age, don't play around in the job. Less salary or more salary, doesn't matter. These are binding legal attachment with the company.

 

Unless you have sufficient money to fall upon, you should not leave your job. All the prices are going up, the price of gold is going up and to that extent the dal, rice and other things are also rising up. Suppose you have 10 lakhs of rupees, the income from the 10 lakhs is not sufficient now. We are in a very precarious situation.

 

No doubt attachment is bad, but some attachment should be there for the work, otherwise nobody will work. If you can leave everything and completely depend upon Krishna, they you can behave in anyway. No need for office and these things. You can do preaching and other services full time. But those souls are very rare. Those who renounce prematurely, they do not have natural renunciation. They will be in difficulty again.

 

Real devotional service means, till we are sitting in the material world, our flow of lakshmi must be continuous. (Maharaj points to himself and says), What to speak of others, even we also require lakshmi. The day dawns and we have to spend 2000-3000 Rs a day in the temple. Some of the devotees are helping, otherwise we cannot function at all. If we require this much amount, how much you will require? Children education is there, you have to buy clothes for them. Wife is there, sarees, punjabi dresses, you have to buy so many things. You can't tell that I don't want money. So everything depends upon the flow of income. You will be useless if you lose the job, unless you are really renounced. If you are really renounced then you don't have any worry. Nothing will bind you. But others having family responsibilities should not imitate renunciation.

 

[Maharaj would always make this famous point, "Constant flow of lakshmi keeps us in the mode of goodness." He would say that if the income is regular, then we do not have to worry about the monthly expenses like phone bills, electricity bills, house rent, food etc. When these anxieties are not there, we will be able to chant and study Bhagavat-gita and Bhagavatam peacefully. He would always advice us, "Arrange your things and be happy"].

 

2. Don't be conscious of being a devotee.

[In the lecture, One of the devotees asked the question, "How do we conduct ourselves as a devotee in the office?" and Maharaj replied]: We should be normal. Devotees are not abnormal. Don't be conscious that you are a devotee (laughter). Unnecessarily we are proud, "Hey I am a devotee"! But actually we are not devotee, we are proud. Our svabhava, natural constitutional position is to be a devotee. So you are not doing anything special by becoming a devotee. For your own comfort you are being a devotee. To go to the mother is not an effort for us. So how can 'being a devotee' is an effort for us? So why should you be proud of it? 

 

I sincerely hope these explanations clarified the doubts in the mind of the devotees. Our humble thanks to the devotees who have asked for more details and helped us meditate on Maharaj's strong but practical words of wisdom.

 

Thank you very much.

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva,

Kalacakra Krsna das