challenges - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree | IDT2024-03-29T06:02:26Zhttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/challengesHealth and well-being advise for these challenging times, made by devoteeshttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/health-and-well-being-advise-for-these-challenging-times-made-by-2021-02-26T12:54:30.000Z2021-02-26T12:54:30.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}8601761058,RESIZE_584x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="500" alt="8601761058?profile=RESIZE_584x" /></p>
<p>Bhaktivedanta Manor is proud to have so many of its community members who work in the health profession – – and on all levels. The below set of videos includes a variety of such devotees who, based on their knowledge and experience, offer their professional advise on how best to deal with the current challenges due to the Coronavirus. Physically, mentally and spiritually. We ask you to watch them carefully and share them widely:</p>
<p>Health Advice Part 1: Introduction by Visakha Dasi - <a href="https://youtu.be/ClnqHe7vwrc" target="_blank">Click here</a><br /> <br /> Health Advice Part 2: Well-being and mental health - <a href="https://youtu.be/OE6cjJKE88U" target="_blank">Click here</a></p>
<p>Health Advice Part 3: General medical advice - <a href="https://youtu.be/OE6cjJKE88U" target="_blank">Click here</a></p>
<p>Health Advice Part 4: Multi professional advice - <a href="https://youtu.be/Xre4COjDLSI" target="_blank">Click here</a></p>
<p>The videos are a collaboration between devotee health professionals, mainly alumni of the Pandava Sena youth group and the management of Bhaktivedanta Manor. The human connection has been a huge part of the yatra and its community are missing the opportunity to connect. Bearing this and the multiple physical challenges posed to devotees in the UK and beyond, they decided to try and reach out in an alternative way by each sharing some advice.</p>
<p>Your Servant,</p>
<p>Radha Mohan das<br /> Bhaktivedanta Manor Communications Officer</p>
<p><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=93515">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=93515</a></p></div>Overcoming mental health challenges in spiritual lifehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/overcoming-mental-health-challenges-in-spiritual-life2020-07-21T12:45:57.000Z2020-07-21T12:45:57.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><iframe style="border:none;overflow:hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fgbcspt%2Fvideos%2F568566497358261%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /><br />Let us hear how to overcome the overwhelming mental health challenges in one’s spiritual life from Citi Sakti Devi Dasi who is an expert psychiatrist and practicing spiritual life for more than two decades.</p>
<p>About Citi Sakti Devi Dasi</p>
<p>Citi-Śakti Devi Dasi is a disciple of H.H Bhakti Tirtha Swami and is based in London, UK. She serves as a preacher, mentor & sangha leader. In her endeavors to make Krishna consciousness available to as many as possible, she reaches a broad variety of people internationally including celebrities, politicians, healthcare professionals and students.<br /> Graduating from Imperial college as a Medical Doctor and specializing as a Consultant Psychiatrist, she brings together 20 years of experience in scientific advances in mental health with Krishna Consciousness. She regularly broadcasts for BBC radio on mental health, well being & spirituality with over 200 million listens. She features on TV and in newspapers & magazines and has contributed to a number of books.<br /> <br /> <strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=87677">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=87677</a></p></div>The Challenges and Benefits of Charitable Givinghttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/the-challenges-and-benefits-of-charitable-giving2020-06-12T10:00:00.000Z2020-06-12T10:00:00.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}2515197302,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}2515197302,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" width="400" alt="2515197302?profile=RESIZE_400x" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>By Krsnanandini Devi Dasi</strong></p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">I have vivid memories of the many times my mother took my siblings and me to church the heartfelt gospel singing, the soul-stirring preaching, the supplications for lost souls to join the church. I remember the passing of the baskets to collect money to support the church and its many activities, and I recall well the song that generally accompanied these collections. Its famous, oft-sung lyrics still echo in my mind today: “You can’t beat God giving, no matter how you try. The more you give, the more He gives to you. Just keep on giving; you’ll find it’s really true.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">As Vaishnavas, we are instructed to give in charity, because the act of giving assists our spiritual progress in various ways. especially for householders, or grhasthas, the injunction to give in charity is a strong one. Srila Prabhupada writes, “For the grhasthas, or householders, performance of sacrifices, distribution of charity, and action according to prescribed duties are especially recommended.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.32, Purport)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Sometimes many of us struggle with how, to whom, and even why to give in charity. but just as sincere devotees are committed to eating only food offered to Lord Krishna, they should be committed to regularly giving in charity some portion of their income. In this way, devotees can become examples to others of how to get money honestly and distribute it for the satisfaction of the Lord.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Our giving should be connected to Krishna in some way. For example, when we contribute to ISKCON programs, we’re supporting Krishna’s desire that His teachings be spread everywhere. The Supreme Lord is atmarama, or self-satisfied. He does not need our offerings. He is completely full in Himself and is served by hundreds and thousands of eager, enthusiastic, pure-hearted goddesses of fortune. Yet He instructs us to give in charity to Him. Why? because it purifies and strengthens us spiritually. Giving in charity to Krishna is one way we acknowledge that everything belongs to Him. “If by the grace of the Lord we get such opulences as material wealth, fame, power, education, and beauty, it is our duty to consider that they are all gifts of the Lord and must be used for His service, not our sense enjoyment.” (Krishna, chapter 81)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The Benefits of Giving in Charity</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Giving in charity purifies the heart because it helps us become detached from material things and cleanses the desire for fruitive results. Giving in charity purifies our finances and accumulated wealth. envision the vast universe as a bank. The charity we give is like a deposit in that bank, the dividends being the purification of our hearts or the unexpected provision of our needs.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Giving in charity allows us to put our money where our heart is. If our heart is in becoming Krishna conscious, in supporting Lord caitanya’s mission, in knowing that sincere practice of Krishna consciousness is good for the whole world, then we can show it by how we faithfully and regularly give and do our part to ensure that this mission spreads and is maintained.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Finally, giving in charity pleases Krishna and increases our faith.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Barriers or Obstacles to Giving</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“I just don’t have enough money to give in charity” is a refrain we hear often. Sometimes devotees feel they don’t have enough income to maintain their families, so why should they give in charity? one reason is that giving charity to the right persons increases our faith. by the simple act of following the instruction to give in charity, we will see how Lord Krishna continues to provide for our family.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Frequently, devotees want to do something big for the Lord and wait until they “get in a better position.” but the better position may never come. An anonymous person has stated this succinctly for us: “between the big things we cannot do and the little things we will not do, the danger is that we may never get anything done.” Steadiness and dedication in giving charity are more important than giving huge amounts.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Another obstacle may be that the giver doesn’t trust the recipients of his or her charity. When I was younger, my grandmother and grandfather (a baptist minister) emphasized that one should sincerely tithe (give ten percent of one’s income) after identifying a worthwhile recipient and then trust God for the results. In other words, God Himself will deal with anyone who misuses charity meant for Him.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Giving in charity may often mean some sacrifice. The Supreme Lord suggests this in the Bhagavadgita (18.5) when He tells us, “Acts of sacrifice, charity, and penance are not to be given up but should be performed. Indeed, sacrifice, charity, and penance purify even the great souls.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Three Kinds of Charity</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In the Bhagavad-gita Lord Krishna instructs human beings how to live a peaceful, God-conscious life and then go back home, back to Godhead. He tells Arjuna that all activities fall into three categories, according to the three modes of nature: goodness, passion, and ignorance. Thus, foods are classified as good, passionate, or ignorant, and so are activities such as giving in charity.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">To get real spiritual and material benefit, charity should be wisely given. Srila Prabhupada writes, “In the vedic literature, charity given to a person engaged in spiritual activities is recommended.” (Bhagavadgita 17.20, Purport)</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Arjuna heard from Krishna about charity in the three modes:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">• Charity in the mode of goodness is given out of duty, at the proper time and place, to a worthy person, and without expectation of return. (bg. 17.20)<br /> • Charity performed while expecting some return or in a grudging mood is said to be in the mode of passion. (bg. 17.21)<br /> • Charity performed at an improper place and time and given to unworthy persons, without respect and with contempt, is in the mode of ignorance and yields negative results or consequences. (bg. 17.22).</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The Charity Dilemma</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The concept of regularly giving a portion of one’s income in charity intimidates many devotees. Although we may know that giving regularly in charity is a goal for which all householders should aspire, still we are sometimes confused about how to apply this principle. Given their financial situation, some devotees can’t decide how or when to give in charity.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">In The Nectar of Instruction we learn that simply following rules and regulations without understanding their purpose or goal can cause falldown. So let’s try to grasp the purpose of the charitable principle:</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">• Everything belongs to Krishna; therefore, when we offer something in the service of the Lord, we’re just returning the property to its rightful owner.<br /> • Giving gifts, prasadam, money, time, talent is a way to show love. It is one of the six loving exchanges between devotees. Spiritual life is a culture of giving.<br /> • Giving charity is a sacrifice that purifies one’s wealth. If wealth is not purified, it will often be taken through legal fees, medical bills, taxes, theft, and so on.<br /> • Even a little given in the service of God rewards the giver hundreds and thousands of times.<br /> • Srila Prabhupada said that the Krishna consciousness movement is creating people who are “independently thoughtful.” He wanted us to use our intelligence and creativity in carrying out scriptural instructions in cooperation with other devotees.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The idea is to begin to consistently give a certain percentage to support the mission of Krishna consciousness, and we can plan to gradually increase this percentage. For householders this is a blessed and necessary duty.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">When the Lord sees our steady commitment to giving in charity, He will help us do so, from within and without. Srila Prabhupada wrote in a letter (January 24, 1977), “Krishna will give you intelligence how to engage in honest, brilliant, glorious work on His behalf. There is no need to engage in anything dishonest. Krishna has given enough money. now earn by honest means.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">To Whom Should You Given</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">The International Society for Krishna consciousness (ISKCON), a branch of the caitanya tree, has many causes, projects, and people focused on Srila Prabhupada’s mission. Imagine what would happen if thousands of devotees committed to giving in charity to regularly support these initiatives.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">For example, the Temple of the vedic Planetarium in mayapur is being built based on Srila Prabhupada’s vision and instruction. It is moving forward because caring and faithful devotees are giving in charity to make that stupendous project happen.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Many sannyasis and other mature devotees travel to make sure Lord caitanya’s message is spread. many rely on donations and charity to do their selfless service.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Temples and nama Hatta programs need support to steadfastly distribute prasadam and spiritual knowledge. Particularly, we should support the local Hare Krishna establishment where we are nourished and enlivened.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">One senior vaishnava on a small, fixed income has chosen to support Srila Prabhupada’s first temple at 26 Second Avenue by donating $51 per month from her checking account.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">“I want to support Prabhupada’s great work in every way I can,” she says.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">She has given in charity to support sannyasis, book distribution, the care and upkeep of cows, senior devotees like herself, and more.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">A husband and wife, both professionals, don’t have children but have chosen to support many devotee preachers and causes. Their charity is regular, focused, and persistent. They told me they work to be able to give charity and fulfill this very important service in the grhastha ashrama.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Vaishnava care, the Grihastha vision Team, the Festival of Inspiration, Srila Prabupada’s book archives, cow protection so many worthy endeavors need our support, and we can support more than one at a time.</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Ultimate Benefit</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;">Ultimately, giving in charity is good for the soul and gives much benefit to the giver. As Srila Prabhupada writes in Krishna (chaper 81), “What the devotee actually offers to the Lord is not needed by the Lord. He is self-sufficient. If the devotee offers something to the Lord, it acts for his own interest because whatever a devotee offers to the Lord comes back in a quantity a million times greater than what was offered. one does not become a loser by giving to the Lord, but he becomes a gainer by millions of times.”</p>
<p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Source: </strong><a href="http://www.dandavats.com/?p=48874">http://www.dandavats.com/?p=48874</a></p></div>GBC Strategic Planning Team Offers Devotees Support to Face COVID-19 Challengeshttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/gbc-strategic-planning-team-offers-devotees-support-to-face-covid2020-03-31T07:27:04.000Z2020-03-31T07:27:04.000ZISKCON Desire Treehttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/iskcon_desire_tree<div><div id="article_image" style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2020/03-Mar/spt_logo_slideshow.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="align-center" src="https://iskconnews.org/media/img_versions/2020/03-Mar/spt_logo_slideshow.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" alt="spt_logo_slideshow.jpg?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="600" /></a></div>
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<p>For many years, the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning Team (SPT) has been serving the GBC by offering strategic advice, guidance and solutions for the benefit of the whole of ISKCON. Now, to help devotees stay safe and cope with the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the SPT has put together a global task force team that gathers and disseminate both spiritually uplifting and materially useful information. </p>
<p>They collect content from anywhere in ISKCON (and beyond) and will share: </p>
<p>1. Ideas on how to productively engage in Krishna consciousness while being confined at home, and also on how to engage children and teenagers.</p>
<p>2. Ideas on how to associate with each other in various ways while not leaving your place.</p>
<p>3. Best practices adopted in various ISKCON communities in the world to take care of the devotees and protect each other. </p>
<p>4. Ideas on how to do outreach from home.</p>
<p>5. Useful information on the virus and on ways to prevent infection and the spreading of infection. </p>
<p>6. Reminders of standards of safety - individual and collective. </p>
<p>7. Analysis of developments in areas such as economy, geopolitics, security, etc. </p>
<p>8. Anything else that could be useful to the devotees. </p>
<p>Devotees our requested to please share this information as widely as possible through email, websites, Facebook, Instagram, etc.)</p>
<p>All the relevant information will be disseminated through ISKCON News, Dandavats and via various other channels on a daily basis, and all the sent out materials will be categorized and archived for easy research on <a href="http://gbcstrategicplanningteam.com/">http://gbcstrategicplanningteam.com/</a></p>
<p>Devotees can write to the SPT at: <a href="mailto:contact@gbcstrategicplanningteam.com">contact@gbcstrategicplanningteam.com</a></p>
<p>And specifically for prayers' requests - for devotees infected: <a href="mailto:prayers@gbcstrategicplanningteam.com">prayers@gbcstrategicplanningteam.com</a> </p>
<p>Stay home and stay safe. </p>
<p><strong>Source: </strong><a href="https://iskconnews.org/gbc-strategic-planning-team-offers-devotees-support-to-face-covid-19-challenges,7310/">https://iskconnews.org/gbc-strategic-planning-team-offers-devotees-support-to-face-covid-19-challenges,7310/</a></p>
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<p> </p></div>Surviving the Institution: One of the biggest secrets in Krsna Consciousnesshttps://iskcondesiretree.com/profiles/blogs/surviving-the-institution-one-of-the-biggest-secrets-in-krsna-con2020-03-16T15:15:10.000Z2020-03-16T15:15:10.000ZCaitanya Chandra dasahttps://iskcondesiretree.com/members/CaitanyaChandraDasa<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/4124227465?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><em>This article is a combination of a few thoughts I got from a class by Madhavananda Prabhu, and a few personal realizations.</em></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span> </span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span>Our movement has two sides: one side is the institution, a kind of impersonal entity, the other are the devotees. When we look from the institutional side, our movement is not so different from other organized religious groups. It is important since it's the vehicle created by Srila Prabhupada to spread Krsna Consciousness, but just as other organized religious groups, it involves egos, politics, a certain struggle for power and so on. It's much better than many other groups, we can tell, but still, it's far from perfect. There are problems and we need to learn how to live with them if we want to go somewhere.</span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span> </span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span>Organized religion is necessary for the enlightenment of the general public. It may not be perfect, but it is necessary. To try to abolish organized religion is a type of anarchist mentality that is influenced by the mode of ignorance, and don't bring any good result. It may be difficult to believe, but Lord Caitanya had to deal with many of the same problems we may complain about regarding "the institution" when he was living in Puri.</span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span> </span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span>During these pastimes, he was going daily to receive darshan of Lord Jagannatha and was attending the Ratha Yatras and other festivals. The temple was part of his life, despite the problems. First time Lord Caitanya visited the temple, the pandas wanted to beat Him up because he fell down to the ground paying dandavats (which is not allowed in the strict code of rules followed in the temple). They didn't allow Haridasa Thakura, as well as Rupa and Sanatana Goswami in the temple. Being God, he could have started a revolution to overthrow the management, but instead he just followed the rules. He supported the managers of the temple, despite their shortcomings. It may be hard to believe, but God supports organized religion, even when the leaders are not perfect.</span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span> </span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span>That's actually a noticeable difference between Indian culture and western culture. In traditional Indian culture, people are trained to respect authorities (like the teachers, father, mother, older brothers, etc.) regardless of their imperfections. In western culture however we tend to have a puffed-up mentality: if the authority is not perfect (according to our own standards), we don't want to follow. This is something that constricts our progress, since the whole Vedic concept of spiritual life is based on learning from authorities.</span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span> </span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span>Another problem with rebelling against the leaders is that they may decide to leave and we may end-up in their place. To be a manager is not a very good position for one aspiring to progress in spiritual life. Considering that in ISKCON we usually don't receive salaries, it's not a very advantageous position for material success either. There are only two classes of persons that can execute a managerial position without harm for their spiritual life: a) one that has a Ksatriya nature (and qualities such as power, morality, integrity, etc.) and can thus be happy serving by managing and taking care of people and b) the pure devotee, that can do anything for Krsna. If you don’t fit in any of the two options, it's much more intelligent to assist and cooperate with the leaders that are already there doing this inglorious service than to try to take their place.</span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span> </span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span>So, on the one hand we need organized religion and we need to follow authorities, but on the other hand we must also develop sufficient brain matter to be able to navigate the negative aspects of the institution. One problem with organized religion in general is that it tends to focus more in the rituals than on people. We need to be able to do our service and offer our contribution, but at the same conserve our individuality, otherwise we may end being swallowed by the impersonal aspects.</span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span> </span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span>To counter that, we should have our private space, our circle of intimate friends, a place where we can cultivate human relations, where we fell nourished. People that abandon the institution tend to gradually abandon Krsna Consciousness, while the ones that become too much absorbed in the impersonal aspects of the institution may end-up becoming fanatics, that don't usually stay for very long either.</span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span> </span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span>The secret is to be able to be a team-player, cooperating with other devotees, performing our service and doing our part in the cooperative effort, but at the same time keep our private space and our circle of intimate friends. There are so many nice, sweet devotees in our movement. If you can't mention at least ten names, I'm sorry but you are missing out. To cultivate friendship with like-minded devotees is one of the most important aspects of spiritual life. This is our safety net. The institution may not help you when you have someone sick in the family, but the devotees will. The institution may not bring you back to Godhead, but the devotees certainly can.</span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span> </span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span>One of the biggest secrets in spiritual life is exactly this: to be able to combine our participation in the institution with solid relationships with like-minded devotees. By doing that, we can have the best of both worlds. By keeping this equilibrium, we can flourish in spiritual life, despite obstacles in dealing with "the institution" or with imperfect authorities. As we evolve, we can become more useful in helping others to become Krsna Conscious.</span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span> </span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span>Lord Caitanya Himself gave this example when living in Jagannatha Puri, by simultaneously being engaged in the activities related to the temple and having intimate dealings with His intimate associates. One that can follow this advice, can be much stronger in his spiritual life, maintaining his progress and at the same time being able to do something for others. </span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span> </span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span>Devotees that are not capable of doing that, end-up usually becoming too dependent on the institution, expecting that the institution will maintain them, and the institution may not be very competent in doing so. We can see that many, or maybe most of the devotees that abandon Krsna Consciousness do it with a very heavy heart, after having some experience when they felt neglected or offended. One that don't have a good safety net, will fall straight to the ground in such a situation, which can easily have fatal consequences.</span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span> </span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span>We need to learn the art of being alone in the crowd, working inside the group, but at the same time maintaining our individuality. Krsna likes individuality, because individuality brings variety. The goal is not to extinguish our individuality and become one with the group, but to conserve our individuality, using it to serve Krsna and develop love for Him.</span></div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"> </div><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr"><span><em>This article was originally published on my website. You can read more on:<br /></em><em><a href="https://www.gettingthemercy.com/blog">https://www.gettingthemercy.com/blog</a></em></span></div></div><div class="jwLWP _2hXa7 _1dPe8 blog-post-text-font blog-post-text-color"> </div></div>