Good friends are extremely important in life. However, without a few good spiritual friends, it's quite improbable we will be able to make it in this life, there are too many things that can go wrong.
Hare Krsna Prabhu, thank you so much for your article 🙏🏽. I had a question in this regard:
If an advanced devotee happens to be in an environment where devotees are a scarcity, then how can they make good friends? Do they just rely on Prabhupada's presence through his books and lectures?
Since they will not be able to relate to even madhyama adhikaris completely...if they happen to find them...
Will they have to tolerate the "loneliness" as Krsna's mercy before the final veil lifts?
The best way is to try to find some interested people and start teaching them about Krsna consciousness, then they will become very inspiring association :)
I found the blog insightful and well-structured. The content was both informative and engaging, offering clear takeaways. Appreciate the clarity and depth.
I appreciate your thoughts on friendship, but I believe that ISKCON, nowadays, has become more focused on societal concerns rather than Krishna consciousness. Yes, building large temples is beneficial for preaching, but it requires significant fundraising and management. Sometimes, it seems like we are solely chasing after funds.
Many temple authorities and ashram devotees—though not all—have become project-focused, using devotees as tools to accomplish their tasks, and then it feels like there’s no personal relationship or friendship developed afterward. There's a lack of a loving, selfless service attitude.
As Gaudiya Vaishnavas, we have a unique taste for bhakti, particularly in the service of Radha and Krishna. However, in our pursuit of grandeur, we sometimes forget the essence of real devotion. Srila Prabhupada pointed out many years ago that it was time to boil the milk, emphasizing that we should prioritize nurturing devotees rather than just building temples. Unfortunately, it seems we have not made much progress in that regard.
I fear that we may be becoming just another society. New devotees are joining, while older ones are leaving ISKCON due to the lack of care and the loss of the spark of real bhakti.
Thank you for nice and clear message. I found out that devoties have even less time for each others than people who are not devoties. Along all responsibilities all people have for daily living, devoties also have 2h chanting and 1h reading, deities, more time use for prasadam. I notice that devoties associate much less than other people in private time. Yes we meet on programs, have bajans together, we are nice to each others(Haribol or Hare Krishna here and there), but more intimate relationships are just very very rare. I somethimes say we are more coworkers or coservents than friends. Outside people have more of private association than we do. Thise is not only my realization i see it all around. It is like a phenomenom in our society. For friendship we also need some time on daily or at least weakly basis. In spiritual world that is the basic, everybody are doing something for others, serving everyone, taking time only for asociation and service and loving exchanges with Krishna and others. A real life.
Hare Krsna Prabhu, thank you so much for your article 🙏🏽. I had a question in this regard:
If an advanced devotee happens to be in an environment where devotees are a scarcity, then how can they make good friends? Do they just rely on Prabhupada's presence through his books and lectures?
Since they will not be able to relate to even madhyama adhikaris completely...if they happen to find them...
Will they have to tolerate the "loneliness" as Krsna's mercy before the final veil lifts?
The best way is to try to find some interested people and start teaching them about Krsna consciousness, then they will become very inspiring association :)
I found the blog insightful and well-structured. The content was both informative and engaging, offering clear takeaways. Appreciate the clarity and depth.
Thank you 🙏
Thank you for the feedback, you are welcome :-)
Excellent Prabhu, my humble obeisances. 🙏
My obeisances Prabhu :)
Hare Krishna, Prabhuji. Dandavat Pranam.
I appreciate your thoughts on friendship, but I believe that ISKCON, nowadays, has become more focused on societal concerns rather than Krishna consciousness. Yes, building large temples is beneficial for preaching, but it requires significant fundraising and management. Sometimes, it seems like we are solely chasing after funds.
Many temple authorities and ashram devotees—though not all—have become project-focused, using devotees as tools to accomplish their tasks, and then it feels like there’s no personal relationship or friendship developed afterward. There's a lack of a loving, selfless service attitude.
As Gaudiya Vaishnavas, we have a unique taste for bhakti, particularly in the service of Radha and Krishna. However, in our pursuit of grandeur, we sometimes forget the essence of real devotion. Srila Prabhupada pointed out many years ago that it was time to boil the milk, emphasizing that we should prioritize nurturing devotees rather than just building temples. Unfortunately, it seems we have not made much progress in that regard.
I fear that we may be becoming just another society. New devotees are joining, while older ones are leaving ISKCON due to the lack of care and the loss of the spark of real bhakti.
These are just my thoughts.
Your servant,
Vajra Narasimha Das
Thank you for nice and clear message. I found out that devoties have even less time for each others than people who are not devoties. Along all responsibilities all people have for daily living, devoties also have 2h chanting and 1h reading, deities, more time use for prasadam. I notice that devoties associate much less than other people in private time. Yes we meet on programs, have bajans together, we are nice to each others(Haribol or Hare Krishna here and there), but more intimate relationships are just very very rare. I somethimes say we are more coworkers or coservents than friends. Outside people have more of private association than we do. Thise is not only my realization i see it all around. It is like a phenomenom in our society. For friendship we also need some time on daily or at least weakly basis. In spiritual world that is the basic, everybody are doing something for others, serving everyone, taking time only for asociation and service and loving exchanges with Krishna and others. A real life.