Devotee children getting frustrated seeing materialistic classmates? Tips!
A Girl devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare krishna probhuji I am ……………….. I chant hare krishna and I follow the rules and regulations. So i am school going 17yr teenager probably will go to college in comming 1-2 yrs.I found that everyone every students including teachers are very much clouded with maya and generally when they don’t teach give motivation which always is materially for example = ‘sab apna lakhya thik krlo 1 mole rs kama ke hi manayenge ” etc . Always in classes students bring phones and scroll insta and adultary stuffs mainly in school , they talk about adultary see adultry which they should not do it. Even a students who got highest in whole india in field of education in my school talks of adultry. My school is one of reputed in my state . so my qs is that how to just dodge this maya and even my parents also influenced by maya i want to know how to dodge from maya and usually manage in this type of situations where everyone is sick due to maya.”
REPLY:
It can’t be avoided.
Beautiful Rose, Lotus, etc are surrounded by thorn and mud!
So, Rose and Lotus stand ahead of other surroundings.
If you light a candle under Sunlight, it won’t glow.
(How to manage our devotion ignoring the materialistic people around us? READ HERE!)
If you keep the same candle in a dark room, it has its value.
Only if the other students are materialistic in their acts, you will be seen as a great person with principles.
So, Don’t get affected by the materialistic lifestyle of others.
Instead, Let them get affected by your devotional lifestyle and follow you.
When Srila Prabhupada gave his association to some youth of America, they became good devotees.
But, Srila Prabhupada did not get affected by their fallen lifestyle.
A spiritually powerful person causes impact on the spiritually weak persons.
In any society, there will be many materialistic people and also some some spiritual people.
No society has all the people as flawless.
(A devotee with Materialistic spouse – Tips to Manage devotional practices! READ HERE!)
So, wherever you go, you have to meet such materialistic people. There may be some devotees here and there. But, the number of materialistic people will always be more in this kaliyuga.
You can’t escape from them.
A shoe seller sent two sales persons to see whether opening a new show shop will run well in a particular place.
One person returned saying that that he can’t sell the shoes because no one in that village wears footwear.
Another person said the they can sell more shoes because most of the people in that town do not wear shoes.
Same matter, but two different views.
Similarly, Being among materialistic people should not make you too materialistic, Instead being with more materialistic students will show you to shine among them.
So, Let them learn from you and follow you one day. Let them too become Vaishnavas.
You focus on yourself. Let a few others follow you.
If they are fortunate, they will getting reformed seeing your devotional lifestyle.
Why should you feel seeing such irresponsible persons?
You be yourself as a good devotee studying well at School. Others should appreciate you for shining in both devotion and studies.
Don’t worry seeing others. You take sincere efforts and be an example to others to follow.
The devotee children are fortunate souls. Why should they feel for being among materialistic friends? Devotee children getting frustrated seeing materialistic classmates is not necessary at all!
Best of luck.
(Making the materialistic wife a devotee of Krishna! 10 Practical Tips! READ HERE!)