Practicing devotion alone or in Association – which is good?
For dry Yoga practitioners, being alone may be advised because they need to control their mind forcibly.
But, it may be a futile exercise to CONTROL the mind.
But, for the devotees, no business of controlling the mind and senses as it is very difficult as said by Krishna Himself.
(15 Tips to follow the right way of maintaining the association of devotees! READ HERE!)
So, the devotees are advised to engage their mind and senses in Krishna’s service.
For engaging the mind in Krishna’s service, we need the support of other devotees.
If we are with other devotees, we can sing kirtans, chant together, worship the Lord together and develop more interest in practicing devotion seeing the practice of other devotees.
We can also discuss only about Krishna when we are with the devotees.
When we are alone, we can not get an active involvement in devotion.
We can chant alone. But, when we feel low some times, our mind will get energy seeing the active devotional practice of other devotees.
(I don’t have the association of devotees. Can’t I chant and love Krishna? READ HERE!)
So, though you are unable to get association every day, attend the temple sathsanghas atleast once a week. It will circulate in your mind for the next 6 days.
Srila Prabhupada has clearly said:
“Maya is strong when I am sitting in a solitary place”
True……200% true.
All of you please keep this in mind and take efforts NOT TO BE ALONE without doing anything.
Most of the people have some hidden desires within them.
(How to deal with the Material Attachment, Detachment & Devotee Association? READ HERE!)
Some may like to enjoy the company of girls/ boys, but when they are in association, they may remain controlled because of the presence of others who are always watching them.
Some may like to wear very limited dress to allow more air into their body if they are alone. But, but when they are in association, because of the presence of others in the family or sathsangha, they may remain with full dress as others may condemn their indecent dress.
Some may like to unnecessarily rub their nose, or teeth or even some hidden parts of their body that gives a temporary relief to them. However, but when they are in association, they control themselves and behave decently just because others may notice them.
In the spiritual practices too, this happens. If a devotee remains in the company of other devotees, he may chant properly and with enthusiasm because other devotees are watching their devotional practices. If that devotee is alone, he may skip some chanting rounds as no one is watching them.
(ASSOCIATION MAKES A PERSON – STORY! READ HERE!)
Even in the case of boys and girls, they behave decently in the public places only because the society is watching them. How can we guarantee that they will behave decently if they alone are in a room without anyone to watch them?
If you take some confused teen agers or unmarried persons, they may involve in violations if they alone remain in a room. If they remain together with other persons, particularly, with the devotees, those persons may remain controlled and decent.
Even suicides happen only when the person is alone. If he always remain with the people in association,, he may not dare to commit suicide.
Thus, maya is very strong only when we are not in the company of others. That is why, I encourage the devotees to either marry an live with the family, or, to always remain with the devotees if they remain a bachelor.
Be with the people, ie, devotees of same gender, or with the family members, and practice Krishna conscious sadhanas together with them. Do not have deep association of highly materialistic people with offenses. Just be an observer for them though they are your family members. Just be with them without attachment and as a duty. But, do not follow their life style that will ruin our devotional life.
So, if we compare Practicing devotion alone or in Association, practising in association is safer to stay protected from maya.
You can escape from the tricks and inducements of maya to much extent.
An idle mind is devil’s paradise. Always keep this in mind.
(I am unable to have association with my friends from other religions? What to do? READ HERE!)