Improving in devotion but weakening in studies. What to do?
A female devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna!Prabhuji Dandavat Pranam. I have been reading your posts since 2 years and it helped me a lot.I have been practicing Krishna consciousness from 10 years old and now at present I’m 18 years old.Basically I’m a good marks scoring student from childhood. During 5th standard to 10th standard I studied very well simultaneously I practiced Krishna consciousness and even chanted 16 rounds during my 7th standard .During those days my parents were also devotees. But suddenly for some reason my parents became non-devotees during my 11th grade but I didn’t leave Krishna consciousness due to Krishna’s mercy.From grade 11 to say the truth i started to practice Krishna consciousness little seriously (like chanting 16 rounds ,rising early for mangala aarti) than before ,then slowly i lost interest to study but somehow or other I completed 11th and 12th and now at present I’m pursuing college 1st year in Chennai for Computer Science and Engineering. Now at present I’m really not interested to study but if I take a question and study it takes only less time to complete it and I understood that Krishna has given me nice memory power but the interest is alone not coming to study eventhough i saw in many of ur posts that Krishna says us to work .Please guide me regarding it prabhuji.”
REPLY:
Improving in devotion but weakening in studies is unavoidable if you do not learn to balance both devotion and studies/ career.
I have already given tips about this matter in the following posts.
(How can a student excel in devotion and studies simultaneously? READ HERE!)
(Devotion affecting the Studies? Tips to do well in both! READ HERE!)
However, let me give some more supporting points in this Post.
See, the life is becoming very competitive.
For a strong building, strong foundation is required.
For a strong relationship, strong understanding is required.
For a strong & safe website, strong platform is required.
Similarly, for following strong devotion throughout the life as a grahastha (family person), strong career is required.
If one’s aim is to become a full time servant in any sathsangha, marks are not a criteria. Normal education may do.
They can serve the Lord and get the shelter and food at the temple.
(How to remember and serve Krishna by the students all the time! READ HERE!)
But, to follow devotion from home, you MUSDT have good earning.
For good earning, you need a good career.
Take this thumb rule serious: Grahasrthas (family men) should have an earning source to support his family.
Of course, this is for women too.
Women are expected to manage the family well for the goodness of family & children.
Because, nowadays, the women get some respect in her husband’s family if she earns.
Trend is like that.
Before 1980s, the women were enjoying good status though they did not have any earnings, but just were taking care of the family maintenance. But, nowadays, the women are in a position to strengthen themselves by having a career.
(Loss of interest in job after following devotional practices! Solutions! READ HERE!)
The number of men who prefer a housewife has come down because most of the people are interested in the luxurious life.
Though anything happens to the husband, the wife can manage the family.
So, nowadays, the girls too have to safeguard themselves by studying well and getting a decent job suitable for women.
(1) Devotional life and Personal life are like two eyes for a person.
(2) Devotional life means taking steps to cultivate the athma to get the mercy of Krishna.
(3) Personal life means taking steps to follow a devotional life without struggling for food, shelter, suporting people, etc.
(4) This shows that we need to maintain a good personal life to lead a succesful spiritual life by being a grahastha.
(5) So, if you like to lead a NORMAL life with spouse, children and parents, you SHOULD EARN SUFFICIENTLY.
(6) To earn sufficiently, you need a good education and soft skills (employability skills).
(7) So, we are in a compelling situation to shine in both the devotion and career.
(8) So, we should balance career and personal life at any cost.
Understand this compulsion.
Till you go back to Krishna, you need to be on this earth.
Till you are on this earth, you need to have sufficient earning to live with dignity.
So, you need to work till you are on earth.
(How do I manage my career/personal life as a devotee? READ HERE!)
No escape. No excuses.
So, spare a few (2-3) hours for following the devotional practices.
After that, follow your sincere efforts to study efficiently and to shine in career by performing as effectively as possible.
Don’t mix the both and get confused. Just study or work THINKING OF KRISHNA. That is enough.
Don’t allow your focus be reduced in studies/ career just because of following the devotional practices.
The links of the Posts given in this post will help you for improving in devotion, but weakening in studies.
balance studies/ career & devotion nicely.
(SERVING KRISHNA USING YOUR JOB/ CAREER – USEFUL TIPS! READ HERE!)