What if the family does not permit you to quit Non Veg foods?
A Girl devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“I’ve decided to give up non-veg completely for my sadhana, before Kartik month but my mother keeps stopping me, saying “not now,” “no separate cooking,” and “leave it after marriage.” If I insist, it creates fights at home—specially my brother, and mother all argue. I feel guilty continuing non-veg, yet pressured by family. I don’t know how to follow my vow without disturbing household peace.”
REPLY:
Once you have decided to quit the meat and all non veg foods, never give up that decision.
Because you have taken a decision that is favourable for the devotional growth.
As I have written in many places, if you take non veg, you need not call yourself a devotee of Krishna.
(Is feeding meat to pets & arranging non veg hotels to others sinful? READ HERE!)
Four Regulative principles are the primary requirement for a devotee. Other things come next only.
It is not a good practice to chant Hare Krishna and also take meat, involve in illicit violations, involve in gambling, getting intoxicated, etc.
How can a person chant Hare Krishna using his mouth and also take a flesh thru the same mouth?
A genuine devotee will not do it.
In fact, a sincere devotee of Krishna will fear to commit violations and sinful acts.
Of course, you might have taken meat before coming to Krishna Consciousness. But, once you take up Krishna Consciousness, you should stop violating the four regulative principles.
When you chant Hare Krishna while following the regulative principles, that chanting will give definite results.
Your advancement in devotion will be faster and stable.
(What if doctor recommends Non veg foods for Children for health? READ HERE!)
So, you have to avoid going back to meat eating just because your parents object and do not allow you to cook separately.
In this case, you can violate the orders and pressures of your parents! You need not bother about violating the words of parents or teachers. We should hear only the advices or orders that are favourable for devotional growth.
It is clear that meat eating is a sinful and karmic activity. The parents may take meat without knowing or though knowing that it iserious kic activity. But, fortunately we have got Krishna who is the topmost gift one can have in his life.
When we have got Krishna Himself, why should we perform sinful activities and lose Him?
One should proceed further in his goals. You have taken a good decision of avoiding meat. Follow this in any situation you face.
Just say NO to your parents if they compel you to take meat. Tell them that you will stop eating at home and eat in a vegetarian hotel if they compel you to take meat.
Let them fight with you. Let them scold you. Don’t bother about it. It is not wrong to face some issues till they finally allow you to avoid meat.
You are fighting for a good and divine cause of getting Krishna. Don’t give up in that.
(5 Conditions for a Krishna devotee to marry Non Veg Non devotee! READ HERE!)
Not only that. Marry only a devotee boy who is also a vegetarian or, who is taking prasadam only. Tell this clearly to your parents.
Whatever the situation at house be, be firm in not taking meat. Instead, take whatever vegetarian food is available at house. For example, if they prepare non veg side dish for Roti, you take Roti having a pickle or jam or Sugar or Jaggery or coconut chuteney prepared by you.
If they tell you to avoid meat after marriage, tell them: “Once we know that it is sinful and karmic, why should we continue to do it? It is wise to stop taking that sinful food once we become aware of the sin involved in meat eating. Aren’t you interested in seeing your daughter leading a sinless spiritual life? It is my right to avoid meat or take it. Others can’t interfere in my choice of being a vegetarian.”
Saying so, manage them with some difficulties for about 6 months or one year. After that, they themselves may start to follow your policy of avoiding meat eating.
Nothing will happen seriously because you are fighting for a good purpose of getting spiritually elevated.
So, without hesitation, fight though the whole family is against you. Everything will settle in future.
After getting married, be a strict follower of Krishna Consciousness by taking only prasadam.
Peace will come only after a storm. So, fight for avoiding meat. Krishna will help you to succeed in your efforts.
(TIPS TO BE A VEGETARIAN DEVOTEE IN A NON VEGETARIAN FAMILY! READ HERE!)