Feeling Inferior in devotion seeing the devotional practices of others! Tips!
A devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna prabhuji, I have following your channel for quite a while and your replies really clear my doubts. I have a question too. Prabhuji i tend to feel a little sceptical about my future as a devotee.(like will ever become a good devotee,etc.). I tend to feel like this because now a days through YouTube and social media i am able to see the lives the grihastha familes. And how they are practicing Krishna consciousness so blissfully. Sorry to say but i feel a little envious to see teenagers they post on social media and all based on their devotion life. On the other hand my family is entirely opposite. Since they are more attached to material stuffs. Although i take veg food but that contains onion and garlic. So i can’t offer it to Krishna, cause they say they can’t avoid onion and garlic.and i have fed on that. So i pray to Krishna everyday atleast to make my mum and dad devotees. I am an engg aspirant so i will try my best to get a good college. So they will be Happy and i can submissvely say to them that i do not want to take onion and garlic anymore. Prabhuji since you are a very good devotee of the lord. Please pray for me to make my parents devotee as well. Thank you Hope to get a reply soon.”
REPLY:
I appreciate your feelings of inability to follow devotion like others.
But, this is unnecessary feeling.
See, everyone has different family background and individuality.
One can not be like others in all aspects.
(Can one get Krishna’s Mercy if he is unable to Go to temple and Get Guru? READ HERE!)
Most of the devotees are like you only. Only a few fortunate devotees are able to follow devotion with full attention and following most of the rules.
You feel seeing the videos of others. But, these Videos may or may not expose their original devotional status.
Most of those videos may be genuine, but some devotees may show themselves as if elevated in videos.
Almost all the devotees show their positives only.
No one dare to post their mistakes, violations, etc.
How many devotees will post that they are taking Onion and garlic?
Anyone can show themselves as big devotees hiding their mistakes.
So, do not judge any devotee seeing their few minutes videos.
Though they are genuine devotees, their situation permitted them to grow in devotion fast. All the devotees can’t grow similarly.
Every devotee may be an expert in a particular skill.
One devotee may be a good singer;
Another devotee may be a good dancer;
(What to do if I am unable to follow both renouncement and balancing devotion? READ HERE!)
Another may be a good player of mrutanga;
Another devotee may be a good cook;
Another devotee may be a good pujari;
Another may be a good and perfect chanter.
Thus, everyone may excel in a particular talent.
I have seen some devotees who are revered as big devotees, but not behaving as a good husband.
I have also seen some materialistic persons who are leading a responsible and disciplined life.
(My involvement in devotion fluctuates with mood. How to be always stable? READ HERE!)
So, Individuality plays a major role in making one a particular type of devotee.
Sri Vaishnavas approach Krishna as narayana with reverred bhava and they do not follow Prema Bhakti and they do not speak much about Radha Krishna and Gopi lilas.
But, Gaudiya vaishnavas speak about them much and openly and they follow devotion in different bhavas. So, no need for feeling Inferior in devotion.
Both are acceptable.
You may not have the family cooperation for following the devotional rules.
(WHAT IF A DISCIPLE IS UNABLE TO SURRENDER TO GURU? READ HERE!)
But, you still have age. Now you are a student. So, keep this desire to follow the rules alive in mind.
Try your best to follow them now.
If there are some violations now, correct them in future when you get your own family with wife.
Select a spouse who can cooperate in following devotion properly.
Then, follow the rules properly.
Throughout your devotional life, try to follow the footsteps of senior devotees and acharyas, but, do not compare yourself with them.
Because, no two persons can be alike.
In my case, I prefer silent way of customized devotion with Krishna and I do not involve in violent dancing, loud singing, etc. I prefer everything in a mild manner. I have my own way of devotional bhava according to my bhava. I do not take part in any activity that do not match my nature. Since devotion can be followed in many bhavas, I follow a bhava that I feel comfortable.
(I fear for fall down from devotion and waste of life. What to do? READ HERE!)
If you keep on comparing like this, you may always have to live with inferiority complex.
Gopis followed their own way of devotion to Krishna. They were not feeling Inferior in devotion seeing the learnt devotees. But they were close to Krishna in their own way. Arjuna was close to Krishna in his own way.
Bhishma deva, Ramanuja, Srila Prabhupada, etc followed different way of devotion.
There are many bhavas that we can maintain in our devotion to Krishna.
So, there can’t be a single rule related to devotion to Krishna.
In fact, the devotion is a spontaneous process that has its own way of expression.
So, if you like to follow devotion peacefully without guilt, follow the footsteps of acharyas, but, do not try to become LIKE others.
It is not possible at all to become LIKE another devotee.
Hope you are clear now about feeling Inferior in devotion seeing the devotional practices of others!
(Why some devotees fear to attend ISKCON and follow strict rules? READ HERE!)