Is following hobbies thinking Krishna allowed for devotees?
A Girl devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna Prabhu ji. I am a 19 year old girl. I have passion and hobbies which makes me happy I want to follow them all yet not being detached but something in my mind keeps telling me to give up on all my passion and hobbies. If I follow my hobbies and interest being detached and also remembering Krishna. I hope I’m not doing anything wrong pls guide me Prabhu, I’m in very much discomfort”
REPLY:
The devotees see a main advice of Krishna and try to apply it to unwanted activities also. Krishna advised us to perform our duties with detachment thinking of Krishna. Here, this girl asks whether she can apply the same advice of Krishna in following hobbies also.
See, the hobbies should be given least importance in the life of every devotee.
A Hobby need not be only productive, i.e., growth oriented activities. It may also involve unproductive activities to relax our mind.
(Is devotees enjoying student age wrong? Tips to come out of guilt! READ HERE!)
A productive activity may require you to apply your mind and body to achieve something that is essential to manage our life.
Whichever activity that is essential to lead a better life while living as well as after death is a productive activity.
Any activity that gives just pleasure or rest is an unproductive activity.
For example, studying, working, earning, chanting, spiritual sadhanas, spiritual reading, etc., are productive activities because they help us to lead our life till we live here and even after we leave this body.
Watching television except important news headlines, Cinema, drama, playing cards, dice, boards, music concerts, too much of exercises, etc., are not going to give you any benefits. Instead, they will consume your valuable time that can be used for chanting, reading, doing services to Krishna.
Now, let us take your question:
You ask me whether you can play cards or dice or watch movies thinking of Krishna with detachment also.
(Do Krishna devotees have OCD disorder for having fixed routine? READ HERE!)
This seems to be a peculiar thought of performing all kinds of activities thinking of Krishna.
One will read Romantic novels thinking of Krishna;
Another one will watch an adult movie thinking of Krishna;
Another one will play cards in a club pledging money telling that he will donate all the profits of playing cards to the temple.
Thus, it will go endless.
And, following a hobby itself is an activity of attachment. How can you play cards without attachment to results? You will play for winning and earning.
How can you watch a movie without attachment? The story itself will attach you with the characters.
The people will do all the nonsense things telling that they are doing them thinking of Krishna and without attachment.
(Should a devotee avoid movie songs and dancing for them? READ HERE!)
Does this mean you do not require any pastimes, hobbies, etc.?
Not like that. Even our hobbies should be made as productive and/or spiritual activities.
For example, if you study your college lessons for one house, take a short break, go out and chant one round and come back to resume studying.
After reading Physics or Mathematics or any other subject for an house, read Srimad Bhagavatham or Bhagavad Gita or Caitanya Caritamruta, etc., for 10 minutes and then resume studying for school/ college.
Involve One hour in material duties thinking of Krishna. Then do some spiritual reading, sadhana or service for 10 minutes and again material duties thinking of Krishna.
So, keep the sadhanas or any spiritual activity as your hobby or pastime. Then there will be no need for following hobbies thinking Krishna.
The following post of our site will guide you about spiritual pastimes:
(Good Pastimes for the devotees in the place of mundane pastimes! Tips! READ HERE!)