Full time Service in temples by married devotees – Who can choose?
Qn. In Detail:
Namaste, my name is ………………, wen I was in second standard I felt to give up everything and pray lord Krishna all the time. But due to materialistic world I forgot Krishna, again after entering degree I fell in love with a girl just by listening her name (Kris………….), there after again my spiritual life started, I never thought that she will accept my love but surprisingly she accepted my love in last year of degree. After some days in painful situation I started to pray Krishna very much, there after I got a job in a small company, I worked there for 2 years, before a year due to some circumstances I left the job, now I don’t have job, but I never stop believing my Lord Krishna. I’m feeling unexplainable love about my lord Krishna right from few months, I’m feeling to pray him for each and every breath of my life. But the problem is, I need to get married with my lover because her parents r forcing her to marry someone else. One more thing is she’s a devotee of Hanuman, she is always used to tell me that she is getting a dream in that she is seeing Krishna statue all the time. Now I don’t have job but I committed with her so I should fulfill that, what shall I do, my ultimate aim is Krishna only. she also agreed for that, shall we get married? My parents accepted my love, but not marriage, if I get married without, I believe they will accept? One more question is, I’m very much interested to join iskcon, but seeing all u people I feel a type of fear, by seeing ur achievement in Krishna consiousness, I’m nothing in front of u people, I feel that do I really have capability to get Krishna consciousness, and y I’m feeling fear by seeing u people.
REPLY:
First, I like to state that you are oscillating between material life as well as Krishna. If you take full time service now in a temple now, you may break that later.
You have two contrary desires : (1) To marry that loving girl; (2) To do full time service to Krishna in temples.
(CAN GIRLS AVOID MARRIAGE AND STAY IN THE TEMPLES? A TEST FOR YOU! READ HERE!)
It appears that you need to develop full conviction about taking full time service in temples. Settling n a temple without full eligibility may spoil the temple atmosphere.
Unless a wife cooperates in the full time temple service, one can not do in real life.
If both the wife and husband involve in the full time service to Lord, it is easy and recommended.
If only the wife or husband chooses full time service, you can not balance both the temple service and home.
Therefore, even before marrying, you have to decide what kind of life you should lead after marriage.
(I lost my interest to go to jobs after following devotion. What to do? (With tips for temples) READ HERE!)
My advice is: If you like to do full time service you have only these two choices:
(i) First confirm that you have real interest in Full time Service in temples and your eligibility to serve in temples. And, Get the consent of your “would be” girl that both of you will lead full time service in temple by staying outside. You can have a home for you and serve in the temple from morning till night. The system is that the grahasthas have to arrange themselves for their earning for family running. Of course, the temples may consider giving some small salary for your service if you demand.
But, it may not be sufficient for family running because you will get children and spend for education, medicine, etc. Therefore, the best thing is that your wife may serve in temple from morning till evening and you can serve in temple all the other time after finishing your outside job. This alone can be a practically feasible solution.
(ii) Second option is that, you can serve in temple in part time if both of you like to go to jobs.
(How to take some services in ISKCON Temples? READ HERE!)
In case you remain as a brahmachari, you can dedicate yourself to temples all the time and they will take care of your food, shelter inside the temple and basic needs like dress, soaps, toothpaste, etc.
However, Full time Service in temples by married devotees are possible ONLY IF your temple has vacancies to accommodate you. In case there are excess number of devotees already, you may have to look for the temple in nearby cities.
Next, FEAR SEEING THE SENIOR DEVOTEES:
First of all, this is an unwanted fear because, all the devotees are humans and they are just involving in the service to Lord. They too are like all others and you need not fear seeing them.
In fact, such experienced devotees will mercifully guide the young devotees like you. Or, atleast you can watch them and learn how to serve Krishna. No need for fear.
(My Parents do not allow me to go to ISKCON. What shall I do? READ HERE!)
Since you have mentioned me, I write like this: In my case, the source of all our knowledge is our previous acharyas. Srila Prabhupada has said that everyone should utilize his talents in the service of Krishna. Following this advice, I am writing whatever I learnt in a simplified manner in my way of writing. That’s all. This service is not unconditional. If any devotee develop pride, Krishna will withdraw all the blessed knowledge from me and him. Therefore, an experienced Vaishnava will not consider himself as a big devotee. Only because the senior devotees taught me, I have served you for the past many years.
Therefore, this is like a chain reaction. Knowledge is passed from a devotee to another devotee. This is the beauty of devotional service.
The devotees are using their skills for Krishna. That’s all. Since they are serving Krishna, they are vaishnavas and hence all the devotees give them sufficient respect. Krishna says that Vaishnavas should be honoured as if we honour Krishna. Since they dedicate their life for Krishna, we give them all the honours like we give for Krishna. Krishna feels happy when we honour vaishnavas.
(Though they have advanced knowledge of God, why many Indians violate the disciplinary rules in public places? READ HERE!)
The vaishnavas too should not get elated because of getting enormous respects from others. A good Vaishnava dedicates all the received honours to his guru and Krishna and he does not receive them.
An additional information to you about the full time Service in temples by married devotees. Like other material jobs, there may be misunderstandings between a few devotees even while serving the Lord. I have seen issues in some temples that are sorted out by the managements from time to time. Some quarrels may be there at times. These are all natural in any forum in which a group of persons are involved in any assignment.
Therefore, think in the long run. Evaluate your situation thoroughly and discuss with your “would be” frankly and decide accordingly.
Desire to serve full time is a good desire, but, you should decide considering all the above aspects and in consultation with the spouse. Never take decisions without consulting your spouse.
Hope you are clear about the Full time Service in temples by married devotees!
(NINE PROCESS OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE! READ HERE!)