Do Krishna devotees have OCD disorder for having fixed routine?
A male devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna Prabhu, Please accept my humble obeisances. Recently I happened to read about a physiological condition called OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder). It involves that the person has to compulsorily do certain rituals, else he feels something bad will happen, so he forces himself to do those rituals (can be touching something, tapping something etc.). He prefers a strict routine, keeps things neat and tidy. Have a high stress on right and wrong things, which should be done and which should not be done etc. Some people who have stronger versions have other storing symptoms may be.
So when I was reflecting a Hare Krishna devotee lifestyle, i was reflecting that we are kind of forcing ourselves many times to be strict in our regulation, sadhana etc. Though Ideally it must be done in the platform of love to Guru and Krishna, most of the times when we are not in loving mood, we force ourselves from platform of duty or love. So over the years it appears many of us will be classified into this OCD compulsive disorder…
There are various research studies and I think the results have shown both positive and negative.
A study concludes that devotees tend to pick up compulsive perosnality. A study shows chanting reduces anxiety and calms the brain.
So though the Hare Krishna Mantra is absolute and all good, depending on how we approach it (mechanical vs love) makes the difference? But in the initial stages, it is hard to be in loving platform.
Second related question is, if a devotee tries to cook everyday and chant 16 rounds, and has to do a 9 to 6 job it is a very tight schedule. Add to this that if the devotee has some health needs which needs extra sleep, some exercise etc.. then just managing day to day basic daily activities become so very packed that there is no time to spend in relationships with family and friends, hobbies, entertainment, etc., can become very rare. After such a demanding schedule at home , most devotees are tired when they are in office work. Ideally if a devotee is healthy and sleeps between 10 to 4 etc.. morning sadhana and routine may go well. But, if someone has other commitments, travel to office, health needs, etc., and wakes up consistently around 6 am etc.. then things become unmanageable and one becomes stressed out trying to meet all the duties.
I think most practicing devotees might be able to relate to this.. how do we manage this more smoothly?”
REPLY:
You have quoted the year 1990’s report in which the reporter analyzed whether the Krishna devotees have OCD because of their rigid and compelling schedule of daily routine Sadhanas (devotional practices).
In fact, that study did not say that the devotees develop OCD. It says that the Psychological health of the devotees remain normal similar to the outsiders. The devotee community too welcomed that finding.
(Will devotion to Krishna correct psychological issues like Depression? How? READ HERE!)
See, do you think those who advise us to follow a strict schedule make us develop OCD?
If it is so, all our parents, school teachers and those who guide us to follow strict disciplined life should be causing OCD to the students, children, etc.
I too am following a perfect daily schedule of Posts for the past 15 years without deviations. Then, I too should be a person having OCD disorder.
The mothers of all of us follow perfect daily schedule of cooking, packing the food, sending the husband and children to office or institution. Are they affected by OCD?
The employees and students perfectly follow a daily schedule every day. It is called discipline of following a schedule, not an OCD.
Even the governments worldwide imposed strict guidelines including lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid pandemic.
Sun and all the planets follow a perfect schedule and if they deviate, everything will collapse.
Krishna Himself followed a schedule of visiting the forests everyday with cows, bulls and calf. Just because one follows a schedule every day, it does not mean, he has OCD.
What is wrong in advising us to follow perfect disciplined life with the purifying sadhanas? It helps us to avoid a sinful life.
How can we commonly say that Krishna devotees have OCD (Obsessive compulsive Disorder?
Indians are used to hear and follow such strict advices right from their elementary school life. In fact, right from the day on which we started walking, our parents started to control us.
Though our parents started to control us right from our childhood, we have not been affected psychologically.
(What if Psychological issues affect devotion as extreme & Impractical? READ HERE!)
In fact, only because of such conditions, we are the responsible persons now.
Spiritual organizations give some advices to REGULATE US, not to CONTROL US.
They give some suggestions and advices for a quality life to be eligible to get the mercy of God.
Only when we like to get initiated by a guru, we are expected to follow strict discipline and some sadhanas like chanting.
Because, when we take initiation, we ourselves decide to follow a life of purity and devotion. Since Krishna is Pure, we too have to purify us to be eligible to go back to Krishna.
The sadhanas recommended in the devotional life are expected to be done with Love, not mechanically (or) by force.
Even studying the school or college lessons without interest affects our mood, ie, psychology.
(How to follow devotion to get rid of depression and Psychological issues? READ HERE!)
So, if one is not interested in serious devotional life, he need not take pains by following those sadhanas.
These recommendations are meant only for those who are interested in following devotional way of life.
Without regulations, there is no purity. Without the Purity, it is not possible to get God.
Purity is the force. Hence some regulatory advices.
It is up to us to follow or not.
So, when we perform all the sadhanas including chanting with love and follow the regulations out of our own will, there is no chance for psychological effects.
These sadhanas come under Vaidhi bhakti. This Vaidhi Bhakti is meant to take us to the state of Prema, ie, loving Krishna.
Loving Krishna is a blissful feeling. It will enhance our consciousness and purity. It will not affect the psychology.
These regulations may be new to the western countries where such cases were filed. But, they are common in India. So, Indians are used to those regulations right from their childhood.
Hope you are clear whether Hare Krishna devotees have OCD disorder for having fixed routine.
(PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES WHILE FIGHTING BETWEEN DEVOTION AND MATERIAL LIFE – A CASE STUDY! READ HERE!)