What if others poke seeing us wearing Tilak?
A woman devotee who requested anonymity asked like this:
“Namaste hare krsna prabho..i have question to clarify with u..is that compulsory for those who worship krsna to join krsna consiousness? I faced misunderstanding with people when i apply thilak, they thought i joined krsna consiousness but i am not..so i would glad if u could give me ur view & i humbly request u to not to post my name tq.”
REPLY:
There is no confusion for you like “joining” ISKCON or any other organisation. It is a satsangha where you visit regularly, and support.
You may pay some donations and become its life patron. Or, you may accept a guru and become a part of disciplic sucession. So, no need to confuse about joining, leaving, etc. Thease are all natural processes in any satsangha.
(HOW TO APPLY TILAKA ON OUR BODY (As Per Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradhaya)? READ HERE!)
If you visit an organisation regularly, that means, you are identified with that spritual organisation.
Why?
Because, every spiritual organisation has its own set of rules. Even the shape of tilak, physical appearance and dressings vary in different organisations.
Of course, tilak means applying Krishna and Tulasi Maharani on our body thereby making our body a temple where Krishna and tulasi maharani lives. This is the background of tilaks.
The FIVE FOLD dressing of dhoti recommended for males is a vedic system. It has dual advantage. It gives a spritual look for the devotee and It also protects the devotee from getting exposed while busily performing his duties for Krishna.
The ‘uniform’ and Vaishnava appearance of devotees also indicate that this person is involving in the servicie of the Lord and hence no one need to disturb him/ her with any other motives.
When you wear Vaishnava dress and have Vaishnava appearance, you will not face much disturbances from the materialistic people.
(28 SCIENTIFIC AND SPIRITUAL REASONS FOR WEARING TILAK (MARK ON FOREHEAD)! READ HERE!)
Srila Prabhupada would say that the devotee silently preaches through his vaishnava appearance also. Because, Wearing Vaishnava dress and tilak makes others also think about devotional way of life.
So, even when you apply tilak and wear vaishnava dress, you will be considered a dedicated Krishna Conscious Person.
So, don’t get affected by their questions. You are applying tilak to bring Krishna on your body and to please Krishna, not to please other people.
If Krishna gets pleased, what else we want greater than Him?There is nothing in this world better than Krishna.
If you instal Krishna on your forehead, that mark on your forehead will attracat hundreds of persons who have similar interest in devotional way of life.
You are silently advertising for the goodness of others.
So, don’t bother about others. You are living for your own elevation. Not to get praised by others. If you like to be praised, you should aldo be ready to face insults.
(WEAPONS TO BEAT MAYA – TILAKA, TULASI BEADS AND PRASADAM! READ HERE!)
Whatever you do, some persons will poke. Let them change like you after seeing your Vaishnava appearance.
Though you speak truth and lead life honestly, you will be accused by others. One can’t be a good person for all the people because everyone has different expectations.
If you start to wear Tilak, in due course of time, others will get inspired one day in future. They may poke for a short period only. Same people will start to follow your sincere following of devotion.
If you stop wearing Tilak because of the poking of some unproductive people, that means, you are not strong in devotion and dedication.
If you continue to wear tilak, it will purify yourself and please Krishna. Krishna gives Himself to such devotees!
These poking and commenting people do not have strict principles in life. They do not have the discipline of respecting the faiths & beliefs of others.
One has no right to blame or accuse or poke the faiths of others. If someone does the same, we need not give importance for the acts of such materialistic persons who are wasting their precious human life.
Our goal is to please Krishna alone. So, there is no need to please materialistic people.
(Why Krishna wears Tilak with Tulasi on forehead instead of Feet? READ HERE!)
When we were in poverty during my school period, my father faced a critical financial shortage. So, he pledged the handle bar of his bicycle to a financiar and got some small money to spend for family. Then, he cut a branch of a tree and cut the wood similar to the shape of the bicycle handle bar, fixed it at the place where original handle bar had been fixed. previously.
It must be the first wooden handle bar for a bicycle in India. He was driving that bicycle for months. Many local people would have thought why this man is driving a handlebar made up of wood and many people even poked my father. But, he didn’t bother about their negative comments and poking. His goal is to pay the fees for his child’s studies.
Such a great sacrefice of my father for the goodness of this family made us responsible citizens and devotees.
Similarly, we should wear tilak on our forehead to get Krishna’s mercy, not to get the goodwill of materialistic people who do not know the greatness of getting Krishna.
When you wear Tilak, you declare to this world thatg you are available only for performing devotional services, not for the materialistic way of life.
Therefore, we should follow Vaishnava appearance so that others get impressed with their spiritual outlook and behaviour and one day, they will start to follow this Vaishnava appearance.
Those people will not bear your pains. They can just pass comments. They are highly unproductive people.
So, decide whom you want? Krishna who can give painless eternal life? Or, these unproductive people who will just comment at you without helping?
Wear Tilak boldly and proudly as a Glorious Krishna devotee!
(What if a devotee is unable to wear Tilak to avoid Getting enquired? READ HERE!)