Renouncing the actions (or) the fruits of actions – Which is Good?
A girl devotee asked like this:
“When I was materially much attached and was desperately seeking material happiness. That time my elder brother gifted me the whole book set of Srimad Bhagvatam by Srila Prabupada . I started reading it very sincerely and gradually understood about supreme personality of Godhead Krishna. Almost everywhere in purport I was reading that the material life is cause of all our sufferings and if we live a Krishna Conscious life then all our problems will be vanished. I was suffering that time and finally decided to give up material life. So gradually I have developed renunciation in material matters. And realized peace.
But now when I am trying to implement and follow all the rules and regulations in my life so now now I am finding myself struggling. It is like material life is not allowing me to become a pure devotee (who has nothing to do with anything other than Krishna or related to Krishna). I am not free to live a spiritual life. It is suffocating me day and night and like a helpless person I am compromising every day. It’s painful.
I feel like that Krishna first taught me to develop renunciation in material matters but now Krishna is teaching me to be balanced in material and spiritual life. Why He is not giving me facilities to live a fully devotional and spiritual life now.? And as now I do not like material way of life then Why He is showing me the path of balance now. Help me. Hare Krishna.”
REPLY:
Krishna has Simply said in Bhagavad Gita 18.11: “he who renounces the fruits of action is one who has truly renounced“.
So, balancing duties is better than renouncing as said by Krishna Himself.
Shall I finish here itself?
Our devotees may not get satisfied. They need atleast one page explanation from me. I can’t escape!!
I have been reppeatedly writing in this site and social media that the visiting devotees to the temples need not like to become like the saffron worn devotees of the temple.
That kind of full time service has suited them and hence they have chosen that.
Your background and Lifestyle may be different from others!
Do not like to be like others. You be according to your situation and background.
If you like to be like others, you will end up in psychological issues and you may even become a mad.
Some persons are able to come out of his home and settle in the temples because their situation allows that.
(Should a devotee marry or not or settle in temples? A-Z Tips!
READ HERE!)
There are two main classes of devotees who come to full time service:
(i) A section of devotees come to the devotional way of life in temples because of genuine desire to serve the Lord.
(ii) But, there is another section of devotees who come to the devotional way of life for escaping from their material problems like unhealthy & discouraging situation in their families, love failures, tortures from parents, escaping from material burdens, problems after marriage, etc.
These classs-(ii) A part of the devotees who come to the devotional way of life to escape from material problems may not stay for long in the devotional service. They will again go to the previous life if they get good opportunity or good turn of events.
But, all of them will look like renounced devotees when we see them. We can’t study what they have inside. Only a few of them would have developed sufficient renouncement. Others will be trying to renounce and fighting with the situation.
Therefore, we should not like to become ‘LIKE’ OTHERS.
If a person likes to fully renounce because of severe family problems, we can understand that. Why should you too should go for such a way of renouncement when you have a good family?
(Will Krishna accept if we desert parents and stay in temples? READ HERE!)
Their background is different; Your background is different.
Who said that total renouncement is possible in kaliyuga for all?
It is possible only for a few.
And, a dry renouncement alone will not be sufficient. It will give just MUKTHI, not Krishna.
(Should we pray for Mukti or Moksha or Devotional Service? Why? READ HERE!)
Krishna did not encourage the dry renounciation of hating the material relations, things, etc.
Krishna CLEARLY says that we should work for His pleasure thinking of Him.
He did not insist us to renounce everything and go to a secluded place.
It is impossible in this kaliyuga.
The stories that we read in puranas happened in other yugas. Thousands of years ago.
Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 3.19:
“Therefore, without being attached to the fruits of activities, one should act as a matter of duty, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme.”
So, first stop trying for renounciation.
I am just advising (i) Detachment from the fruits of our action while working and (ii) Performing our duties thinking of Krishna in mind and using our knowledge and earnings for Krishna to the possible extent.
If you do this, that itself will be enough for this kaliyuga.
Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 3.19:
“Not by merely abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from reaction, nor by renunciation alone can one attain perfection.”
Particularly, you are a girl. You should not remain unmarried as said by acharyas. So, do not develop this kind of thoughts.
Consider the following tips:
(i) Instead of renouncing everything, concentrate in applying everything in the service of Krishna. This will be the best alternative.
(ii) Instead of renouncing the works, work more, earn more and help Krishna’s service more.
(iii) Instead of renouncing the people, be with them, make changes in them as devotees by being a good devotee. It will one day change others. It happened in my case. Only because of the devotion and duties combined life of my parents, I became a devotee. So, I have to be thankful for my parents too.
(iv) Instead of renouncing the marriage, marry a good devotee who is also not interested in highly materialistic way of life, lead a responsible grahastha life, do services to Krishna along with the husband and make your children as devotees. Even if you do not get a devotee from your own sathsangha, atleast marry a boy with much interest in worshiping God. Later, you can make him to follow your way of life.
(v) Instead of running away from duties, perform some services in the temples atleast once a week on holidays for a few hours.
(vi) Like I am using my skills in the service of the Lord, you too apply any of your special skills for the Lord. Serve with the talent you have.
To understand the service to the Lord, read this history:
Thirukkachchi Nambi, a very popular Vaishnava in SRI Sampradhaya during Sri Ramanuja‘s period was the humblest devotee who never hurted anyone in his life. Even the Lord Krishna (Lord Varadharaja in Kancheepuram, near Chennai) was speaking to him every day.
Do you know what service he was doing for the Lord? He did two main services with full dedication. Every day, he would fan the deity of Lord during the resting time of the Lord. While fanning, the Lord will be speaking to Nambi. In addition to that, he will pluck the flowers from his garden, make a garland and offer to the deity of Lord Varadharaja (Krishna). It was his duty till he left this world.
With these services and truthfulness, he was able to directly speak to Krishna.
Did he run away to the forest?
Did Srila Prabhupada run away to the secluded place to take rest?
In the history, we can seen many great devotees who have served the Lord while working somewhere. Eg: Bakthi Vonoda Thakkura.
By developing unwanted DRY RENOUNCEMENT, the people are confusing themselves and spoiling their lives. They neither succeed in renouncement nor in supporting his own needs. Then, they oscillate here and there. One day, they become aware of the reality of life. The time would have gone to correct it.
(How to follow Sanyasa in kaliyuga, the modern & materialistic age?
READ HERE!)
So, take your work bag, go to work, get the salary, spend a part for the Lord’s Seva, support your family needs and feel the greatness.
Chant as much as possible in the morning and / or evening, offer food to Krishna, do some simple worship for five minutes. Then, start to the duties (office).
Spend more time for Krishna in temple for 2-3 hours on Sundays.
Start looking for a boy who is interested in devotion involved life. Marry him.
This kind of life will please the Lord more than getting confused seeing other devotees.
Let me remind again: Every devotee should act according to his/ her family situation. Not blindly following others because their background will be different.
Remember my advices and lead a duty bound life keeping Krishna in mind.
Again I say:
Renouncing the fruits of our actions is better than renouncing our actions as said by Krishna Himself in Bhagavad Gita !
(Working without expectations made my life mechanical. What to do?
READ HERE!)