Is targeting both Krishna and studies to be a top ranker wrong?
A 13 years young child (!) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna Prabhuji. Please read my question carefully,I will be very much thankful to thee. I am a thirteen years old girl who studies in 9th Grade.I am in deep love with The Dark Complexioned Lord.I love Him intensely. But I recently heard of Mirabai , One of the Greatest Devotees Of The Lord. I came to know that she left everything for the sake of Lord Krishna. But I aspire to become One of The Greatest Mathematicians of the world but I don’t know if this desire is right, I mean a devotee doesn’t have any other desire other than that of Union With God. I have been loving Mathematics too much that it is even dearer to me than my own life, I am so passionate about it. Every time I think of pursuing my Career in Maths, I think whether it will be liked by Krishna or not, I mean I am in a dilemma. As Mirabai left everything for Krishna, should I leave my intense passion of Maths for Him.Please guide me, You obviously know what is liked by My Lord. His happiness is the only essence of my life. (I request you to hide my name)”
REPLY:
Interesting.
Just tell me even a single word of Krishna from any source in which He tells us to stop doing what is destined for us naturally.
He has spoken extensively about performing our naturally assigned duties as per our Varnashrama dharma leaving the results to Himself.
Is following Varnashrama dharma possible in this kaliyuga? READ HERE.
That’s all.
Follow devotion. Good. But, why should you skip your duties?
Everyone should shine in any particular career/ industry.
Many devotees like me are doing the profession of Brahmana by preaching about God/ scriptures to others (or) performing vedic rituals.
Many serve for the country by joining Army, Navy, Air force, Police Department, Watchmen and perform their assigned duties as Kshatriyas.
Many run trades/ businesses and performing their duties as vaishyas.
Many work somewhere either in government or private sector and earn for their living.
All these activities are absolutely necessary and permitted by the scriptures and Krishna Himself.
Krishna Himself took avatar in the house of Vaishya as Yadhava who was doing the profession of the maintenance of cows.
He preached Gita NOT FOR A BRAHMANA or a Jobless person, but for a kshatriya, Aruna.
He performed lilas with cowherd girls, not with the brahmana girls or girls who have no professions.
Lord Rama took avatar in the palace of a kshatriya.
Lord Krishna accepted the devotion of even a prostitute who was longing to meet Krishna and He even visited her house as a token of acceptance of her devotion.
These examples show one thing clearly.
The interaction of Krishna with these people with some professions show that he did not see what job they did. He knows that they are doing a job that they were destined to.
That’s all.
You have natural affinity for mathematics.
It is a good target only. Just become a good mathematician, help the people and devotees/ temples, etc with your earning.
Do not get addicted to money. It will come and go. Every piece of earning is the blessing of Krishna. So, spend major part of it for yourself, your family, your future savings and also spend a part of money for the service of Krishna (or) Help those devotees/ forums that are TRULY SERVING THE LORD WITH REAL SERVICE ATTITUDE WITHOUT INCREASING THEIR COMFORTS.
Mean time, follow all the recommended devotional practices and become a sincere follower of Vaidhi (Vidhi) Bhakti.
(Can Vaidhi (Vidhi) Bhakti take you to Prema? READ HERE!)
Gradually, develop detachment from the materialistic way of life and develop Prema with Krishna and fill your consciousness with Krishna alone.
If you achieve this, you can go back to Krishna even as a big mathematician turned Vaishnava, ie, devotee of Krishna.
This is possible.
I first started my career as an executive in big companies. Then, I started a business. I was following devotion as sincerely as possible.
Now, in my middle age, I am gradually taking the steps to make my career as a brahmana-cum-vaishnava to serve the Lord in all the possible ways.
So, I am gradually going away from my previous materialistic careers and taking the service itself as a source of my living.
How was it possible?
Because, I always follow what I advise others, or I always advise what I do or atleast try to do.
That is why, even without any promotions by me, our media are respected as the Prime reference sources about the service to Krishna.
I just release the advertisements legally. Get contributions as recommended for a brahmana. Do horoscope services for my living since it is also a profession allotted for brahmanas.
Thus, I am making this service itself as my life.
Thus, you too can serve the Lord as a mathematician and review whether to continue that career after you cross the age of fifty and then involve in full time service to Krishna.
Who was my inspiration?
In the history, it was Janaka maharaja, the daughter of Sita devi. He was the kshatriya vaishnava who achieved liberation even remaining as a king.
In the recent days, I take the chairman of Ford who is the sincere devotee of Krishna and also supporting many projects of temples, through his earning.
Thus, you too can shine as a devotee while doing your assigned duties.
Hope I have explained in the elementary school language to make this 13 years young child to understand.
All the best.
Let Krishna embrace you and elevate you and similar thinkers.