How to serve Krishna if one is unable to visit the temples?
A girl devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
“Hare Krishna, Dandavat Pranam. I request you to Please hide my name, I truly need your guidance on this. Me (non-initiated) and my mother are initiated devotees. However, my father is a non-devotee who doesn’t leave a single chance to blaspheme krishna and vaishnavas. From the very beginning, He has always been abusive physically and mentally towards us but now, when we have no other desires left in this world, he tries to make more and more obstacles so that we couldn’t get ahead in KC and he does it intentionally. He even plays mind games by talking about Krishna like he has changed and we sometimes unknowingly fall in that trap and face more obstacles. My mother got initiated only after his permission, but now, he’s trying to make things worse even if he knows everything about KC. I cannot explain everything about his toxicity, it has been an everyday story for us but his behaviour has been a blessing for us which helped us to get closer to krishna. but the only thing which is affecting us is that we cannot even go to temple or serve our guru and associate with devotees. I just want blessings from pure devotees so that I can advance, even if we are doing all the devotional services, if i cannot get the mercies of pure devotees, then how will I serve Krishna properly, is there any other way?, I have been praying Krishna but cannot find any way, please do guide. Haribol”
REPLY:
Both you and mother like to attend the temple programs regularly to associate with the Vaishnavas and grow fast in devotion to Krishna.
But, father who is a non devotee of Krishna does not permit and accuse in many ways.
So, both of you are unable to visit the temples.
This is your problem.
(What if Satisfying Krishna affects satisfying family members? READ HERE!)
There are two or three options to manage this situation.
Firstly, associate more with the vaishnavas online. During the Corona Pandemic, throughout the world, the schoold, colleges, courts, offices, I.T. Companies, etc did the business through online.
The students studied and got degrees and certificates by studying through online.
The employees worked from home and ran the companies profitably.
Thus, in this technologically advanced world, there are many ways to get association.
This is what we are doing since the year 2011.
Yes, it is true that direct association is the best one to see in person and get spiritual vibrations.
But, when direct association is not possible, we have to look for the alternatives.
In our online sathsangha, thousands of devotees are connected and receive updates every day without fail.
Thus, though they are unable to attend the Sunday Classes in the temples, they get well explained contents about Krishna and devotional life in their phone itself.
(If the parents object the devotional life, how can a child continue it? READ HERE!)
So, you can make use of our online sathsangha.
Many other devotees too offer opportunities for other devotees to associate thru different online forums and social media.
You can make use of them also finding the genuine sources.
You can well serve the vaishnavas even thru online. It is also considered to be effective in the eyes of Krishna.
For example, Srila Prabhupada gave diksha to thousands of devotees.
Do you think that all of them stayed with him?
No.
Only a few stayed with Srila Prabhupada. Others were sent by Srila Prabhupada throughout the world to establish new centers.
Thousands of disciples did what Srila Prabhupada instructed. They could not meet Srila Prabhupada even for an year or two or even more.
Still they served him through Vani, ie, by being away from him and doing what he instructed.
Thus, they satisfied his Guru even without seeing him by being thousands of miles away.
See, even in our online preaching service, many devotees are taking part in different ways – by sharing our posts, by using our services, by donating, etc.
(Managing all Devotional Practices though the family cooperation is less! Tips! READ HERE!)
Only their support is making this service possible for me because I am not a rich guy to easily bear the costs and schedules. So, I have to work for them as they put their trust in me.
Thus, I serve them. They serve me. Both are happy. Krishna too is happy.
How nice this arrangement is!
Another way is to attend the temples directly whenever your father is out of station or in good mood. Take Online sathsangha as much as possible. Whenever he permits or whenever he goes to out station, attend the temple programs directly.
At the same time, keep praying to Krishna to give him reformation to allow both of you to the temples and also to make him also a devotee.
Krishna will fulfil the genuine selfless prayers of His devotees.
Praying for being unable to visit the temples is also a genuine prayer.
What else we can do except waiting for the mercy of Krishna?
(Is Krishna Consciousness a madness as accused by my family? READ HERE!)