If we feel insecure because we grew up in a very sinful environment and we see devotees who grew up in pure environments how to deal with that insecurity?

So, you know, we may have had many kinds of conditionings while growing up. And then, we meet Gurukulis who don’t have such conditionings—they live very purely. My broad understanding is that in this world, there are no unmixed blessings.

What I have observed is that those who grew up in something like a Gurukul, when they reach their teenage years, often develop a mood of rebellion. At that time, they may want to explore the world—and sometimes they do so without any guardrails, even going to extremes.

In general, adolescence is a time of rebellion. For some of us, our rebelliousness toward what we grew up with brings us closer to Krishna. For others, that rebelliousness takes us away from Krishna.

Of course, it’s not easy to say what is ultimately better. Certainly, having a good upbringing is an asset. It’s possible that such a person may not rebel too far—maybe they just experiment a little in the material world, realize its emptiness, and then return. But it’s also possible they may get completely lost in it.

Conversely, those of us who grew up with material conditionings carry those impressions into our bhakti. Old desires and cravings keep popping up, pulling us back. When we go out preaching, we may see things from our past and feel tempted again. But another possibility is that since we have already done those things, the world doesn’t hold the same attraction for us anymore.

So, the principle is: whatever situation we are in, we should ask, “How can this be made favorable for my bhakti?” An upbringing in the material world has its disadvantages, but it can also be turned into an advantage. Because many temptations of the world are not a mystery to us—we have tasted them already.

For children raised in devotee families, the material world may look like a forbidden apple—fascinating simply because it’s forbidden. But for those of us who lived in the material world before coming to Krishna, the world is more like a forsaken apple. We’ve tasted it, and we know it’s not worth it.

Of course, conditionings can still haunt us. If that happens, it’s important to find ways to absorb ourselves in Krishna—not only steady absorption but also “emergency absorption.” Steady absorption means the practices we love and do regularly, like singing, reading, or distributing books. Emergency absorption is what we turn to when cravings hit suddenly. For some it may be chanting, for others hearing a particular devotee’s classes, reading a certain pastime from the Bhagavatam, or even reviewing notes we’ve made from inspiring talks.

If we prepare such resources for both steady and emergency absorption, we can use our past as fuel to strengthen our resolve and keep moving toward Krishna.

Another advantage is that if we later dedicate ourselves to outreach, our past gives us empathy. We can relate to people because we have lived through their struggles. For example, Srila Prabhupada was extraordinarily successful in Western outreach. But after some years, he focused more on India and left Western outreach largely to his Western disciples, recognizing that they could connect more directly with people there.

So, the larger point is: always maintain a positive attitude toward wherever we are in life. You might think, “I was born in an atheistic family, where meat-eating and other things were common.” That’s true. You may not have had a relationship with Krishna then, but Krishna always had a relationship with you. His plan for your life didn’t begin the day you met devotees. He was guiding you even before that.

Krishna says He directs the wanderings of all living beings—not just devotees. He is the well-wisher of everyone (suhridam sarva-bhūtānām). So, even our pre-devotional life was also part of His arrangement for our ultimate well-being.

With that broader vision, we can see our past—whatever it was—as part of Krishna’s plan, and move forward with gratitude and confidence.

Okay. Thank you.