How do we choose whether to serve in the cities and reach out to many people or in rural communities for reviving varnashrama?

From Krishna Dhan P

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
Thank you. So sometimes we feel torn, sometimes inspired towards developing Varanasi culture in a setting that is withdrawn from modern city life and sometimes wanting to preach vigorously within the modern life, modern culture itself. So what should we do in such situations? Answer? Krishna Prabhupada has given us different definitions of success in the practice and the sharing of Krishna consciousness.
So we have to find out which definition of success gels the most with our nature. Krishna tells twice in the Bhagavad Gita in 3.35 and 18.47 that it is far better to act according to one’s own nature than to act according to someone else’s nature. So now in the specific context of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna is referring to that a Kshatriya should not act like a Brahmana and a Brahmin should not act like a Kshatriya.
Now in today’s social culture setting where the Kshatriya, Brahmana, Varanashram division is not so clear. So we have to see, we have to understand our nature and serve accordingly, situate ourselves in a position where we can serve accordingly. So what it would imply is that some devotees will choose the Varanashram system, living and developing that, and other devotees will choose to live in cities and focus on outreach in the cities.
Now in general in our spiritual life we are often influenced by association. So if we associate some devotee who emphasizes a lot on chanting and then gives classes on how to chant 64 rounds, then we will feel inspired, oh I will chant 64 rounds. But then afterwards we may meet some devotee who may be very much inspired about book distribution, and he says this is the most important thing which will change people’s hearts.
Then we may feel influenced by that. So it’s good to take inspiration from other devotees. But if we let overall our life be shaped just by the various influences that come upon us, even within devotee circles, then we may not become steady in our devotion life.
So in general, over a period of time, if we observe ourselves carefully, we will be able to discover what is the best way we can serve Krishna. Generally we discover this by looking at what we are most internally comfortable and externally competent at. That’s what can be an approximate understanding of what our nature is.
And when we see other devotees who have another kind of nature and who are inspired, motivated for success according to some other definition of success. For example, if I am inspired to do outreach to the Internet, and I meet some devotee who is focusing entirely on withdrawing from technology, all kinds of technology, and focusing only on living a natural, eco-friendly, zero technology kind of life, then I can have two kinds of attitude towards this. One could be adversarial, confrontationalist, where I try to say that what you are doing is impractical.
We expect the whole world to go back to this kind of living. It’s not going to happen. And that devotee can say that you are going into maya, getting needlessly entangled.
And people who are in this kind of maya are never going to become devotees. And instead, rather than you changing the world, the world will change you. So we can have a confrontationalist attitude or adversarial attitude, which will actually chip away the confidence of both of us to some extent, the enthusiasm of both of us.
On the other hand, we can have a mutually appreciative attitude where we appreciate the diversity and the breadth of Krishna consciousness and the capacity of Krishna consciousness to accommodate different devotees of different natures. So when I see somebody motivated and inspired to serve Krishna in a way different from mine, from the way I’m serving, rather than feeling challenged, what I can say is this person can be motivated for success in this way. Why can I not similarly be motivated and inspired for succeeding in the way that is natural for me, in the way that Krishna is inspiring me? So, you know, we have to learn to differentiate between what are the external influences coming upon us, which are shaping our thinking or changing our thinking.
And what is our intrinsic nature? Now, to some extent, we may say that the whole process of association is meant to change us. Yes, it is true. But the change that association is meant to bring about is primarily spiritual.
That means instead of loving material things, we want to love Krishna. And that is the primary change that association is meant to bring about. Association is not meant to make somebody who is of a Brahminical nature take up management and become somebody of Kshatriya nature.
That kind of association is actually not necessarily influencing us spiritually. It is influencing us more materially than spiritually. And that may not always be desirable.
So, over a period of time, if we observe ourselves, we’ll find out what is most natural for us. And then we pursue that steadily. And, of course, for some devotees, it may be a blend of two also.
They may decide that, OK, maybe 50% of my time I spend in rural eco-friendly government, 50% of my time I spend in outreach in modern cities. That may also be there. But for most devotees, it will be one or two of the choices.
For one or the first or the second of the choices, whichever way it works. The important point to recognize is that we are individuals who are different from everyone else. And we have our individual relationship with Krishna and will express our relationship according to our nature and according to our inspiration.
So, we shouldn’t become insecure to other definitions of success. But we should feel inspired to see their basic dedication rather than the specific way in which they are expressing their dedication. And if we feel inspired to serve Krishna in a particular way, with a particular definition of success, then we have to associate with other devotees who share that definition of success.
Only then will we be able to sustain our enthusiasm. Otherwise, we will start feeling that is what I am doing worthwhile. If we let ourselves be too influenced by those who have a different definition of success, we will start seeing our service and even our films as worthless.
And that is not the way which we want to pursue Krishna’s service. Everything that we do for Krishna is valuable. Krishna appreciates that.
And if it is overall within the broad spectrum of activities that comprise Krishna consciousness, as we understand from Gurusadha Shastra, then there is no need to be discouraged about it. So, the basic answer will be that we have to find out our own nature and without being unduly influenced materially by what others are doing, we pursue serving Krishna according to our nature in the association of those devotees who have a similar definition of success to what is the definition that is inspired by our nature. Thank you.