If we stay in our comfort zone while doing service, how will we grow?

Answer Podcast

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
There’s an important question that if we stay in our comfort zone, then how will we advance? We need somebody who, we also need an association of someone who pushes us out of our comfort zone. Yeah, see generally the word comfort has a negative connotation to it.
Don’t be in your comfort zone. At the same time, if we use the word compatibility, like Varanashram, they said a Brahmana needs like Brahminical engagement, that’s compatible engagement. So, my understanding would be that if there is a comfort zone, there is a stretch zone and there is a, sorry, there is a comfort zone, stretch zone and panic zone we say.
So, now we need to come out of our comfort zone. But we need, you could say, a comfortable way to come out of our comfort zone. That means that if there is a basic foundation of stability, yes, so somebody is, you are accepted and valued as you are.
At the same time, you can improve. But if the basic foundation itself is insecure, then that person will be simply like drowning in an ocean, catching on to straws. So, we don’t want to be like that.
So, sattva guna has a characteristic of steadiness to it. And the steadiness comes because the person is at peace with themselves. So, I put it this way that when we are purely devoted, shuddha sattva means we are in harmony with Krishna.
Sattva means we are in harmony with ourselves. And both are required. We want to be in harmony with ourselves and we want to be in harmony with Krishna.
So, in general, if we have like-minded association, then that also actually pushes us. If that devotee is also dedicated, that devotee is also committed in doing services, then we associate with them. I have a few devotees who study shastra and it’s not just study shastra, but study shastra in a way that can be presented in a contemporary way.
And when I talk with them, I feel so inspired. I should also study this more. I should also think about these issues more.
I should also present it better. So, generally, like-minded association will also push us. So, now, do we need to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone in terms of doing something which is not compatible for us? Well, sometimes it may be required.
In general, there is the individual consideration and the institutional consideration. So, from the institution’s perspective, there are certain services which just need to be done. And if devotees become too picky, I don’t feel like doing this, I don’t feel like doing this, then it will be a problem.
But at the same time, if devotees are lifelong treated simply from a utilitarian perspective, from a utilitarian perspective is, you know, this is what is needed, you do this, this is what is needed, you do this, then there cannot be longevity. So, from an individual’s perspective, the devotee should be ready to do whatever service is asked to be done. It’s a compatible cable.
And it’s doing what it needs to do. Excellent. Thank you.
So, from the individual’s perspective, for longevity, it’s required that there be some kind of overall compatible engagement. And within compatible engagement also, a devotee can stretch oneself. Somebody likes to sing, they can learn more and more about singing.
They can excel in that. Somebody likes to speak, they think of more and more, how can I speak better? Somebody likes to write, somebody likes to manage. Everything within our particular area of expertise.
We can excel in that. Yes.