We all need role models – then what does we shouldn’t become xerox copies of others mean?

Anwser Podcast

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
So when we say that we are not meant to be xerox copies of others what does it mean? Shouldn’t we have some role models or is it that whatever is our personality that is acceptable? There are two different things over here.
Role models they are for inspiration. They are not for imitation. That means Saint Akshila Prabhupada is a Mahabhagavata.
Sometimes some devotees they started imitating Prabhupada. Maybe pronouncing words like him, trying to do everything exactly like him. Only Prabhupada is Prabhupada.
Others cannot be Prabhupada. So what we can focus on is what is common between a spiritual master and disciple is not the external actions. It is the inner motivation.
It is the inner dedication. When we have role models from those role models we learn how to be inspired and committed in our service to Krishna. And how that inspiration and commitment translates in our life that practically will vary.
Because materially they and we are different. And spiritually also they and we are different. They are a soul, we are a soul.
They have their individual relationship with Krishna. We have our individual relationship with Krishna. So we can focus on the principle of inspiration.
The principle of dedication. The principle of commitment to serve Krishna. How that commitment will apply in our life that will vary.
So yesterday I was talking about something when we are trying to connect ourselves with Krishna, when we are trying to remember Krishna is Uddhipan. Uddhipan means a spiritual stimulus. Something which naturally takes our thoughts towards Krishna.
Just like we have material sense objects which take our thoughts towards worldly pleasure. Similarly there are spiritual sense objects which take our thoughts towards Krishna. So for example when we see the picture of Deity when we see the Deities, this is Krishna.
Our thoughts go towards Krishna. Now all of us based on our particular situation we will have certain spiritual sense objects that attract us the most. Somebody may like Kirtan very much.
Somebody in Kirtan also they may like a particular dhol or a particular singer. So now if somebody else may not be so musically interested. They may like the Deities more.
And they may like a particular darshan of the Deities more. This is individual. So for me personally I am a very verbal person.
So whenever I go in front of the Deities I always have to recite some verses. Speak some prayers. Then I can connect with the Deities.
So once in a class I was telling when we go in front of the Deities we should memorize some verses and recite some verses. And then when I recite the verses I feel the same Lord whom I am meditating on He is right here. I feel more prayerfully connected.
So I spoke that and after 2-3 days one devotee came to me and told me that since you told I have been trying to memorize verses but when I go in front of the Deities to try to recollect that verse causes me so much tension that whatever the bhakti is there it goes away. Laughing So what happened so verses are a uddhipan for me but verses are not uddhipan for him. Because he is a different person.
For him the verbal for him just looking at the Deities looking at their decoration, looking at their paraphernalia that may attract. So the point which I am making here is that because all of us are individuals we definitely need to take inspiration from others. But if we mistake inspiration for imitation then we will try to do the external that they are doing and we will not be able to do it.
We will feel frustrated that why am I not able to do it? Or even if we are able to do it others will say you are just putting up a show. So the important thing is we have to bring out the best within us. And the process of bhakti will bring out the best within us.
So when we see others committed to the process of bhakti we take that inspiration to become similarly committed. But when you become similarly committed the way in which you will implement that commitment will vary. So that variation is vital because all of us are individuals.
So when you say that we have to accept ourselves for what we are that doesn’t mean that we don’t change ourselves. But we focus on the process that will change us. We don’t focus on the external markers of change.
The external markers say somebody recites a lot of verses but maybe I am not able to recite verses. That devotee’s capacity to memorize so many verses that is an external manifestation of the internal process of the devotee to commit oneself to serving Krishna. That devotee may have a lot of verbal intelligence.
That devotee may have a lot of memory capacity. And that’s how they are able to remember verses. But what we can take inspiration is that devotee committed oneself to serving Krishna.
So let me commit myself to serving Krishna. And the way I commit myself maybe I can do a lot of distribution. Maybe I can do a lot of deity decoration.
So what I can do specifically may vary. So when we take from others what we take is the inspiration to commit ourselves to the process of change. If we become if we try to imitate the marks of change this is how this person is changed.
It will just not work. So some devotees may be able to eat very less food. And they may be able to live nicely.
They may eat very simple food and they may be able to practice. If we eat very less then they are constantly thinking of food, food, food. They are not thinking of Krishna.
They are thinking of food. So we should eat what is necessary for us. The principle we can take I should become absorbed in Krishna and I should not be so infatuated with food.
But what will be the regulation of food for us that will vary. So we definitely need role models and from the role models we take the inspiration to commit ourselves to the process of change. Does it answer your question?