When our values are different from partying professionals how can we set an example in our material life?

Answer Podcast

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
You know when we need to set an example, there is a tension over there because at one level our values are different from other people’s values. Say they may go for parties where they drink and smoke and do all those things.
And there are certain things in which our values and their values are different. So sometimes we focus too much on the differences. Say I don’t do that, I don’t do that, I don’t do that.
So we have our standards, we have our principles but our principles are meant to sanctify us. Our principles are not meant to shame others. You do this, you do that, you do that.
No. They are for our purification. So when we are with others, we focus not on how we are different from them.
We focus on what are the similarities. So ultimately they also, everybody wants to become better, everybody wants to grow in their life. Everybody wants to make a better contribution in their life.
So you focus on the similarities. Now what are, everybody, as I said, everybody wants to improve and they see that in terms of the values that they can appreciate. Everybody appreciates patience, everybody appreciates courtesy, everybody appreciates gentleness, everybody appreciates kindness.
So there are devotional values which may not make sense to people but there are the human values that make a lot of sense, that appeal to everyone. So if by our practice of bhakti we have developed human values and people, and we focus on connecting with people at the level of human values, and people see that, such a nice human being, I would like to be such a person. And that enables them to grow.
So you talk about setting an example, that doesn’t mean that no, oh, if somebody is drinking, I go and drink. That’s not the example. What I was talking about, setting an example means, everybody wants to become a better person.
And how the process of bhakti helps us to become a better person, someone like, they would also like to become. That way we can set an example which actually inspires people to bring out the best from within them. Thank you.