While making choices how to decide which are important and which aren’t?

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Transcript

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Thank you. How do we understand which choices are important? Generally, we classify things as spiritual and material.
Now, that is a fair enough classification. But that is not necessarily a complete classification. Because everything material is not at the same level.
In material, there is goodness, there is passion, there is and material also, we could say that, that there is aparadharma and there is adharma. Paradharma is our spiritual duty, our spiritual relationship with Krishna. Aparadharma, aparadharma is material dharma.
So that is not necessary, that is not spiritual, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be completely neglected or rejected. Our duty to our family, our duty to our country, our professional obligations, all these come under aparadharma. And adharma is that which is irreligious, that which is to be avoided entirely.
So even in the material, there are levels, there is goodness, passion, ignorance or another way we could classify it is, even in our material things, there are some things which are pro-devotional, some things which are non-devotional, some things which are anti-devotional. So, for example, if you take a particular job, the job is material, but then depending on the workload over there, the nature of the work there, the nature of the association there, that job may fall in the category of pro-devotional, non-devotional or anti-devotional. Anti-devotional means if it involves breaking the regulative principles, then it becomes directly anti-devotional.
Pro-devotional means we are doing something which is in some way broadly connected with a spiritual culture or it involves work in the mode of goodness. So, that could be pro-devotional. So, in general, we need to not just have a rigid division of material and spiritual, rather we should focus on the division, what is anukul to bhakti and what is pratikul to bhakti.
Anukul is sankalpa, pratikul is desvarjana. So, whatever is favorable, we accept, whatever is unfavorable, we reject. And we do not go into too much of analysis whether something is material or spiritual.
Focus on what is favorable and what is unfavorable. Otherwise, we can just disempower ourselves too much. Suppose somebody makes a joke in a class and then I start laughing and I think, am I laughing for Krishna’s pleasure or am I laughing for myself’s great pleasure? It is not required.
So, in general, when we have to make decisions in our life, we can think from a long-term consequence of whether this would be favorable or this would be unfavorable. And based on that time, we have to decide how much time to invest. So, for example, if we are making a particular career choice or thinking of changing our career or changing where we stay or say making decisions like that, they are all very important decisions and we should not just downplay them as material.
They are going to be consequential for our spiritual life also. So, if we have this criteria, accepting the favorable, rejecting the unfavorable, then based on that, we can decide what is to be given, how much importance. And in general, if we live in the mode of goodness, sarva-dvareshu dehesmin prakashyam upajayati jnanam idadhita vidhya vivruddham sattvam ityutam.
In the 14th chapter, 11th verse, Krishna says that the characteristic of the mode of goodness is that the doorways of the senses, sarva-dvareshu dehesmin, the doorways of the body of the senses, prakashyam upajayati, that they become illuminated by light. That does not mean that light comes out of the ears or nose of a person in goodness. Rather it means like when there is light and at that time, suppose there is a doorway over there, there is light in the doorway, then I can know who is coming in and I can decide whether I should let the person come in or not.
If there is darkness, anyone can come inside. So, when we say the doorways to the body are illuminated, that means we have the vision to see and decide properly. Now, what is to be allowed entry in our senses, what is to be not allowed entry.
That in general means that we can make healthy decisions. So, if we try to live only on the mode of goodness, that means have some amount of regulation in our life, give some time for sadhana, study scripture. These are all things which are ultimately transcendental.
But at the very least, doing them regularly brings us to goodness and that will bring clarity. And with that clarity, we will be able to make these decisions better. And of course, if we have devotee associations, especially if we have some senior devotees whom we can take guidance from, that is also important.
That is also very valuable. But most importantly is that we do not take decisions hastily, especially decisions which are important. Even if we are having some doubt about it, whether it is very important or not important, just take it slow.
One of the characteristics of passion is we want to do things fast. And just taking things slow, the mind is agitation. We force it to check itself.
And then once we force it to check itself, then the passion comes out and we can observe, is this really important or is it not important. So, that way, by taking things slow and observing ourselves, we can make decisions about what we need to do in life. Does it address your question? Thank you.
Any other questions?