Please accept my humble obeisances.All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all the Vaishnava Prabhupadanugas World Wide!Hare KrishnaI have a friend who is not following the four regulative principles but has attained the Deity Form of Lord Krishna in his home.He invited me into his home and told me that he has a special guest would like to see me. To my surprise it was the form of Shri Krishna as Bankhe Bihari.I offered my humble obeisances to the Lord and was very happy that He was there present in his deity Form.After I left from my friends apartment I begin to worry because I know that my friend still eats chicken and fish and many other things. Him and his wife smoke cigarettes and drink wine occasionally as well so I was a bit confused about how to go about telling him to follow the regulative principles.He is starting to chant Hari Krishna and he likes to have the images of Krishna and Radha in his home but he does not really seem to be taking to the regulative principle or rising early in the morning. Also he does not feel that he should go to a temple because he thinks that everyone is trying to cheap everyone. However I have given him a copy of the Bhagavad Gita and he reads it and we have discussions about the philosophy.I did not say anything because I do not want to turn him off from Krishna consciousness or Deity worship in general. Also I am NOT very qualified and should not give anyone advise so I refrained from saying anything negative about him purchasing the Deity from krishnaculture.comHow do I properly go about this situation?Your sevakBhakta David
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It seems the lord has decided to shower His mercy on your friend. How He does it, and when He does it and to what extent He does it, that is totally dependent on Him. I think it is a very good story emerging. One day, you will write in these coloumns telling everyone about the miracle you saw unfolding in front of your eyes in this case.
According to me, you are going right by not pushing your friend and his wife in any direction. Tell them that because they have got the lord to their house, they have to serve Him. Whatever standard of service they set in their house, they have to follow that. Religiously read the Gita with your friend. It contains everything. In the course of discussion, if he asks anything, you should be fortright and tell him what you know about the dos and donts. Maybe you can tell him that this is what you know, if he wants to know further, maybe he should visit the temple and ask.
Who are you to judge things. Do u think it was just coincidence that Krishna's deity is there. No it was a divine plan. When there is sun, darkness cant touch. Cigarettes, pots, chicken....etc are darkness and if Krishna is there then it will go.
If Krishna without your permission can reside in your friends place that means he has a plan. I've seen a dear friend of mine who once even visited to prostitutes, through the power of Gita is now a very strong vaisnava. Forget about alcohol, even onion and garlics are not allowed in his home.
So prabhuji its better if you start worrying about your service to Krishna rather than worrying about your friend. He is progressing in the right path.
Seems like u did the right thing. Everything is perfect as is and he will come to whatever realization he is meant to in his time. Besides, there is also a path and a way cor every temperment. And in the end there is nonpath, and no way. For u are your path. :) let god take care of it, no worries friend. My humble opinion.
Replies
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
It seems the lord has decided to shower His mercy on your friend. How He does it, and when He does it and to what extent He does it, that is totally dependent on Him. I think it is a very good story emerging. One day, you will write in these coloumns telling everyone about the miracle you saw unfolding in front of your eyes in this case.
According to me, you are going right by not pushing your friend and his wife in any direction. Tell them that because they have got the lord to their house, they have to serve Him. Whatever standard of service they set in their house, they have to follow that. Religiously read the Gita with your friend. It contains everything. In the course of discussion, if he asks anything, you should be fortright and tell him what you know about the dos and donts. Maybe you can tell him that this is what you know, if he wants to know further, maybe he should visit the temple and ask.
Pray to the lord for your friend.
Haribol,
Rashmi
Hare Krishna,
Who are you to judge things. Do u think it was just coincidence that Krishna's deity is there. No it was a divine plan. When there is sun, darkness cant touch. Cigarettes, pots, chicken....etc are darkness and if Krishna is there then it will go.
If Krishna without your permission can reside in your friends place that means he has a plan. I've seen a dear friend of mine who once even visited to prostitutes, through the power of Gita is now a very strong vaisnava. Forget about alcohol, even onion and garlics are not allowed in his home.
So prabhuji its better if you start worrying about your service to Krishna rather than worrying about your friend. He is progressing in the right path.
Hari Bola.
Seems like u did the right thing. Everything is perfect as is and he will come to whatever realization he is meant to in his time. Besides, there is also a path and a way cor every temperment. And in the end there is nonpath, and no way. For u are your path. :) let god take care of it, no worries friend. My humble opinion.