Francisco, Aug 25 2011
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
All glories to the devotees of Krishna
Dear student group devoted to the SDA, I wish you a happy life with Krishna and took the opportunity to ask this question:
To be a good devotee of Krishna is it essential to live in a temple of Krishna? Hare Krishna
Your servant and friend
Francisco
Mahabhagavat Das SDA, Aug 25 2011
Dear Francisco Prabhu,
Hare Krishna!
In today’s environment, over 99% of the devotees of ISKCON live outside the temple, as they are householders.
Temple environment is definitely most conducive to spiritual life, but it is not a prerequisite to a Krishna Conscious life. In fact, if someone is not ready, then temple environment can scare them, because it is very austere and one has to be very surrendered to stay on in a temple for all of one’s life.
I take it that you don’t live in a temple… you may have some way of earning a livelihood, think every morning who are you working for, not for your employer, not for your family, not for yourself, but for Krishna. Chant Hare Krishna minimum 16 rounds and follow the 4 regulative principles strictly. This is 50% temple life. In your home you have walls and book shelves, saturate them with Krishna and His devotees. You have some entertainment equipment? Listen to Krishna’s devotees speaking. You have some space in a clean comfortable corner of your home? Invite Krishna to come and live there, and care for Him at least as you would care for your dearest most respected human friend. Every day you eat something. So please cook for Krishna what He likes, and take only His remnants. Krishna Prasadam. Finally, according to your capacity, help the devotees who are not working to preach Krishna Consciousness all over the world. Go to temple whenever you can.
In this way, we can strive to make our heart and home into a temple for Krishna.
Your servant,
Mahabhagavat Das
Francisco, Aug 25 2011
Loved and admired Das Mahabhagavat
Hare Krishna!
Prabhu, I will, but how to offer the food to Krishna?
Your servant,
Francisco
Mahabhagavat Das SDA, Aug 25 2011
Dear Francisco Prabhu,
Hare Krishna! You are very kind Francisco Prabhu.
Here is an introduction to how you may prepare and offer food to Krishna and take His Prasada.
http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/how_to_offer_food.htm
For all, the website http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com is a wonderful website with a lot of information about basic things and advanced things in Krishna Consciousness.
Your servant,
Mahabhagavat Das
Francisco, Aug 25 2011
Dear Mahabhagavat Das:
Please extend your comment about whether it is possible for a devotee of Krishna who does not live in a temple to achieve self-realization, that is, become a pure devotee of Krishna? Are there examples of this?
Thanks for your time dedicated
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
Your servant and friend
Francisco
Mahabhagavat Das SDA, Aug 25 2011
Dear Francisco Prabhu,
Hare Krishna!
We have to understand that “becoming a pure devotee” is not something that is dependent on something external, like living in the temple. Otherwise it would be a really simple formula! 🙂 Otherwise, the millions of people in India who live in Holy towns would all be pure devotees.
Yes, there are many examples of persons who lived in their own homes and were pure devotees. His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is such an example. He was a pure devotee even when running a pharmacy business and maintaining his family. Bhaktivinode Thakura is also such an example.
In my personal life, I have the great benefit of observing many such persons who are exceedingly pure in their devotion, but because these persons are very humble they will never advertise themselves. But I can see that their every thought, word and deed is dedicated to serving Krishna. They have never lived in a temple except for visiting other places, etc.
Your servant,
Mahabhagavat Das
Servant of the Servant of the Servant of God 