DO WE HAVE TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING?

Do we have to give up everything if we want to advance in Krsna consciousness?

We don't give up anything in Krsna consciousness. We just give up things that are unfavorable. And we use everything in Krsna's service. This is the principle of yukta vairagya.

Do you have to give up your identity?

When you are giving up your material life, with which you were identifying, this transition may be difficult. Because you are giving up the old qualities, the old activities, you were identifying with. And now you are getting into new activities, and it seems like you are losing ground under your feet.

Therefore, this transition has to be done very intelligently, and with the proper guidance from your spiritual master or various siksa gurus, or mentors, so that the devotee always feels that he is still himself. He is still his own person. He is still in there with his own free will.

Very important point about identity is free will. You choose what you want to do. Therefore I always ask devotees, "What do you want?" They often answer, "Well, I don't know. I wait to see what Krsna wants." Or, "I am trying to do what my spiritual master wants."

Very important point about our identity is what we want, because a desire is the symptom of the soul. So we have to want something. Whether you want what Krsna wants or want something completely different or completely opposite, you still have to want something, and that shows you that you are a person, you are a living being, you are someone who desires.

Ideally, you would do anything for Krsna. Whatever He desires. But we are not on that level. Now, at this point where we are, we have to find something to lean on, something to do where we can put our heart into, and that can be our present identity or role.

 

 

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