Question: When we are staying in VOICE, at that time we can do our devotional activities very easily, but when we go to our home we become slow in devotional life. At that time, our parents tell that you can take rest, no problem. So at that time, we, specifically, I, cannot get up for attendance and unable to complete 16 rounds. Now I am realizing that without anyone’s pushing or forcing, I cannot develop my devotional life. But I am trying. So my question is: What will help me to come out from this kind of situation and I can develop my taste in Krsna consciousness, without being forced by anyone? I don’t know whether this question is understandable or not?

Jayapataka Swami: Well, one of the things that is recommended in devotional service is good association. One of the things that is not recommended is bad association. It may not be that anybody is pushing you but it may be that since you are in good association, it is very easy to get up early. In your home, if you are not devotees then in that association, you may become a little lax. So that is why it is recommended that one should have good association, but if that is not possible, at least you should understand this difficulty, and try to do your proper time management, do your proper chanting, maybe you have to go for a walk. Within the house there may be some restrictions to your chanting. I think we all face these difficulties in the house. Also eating the food of the parents, even if they cook vegetarian, if they are not offering it to Krsna can be very draining on the spiritual energy. So we should realize these effects and be committed to either staying in a devotee like a VOICE situation, or if you are going to get married in the future, you should marry a devotee. So that we can have a Krsna conscious house. Without proper environment it is very hard to engage in devotional service. Haribol! My mother she said, well, you are young, why don’t you wait till you get old and then you can practice. Then I asked her, how long will I live? She started crying. No parent knows how long their son or daughter will live!  Then how do you know that my life will not be over in a few months I asked. So like that, I was fortunate, as I had the association of Srila Prabhupada, and I was living in a temple in Montreal, Canada. So, I told the Canadians that I took my spiritual birth in Canada!! Of course, I had my second initiation in New York. And I took my sannyasa initiation in India. So, my father said, he would turn my name over to the draft, to be in the American Army and then I could die in Vietnam. Then I asked Srila Prabhupada what should I do? He said, better to join Krsna’s army! Ha! Ha! So I have been there ever since! Ha!
10-MARCH-2020 SRI MAYAPUR DHAM, INDIA