By Dayananda das
Prabhupada translates Bhagavad-gita 6.17 as, “He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.” In his purport, he writes, ‘As far as work is concerned, a Krishna conscious person does not do anything which is not connected with Krishna’s interest, and thus his work is always regulated and is untainted by sense gratification.’ In this regard, some householder devotees think that Krishna will be more pleased with an occupation in the mode of goodness than one in passion or ignorance. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to find such work in the modern world. A householder devotee should realize that Krishna was pleased with Arjuna’s passionate anxiety to kill his foes in the battle of Kurukshetra. Therefore, Prabhupada is pleased with a devotee’s anxieties to serve in such a way as to offer significant results to the sankirtana movement, whether the devotee is CEO of a large company or simply a mailroom employee.
Here in this verse Krishna mentions that devotees should manage their recreation. This aspect of service to Krishna is very important. A devotee should learn to direct his or her life in order to obtain needed enjoyment from service to Krishna. Devotees are not enjoyment-seekers, so the hard work of sankirtana service does not frighten them. However, service to Krishna and association with devotees should not be overly exhausting and difficult. Each devotee has the responsibility to find service environments wherein he or she is able to find needed relaxation and joy. One cannot maintain the austerities of service without enjoyment’whether it is kirtana, class, prasadam, or whatever resonates as relaxing.
Regarding the administration of their children, families, and communities, devotees naturally perform mutual sacrifices and austerities directed toward the sankirtana movement. At the same time, they take care to provide sufficient enjoyment and relaxation, which, if possible, relate to Krishna. Children especially need more recreational facilities than adults do, but not to excess.(1) Prabhupada cites putram ca sishyam ca tadayen na tu lalayet, ‘one’s dependents should be treated strictly, not leniently.’ However, Prabhupada clearly explains that such strictness is dependent on affection. If devotees do not properly communicate affection to their dependents, then the children will not accept austerity and discipline in the long term–it will leave a bad taste.(2) Discipline, when based on adequately communicated love, serves to act throughout the entire life of a child. Therefore, leaders, teachers and parents are required to learn the art of laying a foundation of genuine affection, and then subsequently providing structure and discipline for their dependents. If one is intemperate in one’s own life, or cannot enjoy some aspects of Krishna’s service and relax in the context of devotional life, then one will have difficulty communicating affection. Similarly, if one is not self-disciplined and at least a little austere, then one will have difficulty communicating discipline to others. Therefore, bhakti-yogis must make all attempts to follow Krishna’s instructions here in this verse and create strong families and communities based on mutual affection, and focused on service to Krishna.
(1) ACBS, ‘Morning Walk in Bombay,’ April 14, 1976 (Vedabase 760414mw.bom): If our gurukula children come here they can have very good sporting.
(2) ‘Everything Should Be Done on the Basis of Love–A Conversation With Prabhupada,’ Back To Godhead Magazine, 10-11, 1975, ‘Everything should be done on the basis of love. Strictness is not very good. The students should act automatically, out of love. That is wanted. Superficially, strictness may be necessary’some material laws or basic principles’and if they don’t follow they’ll be reprimanded. But they should develop the idea of love.’
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