I was crossing the road to go back to the temple when I heard a loud voice; “are monks allowed to speak”? I turned around to look from where the voice was coming. The lady across the road with the dark glasses, around 40 years old, started to walk towards me with confidence. As she came closer, carefully avoiding the cars on the road, not wasting her time she asked; “are you getting paid for staying at the temple? Are you paying tax?”
“Well, I’m a monk and I do service. Traditionally monks don’t get paid but are maintained by the monastery,” I replied.
The lady didn’t seem to be interested in what I said. She took her glasses off and asked if she could record our conversation. She was obviously not in favour of monks, and wanted to have some material as a proof that monks are cheaters and parasites of society, not wanting to take responsibility in life. I politely refused to be recorded whilst looking for a gentle way to escape the situation.
She continued with an even louder voice; “I have three kids and am working two jobs, struggling to maintain my family. What are you doing for the whole day?” From the corner a of my eye, I noticed neighbours pulling back their window curtains to see what was going on.
“My day starts at 4am madam”, and whilst looking at my watch I said, “now it is almost 7:30pm, and I still haven’t finish my service. You are not the only one who is busy.”
I also added, “you are serving your family, but I decided to serve God. Everyone makes their choices in life and needs to accept the responsibilities that comes with those choices.”
I gently excused myself, and quickly walked to the temple.
Whilst walking back, I reflected on my encounter with this lady. Why was she disturbed and angry? Was she dissatisfied with life and needed someone to speak to, or did she genuinely not like monks? Maybe she had a bad experience in the past with monks who didn’t behave properly?
I remembered the verse from Chaitanya Caritamrita:
Madhya 12.51-” As soon as the general public finds a little fault in the behaviour of a sannyāsī, they advertise it like wildfire. A black spot of ink cannot be hidden on a white cloth. It is always very prominent.”
Whatever role in life we decide to “play,” be this a monk, a parent or anything else, it is crucial that we take it very seriously and do it properly. The secret of spiritual progress, one saint said, is “to take responsibilities in life.”
If we start to “cut the corners” and do not take responsibilities, we, and people around us, will suffer.
How to choose which role in society we should play and what responsibilities we should take?
Krishna in Bhagavat Gita gives us answer.
Bhagavad-Gita Bg 4.13, 18.41-According to the three modes of material nature and the work associated with them, the four divisions of human society are created by Me. Brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras are distinguished by the qualities born of their own natures in accordance with the material modes.
If we want to be satisfied and in a peaceful state of mind, we need to choose an appropriate role in society that suits our nature, and that should be done under the guidance of an experienced teacher. Then the same challenges that we encounter in life will become much easier for us.
Bhagavad-Gita 3.35-It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another’s duties perfectly. Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, for to follow another’s path is dangerous.
The disturbed lady I meet on the street was a good person, but due to lack of knowledge and no guidance, she had made wrong decisions in life which made her life difficult and “heavy to carry.”
In the evening, as I closed the Bhagavat Gita
Once again, the Bhagavat Gita gave me perspective on life’s challenges.
Gita Mahatmya 2-If one reads Bhagavad-Gita very sincerely and with all seriousness, then by the grace of the Lord the reactions of his past misdeeds will not act upon him.
Ananta Gopal das
13.7.2022
Bhakti Wisdom 