As part of my service, I often meet people from diverse backgrounds while managing the deity department. This week, I encountered Drupen, who manages a family-owned company that has operated for several generations.
During our conversation, he shared that he only gets 3 hours of sleep each night. I couldn’t help but think, “I’m a monk, and I’m supposed to be the austere one!”
Drupen has two young children and elderly parents to care for, making his life extremely busy. He works until 1 a.m. every night and wakes up several times to feed his son before starting his early morning work.
When I asked him if he ever gets time for himself, he replied, “My time is dedicated to serving my family; that is my duty.”
What struck me about his response was his complete satisfaction in sacrificing his life for his family. He doesn’t perceive it as a burden but as a sacred duty, a gift from God.
Every moment of his life is used in service of his family, ensuring they are financially secure, emotionally stable, physically strong, and spiritually uplifted. To achieve all that, he sacrifices his own comfort.
Francis of Assisi once said: “Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
Living at the temple has been a blessing for me. Over the years, I’ve met people who’ve overcome sleep, conquered anger, and overcome envy. Some of them have dedicated every ounce of their energy to serving others.
In an attempt to dedicate my life to serving, I constantly look for inspiring people who teach us how to serve through their example. Drupen is one such person.
Nectar of instruction verse 3: Devotional service is so pure and perfect that once having begun, one is forcibly dragged to ultimate success.
Ananta Gopal Das
16.01.2025
Bhakti Wisdom 