Spiritual Family

People everywhere around the world, need emotional support. There is a cavity, a hunger in everyone’s heart that cannot be filled by money and sense gratification but only by love.We are all sentient beings and the desires for affiliation, communion for friendship, for affection and for appreciation are actually very natural spiritual desires. We have these needs because Lord Krishna, from whom all living characteristics come, exhibits these qualities himself. Here, Srila Prabhupada gives important insight for families: “To cut off the tie of all other affections does not mean complete negation of the finer elements. This is not possible. A living being, whoever he may be, must have this feeling of affection for others because this is a symptom of life.” [SB 1.8. 42P]

Spiritualizing relationships Strengthening the bonds that will ultimately free us. We need to keep Krishna in the center of our relationships, that ways we are serving the supreme whom we all belong to and not our own senses. Serving our senses only gives us misery, but serving the supreme whole in return gives us joy and we feel nourished. We spiritualize relationships in layers –

Spiritualizing Family relationships, Spiritualizing relationships in community/society, Spiritualizing our relationships with devotee community and ultimately with Krishna.

1. Mutuality and reciprocation are key in these loving exchanges. Srila Rupa Goswami, also defined real love as devotional service—where one serves their loved one with a devoted and favorable attitude. We think this is a great definition because it combines the two fundamental parts of love: devotion (attitude) and service (action). In other words, love is a verb because it indicates both action and state of being.

2. Affection is a need of the spirit soul, a stable emotional background, in which all family or community members feel wanted and appreciated, is essential for the personal and spiritual growth of adults and children.

3. Srila Prabhupada wanted all his temples to become an environment where devotees can reveal their mind and heart safely, where visitors can feel they’ve come to the right place for happiness. Therefore, it is extremely important we work together to create such atmosphere.

4. When we recognize that all things, all people and all living beings in general are parts and parcel of Krishna we will see that we have nothing to renounce and nothing to be detached from because it all belongs to Krsna. Then we will aspire to use everything in his service and treat all with loving care.

5. Family life as well as the home itself should be an ashrama of spiritual culture.

6. Respect for all others is a basic Vaishnava value. And mutual appreciation, and gratitude are important pillars.

7. One should set aside quality time for heart-to-heart communications with one’s spouse, children, family and friends.

8. Preaching without practical example is not effective. Everyone should demonstrate such exemplary lifestyles that others become inquisitive as to what underlies their success.