A month ago, I had gone to Grand Rapids for the Deity installation festival. There I met Vrindavan Prabhu, a very senior devotee from Pune. While seeking his guidance, he told me something very strongly: “Don’t stay alone.”
A couple of other brahmacharis whom I met briefly also asked me, “Do you stay alone?”
When I had gone to Brooklyn, one devotee spoke about two monks who are always together. They travel together, serve together, and practically do everything together.
Just yesterday, another devotee, who has recently come to Chicago for a month, asked me, “Do you travel for programs alone?”
Recently, Gauranga Darshan Prabhu had also come. While requesting his association, I mentioned to him that I was alone and needed strength. Before leaving, he directed me to read a purport, which is also one of my favorites.
Alone, Yet Unaffected
In the purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.2.5, Srila Prabhupada writes, “A sannyāsī should always live alone, without company, and he must be fearless. He should never be afraid of living alone, although he is never alone. The Lord is residing in everyone’s heart, and unless one is purified by the prescribed process, one will feel that he is alone. But a man in the renounced order of life must be purified by the process; thus he will feel the presence of the Lord everywhere and will have nothing to fear.”
Srila Prabhupada came to America alone. Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami Maharaja even titled one chapter of Prabhupada’s biography, “Alone in the Wilderness.”
When Srila Prabhupada arrived in America, he did not know whether to turn left or right. Everything was unfamiliar. Yet one thing was crystal clear: he had come to distribute Krishna consciousness and share the teachings of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Years later, His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja once expressed to Srila Prabhupada that he wished he could have been there with him during those initial days. Srila Prabhupada simply replied: “I was never alone. Krishna was always there with me.”
In that sense, Srila Prabhupada was never alone. He was always with Krishna, and therefore he remained unaffected by material influence.
Haridasa Thakura also lived alone, yet he remained completely unaffected. Because he was constantly in touch with Krishna, through the chanting of His Holy Name.
Our acaryas, like Bhaktivinode, Bhaktisiddhanta and others also did bhajan in solitude in the later years of their lives.
Alone… By Choice?
When we do not possess enough Krishna content within our hearts, can we really remain alone and still derive nourishment?
Challenges often come when we are alone. America is described as a lonely place.
The forests are described as being in the mode of goodness yet being alone in the forest also cannot always guarantee success. (what to speak of this concrete jungle surcharged with passion and ignorance)
Bharata Maharaja was alone in the forest, yet he became attached to a deer.
Ajamila went alone to collect wood but instead encountered a prostitute and fell from his position.
Agnidhra was alone in the forest when he met Purvacitti.
When we are alone without sufficient Krishna content, it is natural for the mind to become distracted and diverted from its goal. Therefore, the scriptures repeatedly glorify the association of devotees.
Alone… With Devotees
Even when we are physically alone, if we carry the inspiration of devotees, our spiritual master, and Krishna within our hearts, we are never truly alone. They are all backing us.
At the same time, the importance of physical association can never be denied. Association gives us strength, boosts and inspires us and also provides the nourishment we need to continue advancing in devotional life.
Without association, spiritual life becomes an uphill task. The Pracetas performed their austerities together, and that very togetherness pleased Lord Vishnu. There is immense strength in sincere association.
Together… Yet Alone
Can association also become a cause of difficulty?
Sometimes, yes.
Even while being in the association of devotees, we may develop unhealthy comparison, envy, or criticism. Sometimes expectations may burden us to such an extent that we long for solitude. At other times, we may be unable to understand the unique nature or mood of another devotee and simply desire some personal space.
Yet, especially during the blossoming stage of Krishna consciousness, it is better to be together and accomplish less than to be alone and accomplish more.
Alone With Krishna?!
How do we balance being alone and together with devotees? We NEED association, and we need to develop our individual Krishna Consciousness also.
No one will chant our rounds for us. No one will read the scriptures on our behalf. No one will perform our service for us. Krishna reciprocates with our surrender—not with someone else’s, not even with that of our closest friends.
Eventually, each one of us has to learn to stand before Krishna alone. In former times, devotees would leave their homes and go alone to the forest. Not all of them met with tragedies like Ajamila, Bharata Maharaja, or Agnidhra. Many attained perfection.
Therefore, we must honestly know the extent to which we can handle solitude. Before attempting to stand alone, we should first recharge our spiritual batteries through meaningful association. In fact, if we DO NOT possess sufficient spiritual strength, remaining alone could be a well planned recipe for disaster.
It takes only a split second for maya to pull us down. But, it takes years to build Krishna consciousness.
Therefore, we must learn two arts simultaneously: the art of being alone with Krishna, and the art of being together with devotees. And the first one cannot be perfected unless we are expert in the second !
Through association, we channelize our aspirations, we transform our hearts, we redirect our desires, and with that inspiration, when we go out in the world alone, we can be alone with Krishna. Krishna agrees to come with us provided we have the devotees with us in our hearts or physically. Krishna is NEVER ALONE !! So, how can we, as devotees, be EVER ALONE !
