Question: I come from a Sikh background. I have devoted myself to Lord Shri Krishna for 7 years. My son, who is 17, considers himself and his future as a Sikh. As a parent I feel unable to do my basic function as a parent which is to guide my child, particularly in spiritual matters. I have tried to at least explain that I am happy in my faith. My son will ask me to visit the Sikh gurdwara on occasion, at which point I have a heavy heart. Should I worship in private? Please help.
Answer by Romapada Swami: Krishna Consciousness is not a sectarian religion; it is a spiritual science of devotion to Krishna. Krishna is the Lord and Father of all living entities eternally, regardless of the faith one may profess in this life. If you are able to personally perceive that Krishna is present in the gurdwara as much as He is present in a Krishna temple, your having that perception or realization will also enable your son to cross sectarian boundaries, and feel the presence of the Lord everywhere.
The personal form of Lord Shri Krishna is Absolute Truth. You are fortunate to have had that appreciation awakened in you, through the association of His devotees. Where your son is, in his present spiritual trajectory, may not be at such a stage at this time. Thus, be the kind of association for your son that will help support him in his present position by your acceptance of him and his preferences, while at the same time be the example of what a true vaisnava is, both inside and outside. Accomplishing this will not be a sign of spiritual failure on your part, but will be a deeper expression of your own worship of Krishna.
A devotee of Krishna helps others spiritually by his tolerance and respect, not by forcing or propelling others to follow his ways. Your duty as father can still be perfectly accomplished on the basis of the universal teachings of Bhagavad-gita, rather than dwelling on the differences in externals or inrituals.
By your setting an example of the teachings of Bhagavad-gita, your son will grow to appreciate and respect your wisdom and kindness, along with your example and spiritual joy. Through your teaching him in *that* way he can become a better devotee of the Lord.
Note the following quotes from Srila Prabhupada –
I repeatedly say that this is not a religious cult, that we want to supersede another type of religion. That is not our business. Our aim is to make all people happy. Sarve sukhino bhavantu. This is the Vedic mission. Everyone should be happy. But they are trying to be happy, but they do not know how to, how to become… Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. They are misguided. They cannot be happy without becoming Vaisnava. This is open declaration in the sastra. They cannot become happy. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya [SB 7.5.31]. If they are trying to become happy otherwise, that is durasaya, hopeless thing. It will never be fructified. It will never be successful. Na te viduh. They do not know. Therefore our business is to make them know that “This is the way of perfection. Take Krsna consciousness. Make your life perfect. Be happy, and go back to home, back to Godhead.” This is our mission.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => The Nectar of Devotion — Vrndavana, November 6, 1972
This Krsna consciousness movement is a propagation to teach people how to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is our mission, because without relationship with God, without reviving our eternal affinity with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we cannot be happy. The Vedic injunction is sarve sukhino bhavantu: “Everyone become happy.”
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Ratha-yatra — New York, July 18, 1976
Our Vedic mission is sarve sukhino bhavantu: everyone be happy. This is our mission. And we know how to become happy. That is our credit. We know. How to become happy we know. Therefore, you can inform others also how to become happy. Happiness is our birthright. Anandamayo ‘bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12). Living entity is anandamaya, full of happiness, but they have fallen in a different condition. Therefore unhappy. Different condition. Just like fish taken out of the water and put into the land, a different condition, and it is throbbing, flapping, unhappy. Take it, put it in the water again, and it will be happy. That’s it.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation — June 30, 1972, San Diego
This is our message. Sarve sukhino bhavantu. By spiritual realization everyone will become happy. Without spiritual realization, nobody can become happy. This is our mission.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor —
>>> August 13, 1973, Paris
You become Indian or American, it doesn’t matter. You are human being. Take to this culture and you will be happy. This is our mission. We want to make everyone happy. Sarve sukhino bhavantu: “Everyone be happy” — with Krsna. That is our mission.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk — April 7, 1975, Mayapur
Mahamsa: The village people are very happy.
Prabhupada: Yes, they should be. That I want. Sarve sukhino bhavantu. This is our mission.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk — January 6, 1976, Bombay
