Realizing the Path Forward

After I got home, I sat down to relax. I thought about what my uncle had taught me, but I also couldn’t shake off the promises I made to my leaders and team. It felt like a lot to deal with. I rode my bike to Khirachora Gopinath Temple, hoping it would help clear my mind.

I went to the temple and joined the evening prayer, asking Lord Gopinath to guide me. On my way home, I started feeling calmer, and all the negative thoughts faded. Eventually, I realized that getting into network marketing was a big mistake. I smiled and texted my uncle on WhatsApp, saying, “You were right. I’m in the wrong field. I’m quitting network marketing to focus on my studies and spiritual life.”

He replied quickly, saying, “Interesting! Something’s happening, huh?”

“Yeah! I won’t get involved in that again,” I replied.

things turned pretty quickly

Then I called my childhood friend to understand what went wrong. She apologized for the misunderstanding, saying, “I’m sorry, Chirag. I shouldn’t have reacted that way. I should’ve talked to you instead of getting angry right away.”

Her apology lifted a massive weight off my chest. I felt incredibly light and relieved beyond words.

She invited me to dinner the next day, which was unusual because she hadn’t been so polite. Things were changing rapidly. When I finally agreed with my uncle’s advice, all the negativity vanished. I began hearing the chants with more attention. This time, they felt even more powerful. I felt incredible joy while listening to the Hare Krishna Mahamantra chanted by Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It was a feeling I had never experienced before. I couldn’t resist, so I just kept listening. I felt so peaceful that nothing could make me feel distract. At night, I texted my uncle and thanked him for everything.

He said, “Let’s have a quick video call.”

When we connected, he smiled and asked, “How are you feeling now? Better?”

“Yeah! I feel much better. I’m listening to the chants and reading the book,” I replied, smiling back.

“Now you seem calmer than before. How did you change?” he asked with a smile.

I just smiled back because I knew exactly what he was saying.

The following day my friend called me again, asking for a video call.

I thought to myself, “What’s going on? When did she change so much?”

I agreed to the call, and she appeared very humble and caring. Having gone through a rough time, I felt humble too.

She smiled and said, “I’m sorry. I misbehaved.”

“It’s okay. I hold no grudges. It was just a misunderstanding,” I reassured her. We set a time and place for dinner.

In the evening, I went to the restaurant and waited for her. When she arrived, she smiled and greeted me, and we ordered our food.

“I’ll have vegetarian food today since I know you don’t eat non-veg,” she said.

I was surprised by her consideration. “Are you feeling alright?” I asked.

“Yeah, I’m perfectly fine,” she replied.

We chatted for a while, and she started clicking my photos. I wasn’t sure what’s going on yet I sat calmly. Then we said goodbye as I was leaving for university the next day. I packed my bags, and at night, I talked to Sumay-uncle again.

i quit network marketing

My uncle advised, “Please don’t follow the dictation of your mind again. I understand it’s tough, but try to chant, listen, and read more. It’ll help you avoid trouble.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that. I’ve also stopped taking calls from my uplines. I’ll tell them straight up that I’m done with network marketing and warn them not to mislead others with false promises of wealth and dreams,” I said firmly.

He chuckled and replied, “Focus on your own life. Don’t chase after money and wealth. You’re still young. Whenever you need money, ask me. I can help you out. Don’t hesitate.”

When my uncle saw my friend’s photo on my status, he asked, “Does she have an interest in Krishna?”

“I’m not sure. We’ve never talked about it. We’re just friends,” I replied.

“Ask her then. I have a feeling there’s more to it than friendship,” my uncle teased with a playful grin.

I chuckled and replied, “No, we’re just friends. But I’ll ask her about Krishna.”

He smiled warmly and wished me luck for the future, promising to stay in touch regularly.

Then I approached my dad and announced, “I am quitting network marketing. I will fully focus on my studies.”

He was surprised to hear this from me. “Really? Why the sudden change?”

“I’ve been struggling to focus on my studies and feeling much pressure. I also talked to Sumay-uncle, who made me realize all the troubles I’ve been facing because of network marketing,” I replied.

“Hmm… It would have been best had you thought about this before diving in. It’s good that he helped you see clearly, but you have wasted a lot of money. Anyways, now focus on your studies.” said my dad.

a life changing experience

I felt relieved that everything was resolved as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. The following day, I had to catch a train to New Delhi, and my dad came to see me off. During the journey, I was completely engrossed in listening to the Hare Krishna Mantra Chant and some lectures by Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. For the very first time in my life I was taking so much pleasure in hearing the chants. The following day, I got off the train and boarded another one bound for Punjab. On the train, I ran into two of my roommates who were also working with me in network marketing. I opened up about my decision to quit, and to my surprise, they also supported me. They were facing similar struggles, with their academics suffering due to spending too much time on network marketing. When I got back to my room at night, I started missing my parents as usual. So, I played the chants on one of my phones and let it play all night to help me feel better.

Exhausted from the long journey, I fell asleep while listening to the chants. But then something extraordinary happened. At dawn, I began to stir from my sleep and found myself in a dream where Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada appeared before me. He turned to me with a serious yet gentle smile and said, “Haribol.” I was so startled that I immediately bowed down as if he were physically present. However, when I regained my senses, I realized no one was in my room. I got up from my bed and searched around, forgetting for a moment that it was just a dream.

Reflecting on the dream, I felt confused and strangely peaceful. It was as if I was being watched over by a powerful presence shielding me from harm. With a smile, I got out of bed and went about my usual routine. Since it was Saturday, there was no need to rush. I decided to grab breakfast at a nearby small restaurant.

As I strolled towards the restaurant, I played the chant on my phone at a low volume, ensuring others wouldn’t notice. I found myself surprised by this behavior. After all, I used to listen to popular songs and other kinds of music during my free time, not chants like these.

seeking Spiritual guidance from Sumay-uncle

After returning to my room, I continued reading “Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers“. I stumbled upon a statement by Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: one should surrender oneself to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and one’s life will be successful. This statement touched my heart and I wanted to do that. However, I had no idea what it means to surrender to God. That’s when my uncle’s face flashed into my mind, and I decided to reach out to him.

I texted him and said what I read from the book.

“So, What do you want to do?” he asked.

“I want to learn more about Spiritual life. Please tell me what to do?” I said.

“You should seek guidance from someone experienced and spiritually advanced,” he advised.

“Who should I turn to for guidance then?” I inquired.

He didn’t respond immediately. After a few minutes, he initiated a video call and asked, “What do you want?”

“I’m hoping you could offer me some help,” I replied.

“What kind of help are you seeking?” he questioned.

“I want to pursue a spiritual life. I was in fear and anxiety all the time, but the changes impacted by adopting spirituality have provided solace, so I want to explore this further.” I explained.

“Why are you asking me to guide you?” he asked.

“I don’t know anyone else who could guide me. You’re the one who pulled me out of a difficult situation, so I’m turning to you for assistance,” I answered.

“Well, that’s a good answer. Alright, I’ll take on that responsibility. But don’t return to those troubles. Consult me before making any decisions in your life, okay?” he advised.

“Yes, I’ll do my best to follow your advice,” I promised.

I also told him about my dream. He smiled and said, “If you advance in spiritual life, you can talk directly to the Acharyas, as they are eternal.”

I just nodded my head, and then he hung up the call.

I was happy to get the opportunity to learn about spiritual life. I talked to my mother about it. I said, “After graduation, I will stay with Sumay-uncle. I won’t go anywhere for doing a nonsense job.”

“I am happy that you have chosen this life. Do whatever you want in your life,” she said.

My joy knew no boundaries. I again continued reading that book. Then I started reading the Krishna Book given by Sumay-uncle. Then, at night, Bhaskar called me up. He used to stay near my house. So, I decided to give him a good lesson.

I entered his room with a sense of confidence. He made me sit near him and asked me, “What’s wrong with you? What happened?”

Then I gave back a befitting reply which shocked him and he forgot what to say.

Stay tuned for the next chapter, where all will be revealed…