This article aims to open the door to an emotionally and spiritually healthier attitude toward our ongoing journey of self-realization. This approach stands in stark contrast to the sectarian and fear-based renunciation that many of us in the first and second generation of ISKCON have experienced, albeit generally with no detrimental intent. After all, we took birth in human bodies for a purpose, not to deny it, but to see our human experience as an opportunity to learn better how to love, respect, and honor all human beings and life forces in all living entities.

Now, let’s get to the definitions. Detachment is when we put emotional distance between ourselves and an outcome. Disconnection, on the other hand, involves the breaking of a connection or a relationship. Disconnection is like dropping a cell phone call, as the relationship between you and the caller cannot evolve without communication.

That said, at the beginning of one’s joining any full-time group (religious or otherwise), a protective “bubble” is not only needed but helpful for some period of time for newcomers to firm up their faith. In ISKCON’s case, as the first and second generations are getting older (and presumably wiser!), we are firsthand witnesses to the early and often fanatical history of life in a bubble within a “newly transplanted” ancient faith tradition. What an adventure!

The big challenge of life in the bubble is that detachment can quickly lead to disconnection from different types of relationships, which are necessary for human beings to experience the beginning stages of love. After all, can we learn to love Krishna/God if we do not feel love for the eternal spirit within all living entities? The answer is a resounding NO! To love God unconditionally, we must pass through the challenges to develop love for all spirit souls. Even while loving God is our constitutional position, it should come as no surprise that it is not as easy as it sounds. This prerequisite is explained very clearly throughout Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Just one example is in Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 5.18: “The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].”

“PURPORT: A Krsna conscious person does not make any distinction between species or castes. The brahmana and the outcaste may be different from the social point of view, or a dog, a cow, or an elephant may be different from the point of view of species, but these differences of body are meaningless from the viewpoint of a learned transcendentalist. This is due to their relationship to the Supreme, for the Supreme Lord, by His plenary portion as Paramatma, is present in everyone’s heart. Such an understanding of the Supreme is real knowledge.”

Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of ISKCON or ISKCON News.