Role models are an important part of our lives and forms part of who we are, if we have a good role model then by their association we make great gains, however if our role model is a thief then we rapidly head for trouble.

I have been pondering this and also thinking of the need for good role models in the Krishna Consciousness movement who by their example inspires us to follow in a path that will protect us in many ways from harm that modern society artificially forces onto us.

As a child I had a very good role model by the name of Alex Berino who you could say followed three of the four regulative principles (meat eating is seen as ok in many Christian religions although I am sure many would exclude the Jehovah’s Witnesses), in many ways I wanted so badly to follow in his footsteps seeing the example set and how we can practically live it despite the thrust of society thinking it wired and repressive.

So sex outside of marriage, alcohol in moderation (or best no alcohol) and refraining from gambling protected me from many heartaches my piers went through even during my time in a shared house I remained firm to the beliefs set by my role model and in some ways childhood idle Alex.

Yes many did think me strange after all the fun I was missing out on especially getting drunk and having lots of sex; HUM!

Now I think about my short few years in the Krishna Consciousness movement and the importance of good role models and their influence, you could say that Alex provided the cornerstone for which others could build on.

As I talked about this when asking the question why someone with very little devotee contact can remain focused on devotional life what hit me was simply this, the time taken by a few devotees who rather than giving rules lead by example, their good association and example still inspires me today even though we are separated by many nautical miles.

The example shown remained pivotal even to this day and at low points I simply think of these few devotee’s in the same way as I remember my early childhood friend, hero and role model.

It is not simply that we say you must because I say!

Many have laid down rules I find hard to follow simply because they themselves don’t follow them, you cannot say “No association with Women” when you spend most of your time with a women whose not your wife even though you give a good reason why this is, or in your mind it seems like a good one although it contradicts the words coming out of your mouth. Can an individual follow your wise advice? SIMPLY NO! they will simply see you as a hypocrite.

We see that the youth have many individuals they look up to and see as role models, but what we see then are pictures of them getting drunk, the succession of partners and at times fights. And as they try to emulate these individuals we see problems arising.

The problem is the lack of first class role models within society to whom we can look up to and follow; this is something that devotees should remain aware of giving an example that the whole world wishes to follow.

Srila Prabhupada inspired so many simply because he lived a simple life that many could see and be inspired to follow what greater example could we try to emulate thus simple individual like me can remain focused by simply following the example of those more intelligent.