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  • If my mother doesn’t want to use a pacemaker and wants me to pray to Krishna that she live without it for as long as she can, and not do anything in terms of getting a pacemaker, how should I see this devotionally and practically?

Answer: There are three distinct issues here. One is your mother’s desire, the second is the medical need, and the third is your duty.

When your mother expresses a particular desire, try to understand what underlies that desire. Is it a principled aspiration to live naturally and simply and leave the body accordingly? Is it a fear of the discomfort, distress, or inconvenience of having a medical device? Is it a mood of surrender to Krishna? Understanding the conception underlying her desire is very important in deciding how to respond.

Regarding the medical need, I think it is good to consult multiple doctors. Many times, doctors err on the side of caution. Their attempts to minimize the possibility of danger may involve trade-offs with the person’s quality of life, and those trade-offs also need to be considered. Also, check whether there are any non-intrusive ways of addressing the concern, such as through diet regulation, pranayama, or other appropriate supportive measures.

As for your duty, I think it is important to respect your mother’s wishes. You can discuss the matter with her and try to persuade her, or at least communicate your concerns and your perspective. Beyond that, it is good to respect her decision.

At a personal level, you can pray to Krishna in a mood of service, asking him to give all of you the guidance and the strength to act in the best way possible. As Krishna says in 10.10, he gives the intelligence by which we can make good choices. Sometimes life brings us to a crossroads where we do not really have any completely good choice. At such times, we simply have to use our devotionally guided intelligence to decide which is the less harmful of the available options and then act accordingly.

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10.10 To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.