Quarantined Devotee in Hare Krishna Ashram Reflects on Life Amid Covid-19

In late December of 2020, Justine Payton found herself grappling with the harsh reality of her circumstances. Quarantined due to Covid-19 in the confines of a Hare Krishna ashram in Philadelphia, the 28-year-old faced a bleak financial situation. With a meager $72 to her name, Justine had dedicated years to a grueling routine that encompassed seven days of extensive labor.

A Life of Sacrifice

Justine's daily schedule was relentless, commencing at 4:30 in the morning and concluding at 9:30 in the evening. Her responsibilities included a cycle of cleaning, cooking, teaching, worship, and book-selling on the streets. These duties were enforced within the stringent regulations of the ashram, where any transgression, even as minor as indulging in a piece of chocolate, resulted in her fellow devotees reporting her to their authoritative figure, known as Mangal-arti.

As Christmas approached, Justine found herself in a precarious state, confined within the ashram's basement with the burden of Covid-19 and the weight of her dire financial circumstances. The isolation and her financial deprivation had brought her to a moment of profound realization – a realization that she could no longer deny the severity of her situation.