The relationship with God that exists only in the mind is free from offenses. Physical association through Satsang has both theoretical and practical benefits. Otherwise, the body mostly causes harm.
Shri Krishna told the Gopis:
śravaṇāt darśanāt dhyānāt mayi bhāvo'nukīrtanāt। na tathā sannikarṣeṇa pratiyāta tato gṛhān ॥
"It is not right that you have left your homes to come to Me. If you remember Me, sing My glories, and perform devotion to Me from afar, you will benefit more quickly. If you stay near Me, worldly feelings might arise, thinking, 'He eats, drinks, laughs, cries, and sings just like us. He's a worldly person, just like us. He too experiences anger, greed, and other human emotions.' Such thoughts about God or a saint lead to Nāmāparādh. 'na martya buddhyā sūyeta' - the scriptures say not to exercise your material intellect on the Guru. But out of habit, such thoughts arise. In every birth, whenever God or saints have appeared, you have committed offenses against them due to pride, applying material intellect to judge their external appearance and behavior. However, without satsang, how much can you solely contemplate on God? If someone has reached such an exalted state that they can engage in Satsang only with the mind (not physically), that is the best. But how many have reached such an elevated state?
An aspiring devotee forgets philosophy even after being explained a hundred times. Philosophical knowledge is essential - Without being strong in theory, you cannot implement it practically.
Recommended books by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj related to this topic:
The Importance of Spiritual Knowledge - English
The relationship with God that exists only in the mind is free from offenses. Physical association through Satsang has both theoretical and practical benefits. Otherwise, the body mostly causes harm.
Shri Krishna told the Gopis:
śravaṇāt darśanāt dhyānāt mayi bhāvo'nukīrtanāt। na tathā sannikarṣeṇa pratiyāta tato gṛhān ॥
"It is not right that you have left your homes to come to Me. If you remember Me, sing My glories, and perform devotion to Me from afar, you will benefit more quickly. If you stay near Me, worldly feelings might arise, thinking, 'He eats, drinks, laughs, cries, and sings just like us. He's a worldly person, just like us. He too experiences anger, greed, and other human emotions.' Such thoughts about God or a saint lead to Nāmāparādh. 'na martya buddhyā sūyeta' - the scriptures say not to exercise your material intellect on the Guru. But out of habit, such thoughts arise. In every birth, whenever God or saints have appeared, you have committed offenses against them due to pride, applying material intellect to judge their external appearance and behavior. However, without satsang, how much can you solely contemplate on God? If someone has reached such an exalted state that they can engage in Satsang only with the mind (not physically), that is the best. But how many have reached such an elevated state?
An aspiring devotee forgets philosophy even after being explained a hundred times. Philosophical knowledge is essential - Without being strong in theory, you cannot implement it practically.
Recommended books by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj related to this topic:
The Importance of Spiritual Knowledge - English
Read Next
Daily Devotion - Aug 22, 2025 (English)- Who is Truly Rich?
Yahāṃ hai (wealthy in the material world), vahāṃ nahīṃ hai (poor in the spiritual realm), and yahāṃ nahīṃ hai (poor here), vahāṃ hai (wealthy in the spiritual realm) - these two rules are natural in the world. In other words - 1. Those who possess worldly opulence cannot progress spiritually
Daily Devotion - Aug 20, 2025 (Hindi)- सत्संग क्यों ज़रूरी?
लगातार सत्संग श्रद्धा पैदा कराएगा - वैसे तो भगवत्प्राप्ति के लिए सर्वप्रथम श्रद्धा परमावश्यक है, फिर सत्संग, फिर भक्ति। लेकिन प्रश्न
Daily Devotion - Aug 18, 2025 (Hindi) - जब पृथ्वी रोई : श्रीकृष्ण अवतरण की कथा
कृष्णावतार के पूर्व का वृत्तांत - एक प्रजापति हैं - वृष्णि और सुतपा। उन्होंने देवताओं के बारह हज़ार वर्ष तक तप किया। देवताओं की छह मही
When the Earth Wept: The Story Behind Shri Krishna’s Arrival
There once were two Prajapatis named Vrishni and Sutapa. They performed penance for twelve thousand celestial years. A day of the celestial Gods is six months long, and their night is six months long. In twenty-four hours of the celestial Gods, a year passes for us - our 360 days