How to Meditate on Shri Krishna

(Adapted from a discourse delivered by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj)

The purpose of Bhakti is to attach the mind to God. This may sound simple, yet it is the most difficult part of spiritual practice. Our mind is constantly drawn towards the world – towards people, possessions, relationships, desires, worries and disappointments. To turn that same mind towards Shri Krishna requires sincere and continuous practice.

So, how can we meditate on Shri Krishna? How can we engage a mind that has been wandering in the world for countless lifetimes in the remembrance of God?

The essence of true Bhakti lies in Roopdhyan meditation – lovingly visualising the form of Shri Krishna in our mind.

The Mind Is the Key

We may perform puja, chant God’s name, sing kirtan, read scriptures or visit temples, but the real spiritual benefit comes only when the mind is involved.

The senses are optional; the mind is essential.

We can chant God’s name with our lips while the mind is thinking about something else. We can perform puja with our hands while our thoughts remain absorbed in worldly affairs. Such activities may engage the body and senses, but the mind – the very thing that must be connected with God – remains elsewhere.

Therefore, the underlying rule of all devotional practice is to withdraw the mind from the world and engage it in God.

This is not achieved in a day. It requires gradual and continuous practice. The more the mind becomes absorbed in Shri Krishna, the more naturally it becomes detached from the world.

What Is Roopdhyan?

Roopdhyan means lovingly visualising the form of Shri Krishna within the mind.

Sit quietly and imagine that Shri Krishna is standing before you. See His beautiful face, His eyes, His smile, His peacock feather and His enchanting form. Feel His presence. Look at Him lovingly, as you would look at someone whom you deeply love.

You may wonder, “But I have never seen Shri Krishna. How can I visualise Him?”

Our material mind cannot comprehend the true divine form of God because the mind itself is influenced by maya. Yet Shri Krishna is infinitely merciful. He accepts the form we lovingly visualise and rewards us as though we are contemplating His true divine form.

Therefore, there is no need to be anxious about whether the form you imagine is perfect.

Visualise Shri Krishna in the form that is most pleasing to your heart.

Adorn Him as you wish. Dress Him beautifully – even in a proper business suit, if that is how you wish to visualise Him. Let your imagination flow freely. See His beautiful expression, His ornaments and the surroundings in which He stands before you. What matters is not the perfection of the mental image, but the love and feeling with which you contemplate Him. 

Let the Name and Form Become One

Once Shri Krishna’s form is before your mind, begin your devotional practice.

Chant His name while visualising Him. Sing His glories while looking at Him in your mind. Speak to Him as though He is standing before you.

This is the essence of Naam Sankirtan combined with Roopdhyan.

Chanting God’s name is not simply mechanical repetition. The name should bring the mind towards the One whose name we are uttering.

Whether we are performing puja, reciting from a holy text, singing kirtan or simply sitting quietly, Roopdhyan should remain at the centre of our practice.

Without the involvement of the mind, devotional activities can become merely physical exercises. But when the mind is absorbed in Shri Krishna, even the simplest act of devotion becomes spiritually meaningful.

When the Mind Wanders

The mind will wander. It has been wandering towards the world for a very long time, so we should not become discouraged when it does. Whenever the mind runs towards worldly thoughts, gently bring it back to Shri Krishna. When it wanders again, bring it back again – and then again. 

This repeated effort to withdraw the mind from the world and lovingly return it to Shri Krishna is itself the practice of Bhakti. 

Gradually, the mind that once found happiness only in worldly objects begins to experience a deeper attraction towards the Divine.

If you find it difficult to visualise Shri Krishna within your mind, you can take the help of a picture or an idol. God is present everywhere, and devotional feelings towards His form can help draw the mind towards Him. As the Ramcharitmanas declares, God is all-pervading and therefore present in an idol as well.  If your love is genuine, the result will be the same.

The important thing is always the same: the mind must be connected with God.

From Meditation to Longing

True meditation on Shri Krishna is more than an exercise in concentration. It should gradually awaken longing.

Practise developing the awareness that God is always with you. Every few moments, pause and remind yourself, “He is with me.” Then return to your work. After some time, pause again and remember His presence. Repeat this throughout the day until the awareness becomes natural.

You will find great joy in the thought, “God resides in my heart. Who can harm me?” When we become conscious of Shri Krishna’s constant presence, we naturally become more careful about our thoughts and actions. We are less inclined towards sinful actions because we know that nothing can be hidden from Him. His presence becomes our inner guide and protection.

Be restless to have His vision. Cry out to Him for His divine love. Increase your longing for Him until even a moment’s delay in His vision feels like an endless age.

Such tears are not a sign of weakness. They are the fruit of humility and intense longing for God.

The more we recognise our helplessness and realise that nothing in this world can fulfil the deepest longing of the soul, the more naturally we turn towards Shri Krishna.

He alone is our eternal relation. He alone can fulfil the soul’s deepest longing for everlasting love and happiness.

And the Supreme Lord, who is the very embodiment of love, can be bound by love alone.

Carry Krishna in Your Thoughts

Meditation should not remain confined to the few minutes when we sit for our formal sadhana. The real aim is to gradually carry this remembrance into every moment of life.

Lovingly remember Radha with every breath – breathe in to “Ra” and exhale to “Dhe.”

While working, remember Him. While walking, remember Him. When the mind is disturbed, remember Him.

When someone hurts or criticises you, remember Him. When anger, jealousy, greed or pride arise, remember Him.

Wherever the mind wanders, realise the presence of your Beloved Shri Krishna.

This is how the mind gradually changes its habit. Instead of constantly running towards the world, it learns to return to its true Beloved.

Humility: The Foundation of Bhakti

There is another quality that is essential for deepening our meditation – humility. The more humble we become, the closer we come to God.

True devotion requires the deep cultivation of humility and tolerance – both divine qualities. Once, a saint was seen begging for alms before an idol. When asked why, he replied, “So that when I beg from people and they refuse to give me anything, I will not feel hurt. I am practising humility.”

We too must learn to consider ourselves lower than others, offer respect to everyone, and expect nothing in return.

We should avoid dwelling on the faults of others. If we constantly think about someone’s shortcomings, we are only filling our own mind with those thoughts. Instead, learn to see Shri Krishna in everyone. Let love and compassion be your response to all. This is the way to please both God and Guru.

Even criticism can become an opportunity for spiritual growth. Instead of feeling hurt or defensive, we can pause and ask ourselves what the criticism has revealed about our own ego and shortcomings.

As Tulsidasji says, “Keep your critic in a shed in your courtyard.” Let them criticise you every day, for their words give you an opportunity to practise tolerance and learn not to be disturbed. Lust, anger, greed, jealousy – these are the vices of maya. When someone criticises us, they may simply be pointing out what already exists within us. Rather than resenting them, we can be grateful for the opportunity to recognise and overcome our weaknesses.

At the end of each day, we can quietly introspect:

Where was I arrogant today? Where did I seek praise or recognition? Where did I become hurt when someone criticised me? Where did I consider myself superior to someone else?

Chide the foolish mind that has made us wander through 8.4 million births.

This kind of honest introspection helps us recognise the ego that keeps the mind away from God.

Humility and tolerance are therefore not merely virtues. They are essential qualities on the path of Bhakti.

Have Faith in His Mercy

Perhaps the greatest obstacle is our own lack of faith.

We may think, “How can Shri Krishna possibly want to meet me? How can God love me so selflessly? How can someone like me ever attain Him?” These doubts keep us away from Him.

Shri Krishna is causelessly merciful. He is eagerly waiting for the soul to turn towards Him. He vigilantly observes our every thought and watches how we perform our devotional practice – how sincerely we practise Roopdhyan and Sankirtan of His names and attributes.

In this material world, love often comes with conditions, expectations, and disappointments. So it is natural to wonder whether such perfect, unconditional love could truly exist. But it does – it lives in Shri Krishna. He is gently and patiently watching over you, observing your efforts, your inner longing, and every moment of devotion. He knows your heart and is simply waiting for the right moment to flood it with His Grace.

The moment you truly believe that He is causelessly merciful and loves you selflessly, you will develop firm and steadfast faith in Him. That very moment will become the golden moment of your life. 

The Goal of Meditation

The practice of meditation on Shri Krishna is simple, although it requires sincerity and perseverance.

Withdraw the mind from the world and turn it towards God. Visualise Shri Krishna lovingly before you. Keep His beautiful form before your mind while chanting His name. When the mind wanders, bring it back to Him again and again.

Develop longing for His divine love and vision. Remember Him throughout the day. Cultivate humility. See Him in everyone. And above all, have firm faith in His causeless mercy.

Meditation is the life force of sadhana. Sadhana without meditation is like a body without a soul.

The ultimate goal is not merely to sit for a few minutes and think about Shri Krishna. It is to reach a state in which Shri Krishna becomes the constant object of our thoughts, the focus of our love and the centre of our life.

For He is not distant. He is nearer than the nearest, closer to us than we can ever imagine. He is already with us, waiting only for us to open our hearts to Him. 

And the moment we sincerely turn our mind towards our Beloved Shri Krishna, our journey home begins. For in Him lies the precious gem our soul has been searching for through countless ages – the treasure of Divine Love that fills our hearts and brings an everlasting fulfilment that no worldly love can ever give. 

By Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj

A brief introduction of Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj*

(Known by His devotees as Shri Maharaj Ji)

The original title of Jagadguruttam (Greatest Spiritual Teacher of the World) was bestowed upon Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj on January 14, 1957, by Kashi Vidvat Parishad (a council of 500 greatest scholars saints of India). He composed divine texts like Prem Ras Madira, Prem Ras Siddhant, and Radha Govind Geet to lead us on the right path of devotion. He also gave priceless monuments as gifts to the world which include Bhakti Mandir located in Bhakti Dham, Mangarh, Prem Mandir located in Vrindavan Dham, and Kirti Mandir located in Barsana Dham. Shri Maharaj Ji also built hospitals for the impoverished, the Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Vrindavan, Jagadguru Kripalu Chikitsalaya in Barsana, and another one in Pratapgarh. All three help millions of underprivileged to gain free access to medical care. His Kindergarten, School, and College for impoverished girls Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat Education is located in Kunda and provides completely free education. To stay updated with all the news and events of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat, visit www.jkp.org.in/jkpwhatsapp.