JKP

Stop Postponing Devotion and Turn the Mind Towards God

Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat
4 June 2026
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Part 6 of Bhakti Upliftment Series

Stop Postponing Devotion and Turn the Mind Towards God

(Excerpt of a speech made by Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj)

भजूँगा, भजूँगा कहि गोविंद राधे,
पिछला बिगरा अगला तो बने दे।

Bhajūngā, bhajūngā kahi Govind Rādhe,
Pichhalā bigrā, agalā to bane de.

Translation:

 “I keep saying, ‘I will worship Govind and Radha, I will worship…’

 If the earlier part of life has already been wasted, then at least let the remaining part be made meaningful.”

From beginningless time until now, we have made one great mistake. It is not that we never met saints. It is not that no one showed us the path. After countless births, we attained this rare human body. Time and again, saints came into our lives and showed us the way. They instructed us, “Live like this. Do not live like that. Practice devotion. Yet despite hearing the truth, we made one error repeatedly. 

We kept postponing.

We told ourselves, “Yes, Mahatma ji is right. Guru ji is right. Bhajan should be done. I will definitely do it; but first let this work finish; let this responsibility end, etc. then I will begin.” In this way, we kept delaying the most important purpose of life.

Prahlad taught that spiritual life should begin in childhood itself. Start while you are young, because who knows whether youth will even come? But if childhood has passed, then begin in youth itself. In one’s old age, we have limitations. One day we get  heart disease, another day our blood pressure rises, then weakness appears. All this happens during old age. Even if one wishes to turn to God later, the body no longer cooperates. 

Worse still, by then our attachments have become deeply rooted. Reflect on life carefully. When we were born, we had no attachment to anyone. We only knew hunger and physical discomfort. The concept of Mother or father meant nothing to us. But gradually, we began to identify relationships. We learned, “This is my mother, this is my father,” and attachment began. Upon their death, we suffered in their separation. Then came marriage, children, grandchildren, and before long our world expanded into a circle of fifty  people or more. 

Now every person’s sorrow becomes our sorrow. Someone falls ill, someone faces difficulty, someone meets with an accident, and our mind becomes burdened with all of it. Our own karmic suffering was already enough, yet we collect the joys and sorrows of everyone around us. Then where is the space left for spiritual practice? How will the mind turn toward God when it is spread in so many directions?

Externally, we may do acting and continue religious activities. We may sit in satsang among people, clap during kirtan, and appear devotional. But inwardly the mind keeps wandering. “My son lives in England.” “My grandson is in Australia.” Sitting in India, instead of remembering God, the mind remains absorbed in distant family matters.

Modern inventions have made attachment even stronger. Mobile phones have become a constant means of extending emotional involvement. Endless conversations, repeated checking in, hearing the voices of children and grandchildren all day long deepen worldly attachment. Technology itself is not the problem, but uncontrolled attachment through it consumes precious mental energy that could have been directed toward spiritual remembrance.

And not only that, even those who have come to live in Vrindavan, who have become Babajis and outwardly renounced the world, are even seen walking around carrying mobile phones.

I have told many renunciates, “Why are you carrying this mobile phone? It is leading to your spiritual downfall. Leave it.”

You may be surprised to hear this, but I myself do not know how to make a phone call. If someone hands me a mobile phone, I would not know how to call anyone. Even if a call comes in, I would not know which button to press to answer it.

But people have become so attached to it that it has almost become a disease.

Once, while I was staying in Mussoorie and standing outside my house, I saw a road sweeper busy sweeping the road. Suddenly his phone rang and he instantly stopped his work and reached for his mobile. It made me realise how deeply this habit has spread. No matter how much Kripalu cautions people, they do not listen and continue moving about with their mobile phones, constantly occupied by them. 

Look at how much energy is spent on things that do not accompany us after death. A person travels a few kilometres and receives repeated calls asking where they have reached. Hours are spent in conversations that add little to life’s real purpose. Meanwhile, life itself is passing by.

When duties are fulfilled and age advances, what remains? At some point we must recognise that worldly responsibilities are endless. There will always be one more event, one more concern, one more reason to postpone devotion. But life does not wait.

This mind is such that if we try to fill it with thoughts of God and Guru, yet continue allowing worldly impurities to enter, it is like washing a dirty cloth with soap and then throwing it back into the dirt, only to wash it again and repeat the cycle.

For endless lifetimes, we have been doing exactly this. We cleanse the mind for a while, then allow worldly distractions and attachments to enter again.

Keep cleansing continuously and not allow the dirt to enter again. Maintain constant remembrance. Let the mind remain absorbed only in Hari and Guru through uninterrupted contemplation.

By constantly postponing, we have brought about our own downfall. But now the message is: whatever little time remains, make use of it.

Even if only two days of life remain, two days are enough. Begin now. Engage yourself wholeheartedly in devotion.

If, at the final moment of life, even during those last two days before death, the mind remains absorbed in God, then after death one will attain that beautiful divine result.

Think carefully. Make a firm decision and strengthen the mind. Do not become a slave to it. We often see an elderly retired person spending the whole day carrying grandchildren in his arms and taking them around proudly. Someone asks, “Whose child is this?” and he replies, “This is my grandson.” But reflect for a moment. The grandson belongs to the son. The son has grown up and can care for his own child, yet emotional attachment continues because it brings pleasure and occupies the mind.

The deeper truth is that sometimes we remain absorbed in these attachments so that the mind does not turn toward God. In this way, we continue holding on to worldly relationships and remain bound to the cycle of ‘chaurasi lakh yonis,’ the endless wandering through 8.4 million life forms. 

Bound by worldly attachment, we continue through birth after birth, wandering across creation and taking various forms such as dogs, cats, donkeys, and countless other species. 

Meanwhile, those grandchildren and family members for whom we became so attached also pass away in time. We too leave the world separately, yet the consequences of our own actions remain with us and continue to bear fruit. Therefore, while there is still time, strengthen the mind, free it from unnecessary attachment, and turn it toward God.

Therefore, my message to you is to stop procrastinating in devotion. 

Follow the instructions of Hari and Guru completely and sincerely. Do not allow the restless mind to dictate your path. Only then can the true goal of life be attained.

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.