How can a person who wants to be attached to God deal with the family members who are attached to that person?

[A satsaṅga took place between Swami and several devotees who visited Him on January 16, 2021. Some of the questions of devotees answered by Swāmi are given below.]

[Kum. Bhanu Samykya asked: Pādanamaskāram Swāmi! I have learnt from Your knowledge that every soul should be attached to God as it is the permanent relationship. But if my family members and friends are wanting to stay attached with me, how should I behave with them? If I behave in a loving manner, their attachment might increase. How to deal with them?]

Swāmi replied: You mentioned the word ‘attachment’ to God in your question. If that attachment to God is based on the attraction to God, then it is meaningful. If the attraction to God is absent, then that attachment to God is meaningless. If one has decided to commit suicide by jumping into the water, then one should jump in to river right away, without any hesitation. If one starts thinking that the water might be cold or the fish in the river might bite, etc., then one will never be able to jump into the river. Similarly, if you are naturally attracted to God, the attachment to God would be spontaneous and this question of dealing with other people would never come. You would not think about anyone other than God when you are really attracted to God.

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