How can one remain attached to God despite worldly responsibilities?

[Kum. Ishita Iyer asked: Namaskāraṃ Datta Swāmiji! Swāmiji in the Kali Yuga what should we do or rather, how do we manage to stay on the right path and yet also be attached to our worldly duties and ambitions related to family, career, personal goals etc., while still not straying away from the spiritual path? What are the essential qualities of the person who wants to remain attached to God despite worldly responsibilities and bondages? Regards, Ishita Iyer.]

Swāmi replied: If you are totally attached to God, I assuredly tell all of you that your worldly side will not be harmed in any way. Moreover, your worldly life will shine brighter than the worldly life of a person concentrating on it day and night. God took an oath saying that His devotee will not be harmed in any way, either on the spiritual side or the worldly side (Na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati…—Gītā). Of course, for some time, the scene will appear threatening to you. But that is only to test the strength of your devotion and your faith. In that time, you have to stand firmly. But one important thing is that if you are fully absorbed in God, you will not worry at all about worldly matters. If you are worried, it means that you are not fully absorbed in God. Absorption is a bulk phenomenon such as water getting soaked, through and through, in a piece of sponge. On the other hand, adsorption is a surface phenomenon. It is like a thin film of water adhering to the surface of a solid, without penetrating into the solid. If your devotion is superficial like adsorption, you will be disturbed by worldly worries. If your devotion is deep and complete like absorption, no worldly worries will be able to divert your attention from God.

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