choosing the right bondage

Most of us easily fall prey to material attachments, however, we hardly direct our karmas toward the path of spiritual liberation. It’s unfortunate, but we prefer worldly bondage over bondage with the Almighty on any given day. And sooner or later, we understand that the former only brings imprisonment and misery, while the latter helps us experience liberation and true joy.

We humans are first and foremost spiritual beings. And so, pursuing and practicing spirituality is not bondage; it’s our primary duty. When we become victims to attachments and addictions of the material world, we divert from our life path and forego our responsibility of showing up as the best versions of ourselves and benefiting our fellow beings.

Spiritual bondage, not material, is key to the progress of humanity. It helps us in doing the right thing in all circumstances and nourishes the fountain of goodness within us.

True growth starts from within, and that’s where spiritual bondage plays such a key role. If we don’t adhere to the path of dharma and develop essential virtues, we start falling behind and find ourselves in a downward negative spiral.

As spiritual guru HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj wrote, “To a tree, the roots are bondage. But if there are no roots, the tree ceases to exist. Because of its roots, the tree is green, and has fruits and flowers. The grandeur of a tree is due to this bondage. Similarly a man is adorned by the bondage of dharma and good conduct.”