Do different people need different percentages of material and spiritual life?

So is the material spiritual complementary? Does this percentage vary in different people? Yes, of course. We are all at different levels of spiritual evolution and we all need to grow according to the level that we are at.

In the traditional Vedic system, there is Brahmacharya, there is Grahastha, there is Vanaprastha, there is Sannyasa There is a progression in how much one focuses on spiritual life and how one balances one's life Now, with respect to different people having different levels of faith that is something which is to be natural and accepted. But just because it is to be accepted doesn't mean it has to be perpetuated. That means yes, somebody may have more faith somebody may have more attraction, more commitment to God, somebody may have less.

But from where we are we can take steps forward Somebody says, this is the level of faith I have, this is the level of factors I will stay forever That is not very beneficial. Yes My muscles may be right now weaker and somebody else's muscles may be stronger. But from wherever I am I can improve.

I can strengthen my muscles and I can move closer So this is with respect to overall disposition. But in specific situations it can vary Even somebody who is very spiritually advanced in some phases of their life they may have to become more materially active because that particular time that is what is required in their life and some phases of life they may be more spiritually active. So I will say that if we study and understand Bhagavad Gita properly then what level we can function that is something which we will ourselves realize So there is no need to start off with a preconception that I have to be at this level or I have to be at this level We just start off spiritual life in a mood of exploration in a mood of exploration, in a mood of understanding.

And as we understand, we will naturally gravitate towards the level and the rate of growth that is comfortable for us And we move onwards from that So there is no need to There is no need to fixate with any particular level at this stage All of us have a relationship with Krishna and Krishna will guide us how best to advance The important thing is we should have the intention to advance Intention to come closer to him and He will give us the intelligence of how to come to him The temptation generally in the material world is to keep postponing our spiritual life For those who are materialistic or godless for them their illusion is that god doesn't exist But for those who are religious, those who are somewhat spiritual, temptation will not come and tell them god doesn't exist That will not even entertain that temptation The way it comes is Yes God is important but later So what happens is that illusion comes to us that pushing god just one rung down in our priority Yes god is important But right now my job is important Right now my family is important Right now my health is important Right now this is important And then if we are going to reject god we would never do it But through just pushing god one rung down one rung down from priority number one he will become from priority number one thousand We still think I am devoted to god But you know what is my devotion I go to temple How often? I go once a year in janmashtami That is also one level of commitment But that is a very nominal connection So in general the temptation is to push god lower down our priority list And that's why regular association with those for whom god is a higher priority level is important And that will serve as a reminder We don't necessarily have to imitate anyone else Because others may be at a different level that they can focus more But association is very important The whole world is going to remind us of worldly things Very few reminders of god Even the reminder of god in the world There are team channels sometimes But actually there God is treated more as an entertainment commodity There are movie stories and there are stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata That is not really very inspirational for dedicating oneself to god So we need association That will keep reminders of that god has to be an important priority in my life And with that association internally and with that devotional intention externally and the devotional intention internally we will be guided about what rate we can move towards.