Which is the correct path, leaving family bonds or staying with them?

[Shri Durgaprasad asked: Paadanamaskaaram Swamiji, the Gopikaas attained the highest fruit while staying with the family bonds. On the other hand, the incarnations, Buddha and Shankara themselves showed the path of leaving their family bonds for the sake of God. Which path is correct and in which context? At Your lotus feet, Durgaprasad]

Swami replied: Attachment or detachment with the worldly bonds has nothing to do with the placement of the soul. The soul may exist in worldly bonds and yet may be detached. The soul may exist in the forests far from the worldly bonds and still may be attached. Hence, Gopikas, Buddha and Shankara are detached souls whether they live in forests or in the house. Buddha and Shankara left their houses for the sake of propagation of spiritual knowledge and in the olden days, there were no computers. People had to leave their houses and go into the world for the propagation of the true spiritual knowledge. The duty of the saint is to do the propagation of spiritual knowledge in the world, which has no connection with staying in the house or leaving the house. By leaving the house and wearing saffron clothes, one will not become a saint. It is like the present IT job in which an employee can work from the house. Occasionally, the employee must go to the office also. Similarly, a person doing the propagation of spiritual knowledge through computers sitting in the house is a saint, whatever may be the colour of his dress! Such a person can now and then leave the house and participate in oral discussions with co-devotees. It is better to even do such discussions with co-devotees through computers only because written discussions are always balanced, with several merits.

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