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Burnout is a problem that affects many devotees. It can lead to many negative symptoms, like irritation and impatience, headaches and other physical discomfort, depression, low self-esteem, and a feeling of impotence against what appear to be mounting and insurmountable difficulties. This physical and mental exhaustion leads to mechanical hearing and chanting, which can undermine the very foundation of our spiritual practice. It doesn’t really count when the body is there, but the mind is somewhere else.

Once the foundation is impacted, other symptoms can appear, such as irritation, harsh speech, fault-finding, cynicism, and so on. Eventually, all of this combined can lead a devotee to conclude that he or she simply can’t continue, and that’s where many end up leaving the association of devotees or even spiritual practice altogether.

It’s not difficult to understand why: in this case, instead of bringing bliss, spiritual practice registers in the mind as a painful experience, and even if one is very determined in the beginning, time makes the mind reject it. Once one stops, it is difficult to go back.

Interestingly enough, devotees are, in general, more susceptible to burnout than regular people because we frequently have to combine our regular material obligations with work and family with our spiritual practice and service. It is easy to tell others that we need to be attentive while hearing and chanting, that we should be present, and so on. We all understand that. The question is that all of this demands energy, and it may be difficult to muster it after a journey of 16 hours of work, commuting, family problems, and other forms of pressure. Often, the pressure for being present, which is generally good advice, just adds to the problem.

Ironically, the more a devotee is serious and determined to do more in spiritual life, the more he or she becomes susceptible to developing burnout. A devotee who wants to be serious in his spiritual practice frequently has to add 20 or even 30 hours of practice and service on top of responsibilities with work and family. This includes japa, listening to classes, online meetings with devotees, temple activities, book distribution, etc.

For example, many devotees participate in weekend warrior programs, distributing books on weekends, often on both Saturday and Sunday. All included (commuting, organization, the distribution itself, and some meeting afterward), this may equal 16 hours of extra service per week. If one is the organizer, it can be more. Add this to 21 hours of weekly spiritual practice (japa, classes, etc.), 10 hours of temple and home programs, plus 40 hours of a regular job, 12 hours of commuting to work, 14 hours spent with family, etc. All of this under the pressure of being present and doing everything attentively.

Is it even humanly possible? That’s exactly the point. Many devotees are not exactly “human” in the ordinary sense. They are in the stage of bhāva (if not beyond), impervious to the limitations of the material body and mind. One who is on such a high platform may effectively be able to maintain such a rhythm. The problem starts when it comes to regular mortals like us.

In the Gītā (6.16-17), Kṛṣṇa directly alerts:

“There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogī, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough. He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system