Kusang (कुसंग)
Kusang is harmful association, including thoughts and influences that turn the mind away from God and weaken devotion.
Kusang (कुसंग | kusaṅga) means bad association. In spiritual practice, it refers to mental or physical association with material people, objects, thoughts, or influences that draw the mind away from God and hinder devotion.
The word combines ku (bad) and sang (association).
What Constitutes Kusang?
Kusang is not limited to associating with people of bad character. Reading, listening to, watching, or repeatedly thinking about material subjects can also constitute Kusang.
Even activities that appear spiritual can become Kusang when they lead to pride, confusion, doubts, or offenses against God and His Saints.
The danger of Kusang is that it changes the judgment of the intellect. Once influenced by it, a spiritual aspirant may no longer recognize that they have fallen into bad association.
Before God-realization, no jeev is immune to Maya's influence. Therefore, avoiding Kusang is essential for protecting and advancing one's devotion.
Kusang is the opposite of Satsang, the association of God and God-realized Saints through engagement of the mind and intellect.
Alternate spelling: kusanga
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