The actual philosophy according to Shri Krishna himself in the Bhagavatam is:
तं भ्रंशयामि सम्पद्भ्यो यस्य चेच्छाम्यनुग्रहम् ॥
Taṁ bhraṁśhayāmi sampadbhyo yasya chechchhāmy anugraham.- Bhagavatam 10.27.16
If I want to grace somebody I'll start taking away their material things. I'll cause them to lose their status in the world. Why? Isn't this the exact opposite of what we believe if God graces me if a Saint graces me I'll rise up in the world.
Shri Krishna says, “My grace causes you to lose material status.” Why? Because:
नहिं कोउ अस जन्म जग माहीं। प्रभुता पाइ जाहि मद नाहिं ।।
Nahin kou as janm jag māhīņ. Prabhutā pā-i jāhi mad nāhin.
“Never has there been someone born in this world who once they achieve power and status and wealth they don't become intoxicated with pride and arrogance.”
And it's so insidious that their own mind cannot recognize that they are prideful and arrogant, and it's that pride and arrogance which is the very opposite of devotion, because the very foundation of devotion is humbleness and surrender. But when we are intoxicated with the pride of our own status and power and wealth then humbleness and surrender are far. Then why would God give us the very thing that is going to increase that pride and take us farther and farther away from Him. Why would a Saint give us that thing? So it's the opposite. Shri Krishna says, “I start taking away the things that give you that pride if I want to grace you.”
So you see with this knowledge we can start correcting our understanding. Okay. A Saint is going to give me correct knowledge of how to attain God and is going to grace me with feelings of love for God which will also reduce my attachment in the world. The Saint is not going to grace me with material things either for real or just putting on an act. Either way the Saint is not going to do that. The fake saint doesn't have the power to give material boons, but puts on the act of giving the boon and the true Saint has the power to give the material boon, but never would.
अवश्यमेव भोक्त्व्यं क्रतं कर्म सुभाशुभम्।
Avashyamev bhoktvyam krataṁ karm subhāshubham.
“One must undergo the consequences of the good and bad karma they did in their past life.”
Neither God nor the Saint is going to intercede in that. So what you get is actually determined by what you did in your past life. Is it so easy to rearrange and adjust that just by going to a Saint and saying, “You know, I don't like this bad thing that's happening to me, make this good thing happen instead.” It's not that easy. You did something bad, so now receive the outcome or you did something good, so receive the outcome. So a true Saint doesn't give material boons nor does a true Saint threaten to give curses.
