Answer
Offending the spiritual master primarily results in the obstruction of one's spiritual advancement.
Such offenses gradually diminish one's spiritual awareness and increase material consciousness.
As a result, one becomes increasingly forgetful of Krishna and loses awareness of spiritual reality.
These are the natural consequences of offenses committed against the spiritual master.
The same principle applies to offenses committed against:
The holy name of the Lord.
The Vaishnavas (devotees).
The Deities.
Sincere devotees who are practicing Krishna consciousness.
The effect of such offenses is that a person gradually becomes more materially absorbed, turns away from Krishna consciousness, and begins to fall back into old material habits of thinking, acting, and living.
Therefore, offenses are extremely dangerous because they impede spiritual progress and distance one from Krishna.
