Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.5.15
Ūti· What drives us to actChoose Surrender Over Religious Sense Enjoyment
“The people in general are naturally inclined to enjoy, and you have encouraged them in that way in the name of religion. This is verily condemned and is quite unreasonable. Because they are guided under your instructions, they will accept such activities in the name of religion and will hardly care for prohibitions.”
What the purport teaches
- Human life is an opportunity to escape material bondage and reestablish our lost relationship with God. Religious instructions should not encourage plans for sense enjoyment.
- People may cling to religious permissions for enjoyment while ignoring their intended restrictions. This misuse of religion becomes a barrier to spiritual advancement.
- The central teaching of Bhagavad-gītā is to surrender fully unto Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Nārada urges Vyāsadeva to proclaim directly that realizing our eternal relationship with the Lord and surrendering to Him is life’s prime necessity.
Try this today
Set aside one small plan for sense enjoyment today and use that time to read Bhagavad-gītā with the intention of surrendering to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
Am I seeking the Lord’s service, or using religion to support my desire for material enjoyment?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.