Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.1.51
Ūti· What drives us to actRecognize the Limits of Our Knowledge
“When a fire, for some unseen reason, leaps over one piece of wood and sets fire to the next, the reason is destiny. Similarly, when a living being accepts one kind of body and leaves aside another, there is no other reason than unseen destiny.”
What the purport teaches
- A fire may pass over one house or tree and burn another. The purport explains this through unseen destiny, rather than imaginary reasons.
- Unseen destiny also governs the soul's acceptance and departure from bodies. A prime minister in one life may become a dog in the next.
- Practical experimental knowledge cannot ascertain the workings of unseen destiny. One must recognize that everything is done by supreme providence.
Try this today
When faced with an unexplained event today, acknowledge the limits of your knowledge rather than inventing a certain explanation.
Ask yourself
Can I acknowledge supreme providence when I cannot explain an event?
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.