Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.14.51
Ūti· What drives us to actRecognizing Selfishness Beneath Possessiveness
“For this reason, O best of kings, the embodied soul is self-centered: he is more attached to his own body and self than to his so-called possessions like children, wealth and home.”
What the purport teaches
- The embodied soul is more attached to his own body and self than to children, wealth and home.
- The purport distinguishes “I-ness,” attachment to one’s body and self, from “my-ness,” attachment to family and possessions.
- Conditioned souls may be proud of their love for family and society. Yet their actions remain on the platform of gross or subtle selfishness.
Try this today
Notice one moment when your own convenience comes before someone else’s needs, and honestly acknowledge the motive.
Ask yourself
When another person’s needs inconvenience me, what does my response reveal about my attachments?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.