Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.18.39
Mukti· LiberationServe the Guru With Faith
“Until a devotee has clearly realized spiritual knowledge, he should continue with great faith and respect and without envy to render personal service to the guru, who is nondifferent from Me.”
What the purport teaches
- Until spiritual knowledge is clearly realized, a devotee should render personal service to the guru with great faith, respect and freedom from envy. The Lord describes the guru as nondifferent from Himself.
- One receives the Supreme Lord’s mercy through the mercy of the bona fide spiritual master. Remaining close to the guru helps one avoid illusion while learning his teachings.
- Realized knowledge received through the guru’s mercy qualifies a devotee to expand his mission. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasized carrying forward the spiritual master’s mission in separation as the highest form of devotional service.
Try this today
Review one instruction from the spiritual master today and identify one concrete way to serve it.
Ask yourself
How can I receive the spiritual master’s teachings with greater faith and respect?
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.