Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 11.23.5
Mukti· LiberationChoose Tolerance Instead of Retaliation
“Once a certain sannyāsī was insulted in many ways by impious men. However, with determination he remembered that he was suffering the fruit of his own previous karma. I will narrate to you his story and that which he spoke.”
What the purport teaches
- Although impious men insulted the sannyāsī in many ways, he remained determined. He remembered that his suffering was the fruit of his own previous karma.
- Lack of tolerance can draw a renunciant back into impious life. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu therefore teaches that one should become as tolerant as a tree.
- A beginner in devotional service should reject the ethic of an eye for an eye. Refusing enmity avoids further unhappiness and supports remaining on the devotional path.
Try this today
For one remembered insult, set aside any plan to retaliate and resolve not to add another hostile exchange.
Ask yourself
When I feel insulted, does my response deepen enmity or help me remain steady in devotional service?
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.