Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 2.5.23
Sarga· CreationMaterial Progress Can Obscure Spiritual Identity
“Material activities are caused by the mahat-tattva’s being agitated. At first there is transformation of the modes of goodness and passion, and later — due to the mode of ignorance — matter, its knowledge, and different activities of material knowledge come into play.”
What the purport teaches
- The mahat-tattva is agitated by the will of the Supreme, with goodness and passion prominent at first. As varied material activities develop, passion becomes prominent and living entities become increasingly involved in ignorance.
- Activities pursued in the name of advancing civilization can lead living entities to forget their spiritual nature. Material creations become means of sense enjoyment for bewildered living entities.
- Even a slight cultivation of goodness gives a glimpse of spiritual nature, but passion can adulterate that goodness. Realizing the Lord remains difficult because He is always transcendental to the material modes.
Try this today
Pause one activity pursued only for sense enjoyment today and spend a minute reflecting on your spiritual identity.
Ask yourself
Which of my busy pursuits tends to make me forget my spiritual nature?
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.