Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 2.7.49
Āśraya· The supreme shelterThe Eternal Soul’s Goal Is Loving Association
“The Personality of Godhead is the supreme master of everything auspicious because the results of whatever actions are performed by the living being, in either the material or spiritual existence, are awarded by the Lord. As such, He is the ultimate benefactor. Every individual living entity is unborn, and therefore even after the annihilation of the material elementary body, the living entity exists, exactly like the air within the body.”
What the purport teaches
- The living entity is unborn and eternal, continuing to exist after the material body is destroyed. The Lord, the ultimate benefactor, awards the results of material and spiritual actions according to one’s choices.
- Devotees desire to become the Lord’s associates rather than merge into His existence. Through natural devotional practices such as hearing and chanting, they attain a perfection far superior to merging into Brahman.
- The Lord awards a spiritual body suitable for association with Him. If a devotee’s purification remains incomplete, He kindly gives another opportunity in a later life to complete devotional service.
Try this today
Set aside five minutes to hear about the Lord, seeking loving association with Him rather than a material reward.
Ask yourself
What kind of spiritual goal am I nurturing through my choices today?
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.