Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.26.8
Ūti· What drives us to actChoose Service Rather Than Sense Gratification
“The cause of the conditioned soul’s material body and senses, and the senses’ presiding deities, the demigods, is the material nature. This is understood by learned men. The feelings of happiness and distress of the soul, who is transcendental by nature, are caused by the spirit soul himself.”
What the purport teaches
- The Lord comes by His own will and energy, but the conditioned soul receives a body according to karma. The Lord’s pastimes and the soul’s enforced karmic reactions are not on the same level.
- Once a material body is accepted, the living entity must experience its consequences in happiness and distress. Yet he can change this conditioned life by choosing to serve Kṛṣṇa.
- The desire for sense gratification leads to a material body, while engagement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness brings a suitable body through the Lord’s spiritual energy. The living entity can thus become the cause of his eternal happiness.
Try this today
At one decision today, pause to choose what supports service to Kṛṣṇa rather than merely satisfying a sense desire.
Ask yourself
Am I directing my choices toward serving Kṛṣṇa or satisfying my senses?
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.