Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.29.22
Mukti· LiberationRecognize God’s Presence in Every Living Being
“One who worships the Deity of Godhead in the temples but does not know that the Supreme Lord, as Paramātmā, is situated in every living entity’s heart, must be in ignorance and is compared to one who offers oblations into ashes.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is present in every living entity as the Supersoul and witness. Each individual soul is also His part and parcel.
- Ritual worship without knowledge of the Lord’s presence everywhere is compared to pouring clarified butter into ashes rather than fire. Outward religious observance alone does not overcome this ignorance.
- A devotee should not ignore any living entity, however insignificant it may seem. Because God is present even in an ant, every living being should be treated kindly and not subjected to violence.
Try this today
Take care not to injure small creatures as you go about one ordinary task today, remembering the Lord within them.
Ask yourself
Which living beings do I tend to overlook when thinking about the Lord’s presence?
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.