Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.6.34
Āśraya· The supreme shelterWorship Under a Spiritual Master’s Guidance
“All these different social divisions are born, with their occupational duties and living conditions, from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus for unconditional life and self-realization one has to worship the Supreme Lord under the direction of the spiritual master.”
What the purport teaches
- All social divisions and their duties arise from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Like parts of a body serving the whole, all living beings are meant to serve Him.
- The conditioned soul mistakenly thinks he can become supreme. The Supreme Lord cannot be overcome by illusion, whereas conditioned living beings need purification.
- Actual purification comes through worshiping the Lord under a bona fide spiritual master who is qualified as a brāhmaṇa and is also a Vaiṣṇava. Other methods may help, but perfection culminates in this devotional service.
Try this today
Reread this purport’s instruction on guided worship and write down one teaching you can apply to your service today.
Ask yourself
Am I willing to receive guidance in serving the Lord rather than treating myself as the highest authority?
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.