Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 4.29.7
Ūti· What drives us to actEngage the Mind at the Lord’s Feet
“The eleventh attendant, who is the commander of the others, is known as the mind. He is the leader of the senses both in the acquisition of knowledge and in the performance of work. The Pañcāla kingdom is that atmosphere in which the five sense objects are enjoyed. Within that Pañcāla kingdom is the city of the body, which has nine gates.”
What the purport teaches
- The mind is very powerful and leads both the knowledge-acquiring and working senses. It is the center of all activities.
- According to its training, the mind becomes either a friend or an enemy. An uncontrolled mind can misdirect the living entity toward sense enjoyment.
- Śrīla Ambarīṣa Mahārāja first engaged his mind upon the lotus feet of the Lord. When the mind is engaged in this meditation, the senses are controlled.
Try this today
Spend one quiet minute today meditating on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, gently bringing your attention back when it wanders.
Ask yourself
Is my mind directing my senses toward enjoyment or toward the Lord?
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.