Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.11.11
Āśraya· The supreme shelterNature Works Under the Supreme Lord
“The physical elements, nature, the original cause, culture, destiny and the time element are all material causes. Agitated by these material causes, the eleven functions transform into hundreds of functions and then into thousands and then into millions. But all these transformations do not take place automatically by mutual combination. Rather, they are under the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
What the purport teaches
- Material causes transform the mind’s eleven functions into hundreds, thousands and millions of functions. These interactions do not work independently.
- Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is situated in everyone’s heart. As the Supersoul, He is the witness and order giver.
- The living entity’s inclinations arise from his nature or expectations. The Lord trains him through material nature, which is neither independent nor automatic.
Try this today
Observe one natural process today and remember that material nature works under Kṛṣṇa’s direction.
Ask yourself
How does remembering the Lord’s direction change my view of nature?
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.