Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.12.3
Mukti· LiberationLearn Through Humble Questions and Service
“Whatever doubts I have about a particular subject matter I shall ask you about later. For the time being, these mysterious yoga instructions you have given me for self-realization appear very difficult to understand. Please repeat them in a simple way so that I can understand them. My mind is very inquisitive, and I want to understand this clearly.”
What the purport teaches
- An intelligent person should be deeply inquisitive about transcendental science and approach a guru, a spiritual master.
- The student should surrender to the spiritual master and ask questions to understand his instructions. Rahūgaṇa requests a simpler explanation rather than pretending to understand.
- The student should also render loving service so that the spiritual master is pleased to explain clearly. A challenging spirit should be avoided.
Try this today
Write one sincere question about an instruction you do not understand, phrasing it respectfully and asking for clarification.
Ask yourself
Do I ask spiritual questions to understand, or to challenge?
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.