Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 5.13.17
Ūti· What drives us to actStay With Devotees and Follow Their Guidance
“Being cheated by them, the living entity in the forest of the material world tries to give up the association of these so-called yogīs, svāmīs and incarnations and come to the association of real devotees, but due to misfortune he cannot follow the instructions of the spiritual master or advanced devotees; therefore he gives up their company and again returns to the association of monkeys who are simply interested in sense gratification and women. He derives satisfaction by associating with sense gratifiers and enjoying sex and intoxication. In this way he spoils his life simply by indulging in sex and intoxication. Looking into the faces of other sense gratifiers, he becomes forgetful and thus approaches death.”
What the purport teaches
- A person may leave bad association, approach devotees and accept a spiritual master. Yet failure to follow the spiritual master’s instructions can lead him to leave that association.
- Outward resemblance to a sādhu does not establish spiritual character. The purport compares pretended spiritualists absorbed in sexual enjoyment to monkeys.
- Returning to companions interested only in sex and intoxication revives the same habits. In this satisfaction, one forgets the approaching end of life.
Try this today
Choose one instruction you have received from your spiritual master or advanced devotees and consciously follow it today.
Ask yourself
Which association helps me follow spiritual instruction rather than abandon it?
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.