Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.14.4
Mukti· LiberationLiberation Requires Freedom from Material Attachment
“O best of the brāhmaṇas, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, out of many persons who follow religious principles, only a few desire liberation from the material world. Among many thousands who desire liberation, one may actually achieve liberation, giving up material attachment to society, friendship, love, country, home, wife and children. And among many thousands of such liberated persons, one who can understand the true meaning of liberation is very rare.”
What the purport teaches
- A karmī seeks bodily comfort within the material world, while a jñānī aspires for liberation from material bondage.
- Among thousands who desire liberation, one may actually become liberated during life, giving up material attachment to society, friendship, country and family.
- Among many in the vānaprastha stage, one may understand the value of becoming a sannyāsī and completely accepting the renounced order.
Try this today
Identify one unnecessary bodily comfort you pursue, and set aside that pursuit for today.
Ask yourself
Is my main aim bodily comfort, or do I genuinely want freedom from material bondage?
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.