Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.17.30
Mukti· LiberationFind Happiness in the Holy Name
“As one mistakenly considers a flower garland to be a snake or experiences happiness and distress in a dream, so, in the material world, by a lack of careful consideration, we differentiate between happiness and distress, considering one good and the other bad.”
What the purport teaches
- Material happiness and distress are compared to experiences in a dream. Their distinctions arise from the mind’s acceptance and rejection.
- Without mature understanding, one may mistake a flower garland for a snake. Similarly, mistaken judgment shapes our experience of material duality.
- By Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s causeless mercy, a devotee can accept distress as happiness. Following His example, one should chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and find happiness in any condition of life.
Try this today
Chant attentively today: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.
Ask yourself
How quickly do I label a situation good or bad without careful consideration?
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.