Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.16.5
Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyGive Household Life a Spiritual Aim
“O my wife, who are very much attached to household life, if the principles of religion, economic development and satisfaction of the senses are properly followed in household life, one’s activities are as good as those of a transcendentalist. I wonder whether there have been any discrepancies in following these principles.”
What the purport teaches
- A gṛhamedhī is satisfied in household life for sense gratification. The happiness gained from this alone is very meager.
- The śāstras regulate religion, economic development and sense gratification so that one can advance toward liberation. Religion is not meant merely to improve material enjoyment.
- Household life should aim at spiritual understanding and inquiry into the ultimate goal of life. With this aim, it can be as good as the life of a yogi.
Try this today
Set aside five minutes today to study spiritual teachings with the aim of understanding life’s ultimate goal.
Ask yourself
Are my household activities helping me seek spiritual understanding, or only greater comfort?
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.