Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.5.29
Āśraya· The supreme shelterPure Goodness Reveals the Supreme Lord
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in pure goodness [śuddha-sattva], and therefore He is eka-varṇa — the oṁkāra [praṇava]. Because the Lord is beyond the cosmic manifestation, which is considered to be darkness, He is not visible to material eyes. Nonetheless, He is not separated from us by time or space, but is present everywhere. Seated on His carrier, Garuḍa, He is worshiped by means of mystical yogic power by those who have achieved freedom from agitation. Let us all offer our respectful obeisances unto Him.”
What the purport teaches
- Material goodness brings knowledge, passion mixes knowledge with ignorance, and ignorance brings darkness. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in pure goodness, untouched by passion and ignorance.
- Kṛṣṇa can appear on the vasudeva platform, where goodness is undisturbed by the other modes. Those dominated by the three material modes cannot see Him, although He is present everywhere.
- One must become dhīra, undisturbed by material agitation, and practice control of the senses. On the transcendental platform of pure goodness, one can see the Supreme Lord, to whom Brahmā offers obeisances.
Try this today
Put aside one sensory distraction for a minute, sit quietly, and offer respectful obeisances to the Supreme Lord.
Ask yourself
Which sense most often agitates me and distracts me from worshiping the Lord?
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.