Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.21.6
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesSee the Lord’s Presence in Everyone
“Because Rantideva perceived the presence of the Supreme Godhead everywhere, and in every living entity, he received the guest with faith and respect and gave him a share of the food. The brāhmaṇa guest ate his share and then went away.”
What the purport teaches
- Rantideva perceived the Supreme Personality of Godhead in every living being. With faith and respect, he gave the brāhmaṇa guest a share of the food.
- Seeing the Lord within everyone does not mean that every living being is God. Rantideva saw everyone as part of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- True equal vision perceives the Lord’s presence in both the brāhmaṇa and the caṇḍāla. It does not give someone special spiritual standing simply because that person is poor.
Try this today
Offer one person your full, respectful attention today, remembering the Supreme Lord’s presence in their heart.
Ask yourself
Can I respect the Lord’s presence in someone without confusing that person with 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.