Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Ādi 1.46
Respect the Ācārya’s Spiritual Care
“One should know the ācārya as Myself and never disrespect him in any way. One should not envy him, thinking him an ordinary man, for he is the representative of all the demigods.”
What the purport teaches
- Lord Kṛṣṇa teaches that one should know the ācārya as Himself and never disrespect or envy him as an ordinary man. The ācārya represents all the demigods.
- The Lord was instructing how a brahmacārī should behave under a spiritual master’s care. The spiritual master is not an enjoyer of facilities offered by disciples.
- The spiritual master is like a parent. Just as a child needs attentive parental care to grow, one needs the spiritual master’s care to rise to transcendental service.
Try this today
Write down one way the spiritual master’s care supports growth in transcendental service.
Ask yourself
How can I better appreciate the spiritual master’s care rather than regard him as an ordinary person?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport; the practice and question are plain words for trying the verse today.