Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Ādi 15.22
Avoid Criticizing What You Cannot Understand
“In this way Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu performed various pastimes, but why He did so I cannot understand.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees come to this world to execute a mission. Their actions can therefore be very difficult to understand.
- Even a very learned and intelligent scholar cannot understand the activities of a Vaiṣṇava. A Vaiṣṇava accepts whatever is favorable for executing his mission.
- Those who do not know the purpose of exalted Vaiṣṇavas may criticize them, but such criticism is forbidden. This offense is called sādhu-nindā.
Try this today
If you feel ready to criticize a Vaiṣṇava today, pause and acknowledge that you may not understand the purpose of the action.
Ask yourself
How can acknowledging the limits of your understanding help you avoid criticizing a Vaiṣṇava?
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.