Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Antya 20.28
Serve More Rather Than Advertise Advancement
“Wherever there is a relationship of love of Godhead, its natural symptom is that the devotee does not think himself a devotee. Instead, he always thinks that he has not even a drop of love for Kṛṣṇa.”
What the purport teaches
- A natural symptom of love of Godhead is that the devotee does not think himself a devotee. He feels that he has not even a drop of love for Kṛṣṇa.
- The prākṛta-sahajiyās display external devotional symptoms to advertise supposed advancement. The purport warns against equating them with pure devotees.
- One who is actually advanced in ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa does not advertise himself. Instead, he endeavors more and more to render service to the Lord.
Try this today
Make one small effort in devotional service today without telling others to gain praise.
Ask yourself
Where could you replace a desire to appear advanced with a sincere effort to serve?
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.