Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Antya 6.312
Faithfully Follow the Spiritual Master’s Order
“He never touched anything to wear except a small torn cloth and a patchwork wrapper. Thus he very rigidly executed the order of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.”
What the purport teaches
- Raghunātha dāsa wore only a small torn cloth and a patchwork wrapper. In this way, he rigidly carried out Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s order.
- The spiritual master gives different orders to different people. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Jīva Gosvāmī, Rūpa Gosvāmī and Sanātana Gosvāmī to preach, and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī to strictly follow the rules of the renounced order.
- All six Gosvāmīs strictly followed Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s instructions. Strictly trying to execute the spiritual master’s order is the principle for progress and success in devotional service.
Try this today
Review one instruction you have received from your spiritual master and take one concrete step to follow it; if you have not received one, note how the orders in this verse differ.
Ask yourself
Why is following the instruction given to you more important than copying someone else’s outward practice?
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.