Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 10.114
Examine Teachings Before Accepting Them
“It was the practice of Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī to examine all literatures to find out whether their conclusions were correct. Only then would he allow them to be heard by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.”
What the purport teaches
- Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī examined the conclusions of all literatures before allowing Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to hear them.
- Anything that impedes devotional service should be understood to be impure. Pure devotees do not accept impure principles.
- Followers of rasābhāsa may be admired by ordinary people, but popularity does not make their principles pure. Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī did not approve such followers as Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas.
Try this today
Before accepting or sharing one devotional passage today, pause to examine whether it supports or impedes devotional service.
Ask yourself
Do I judge a teaching by its popularity or by whether it supports devotional service?
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.