Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 17.116
Ecstatic Love Is Not Imitation
“Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī said, “Yes, I have heard about Him. He is a sannyāsī from Bengal, and He is very sentimental. I have also heard that He belongs to the Bhāratī-sampradāya, for He is a disciple of Keśava Bhāratī. However, He is only a pretender.””
What the purport teaches
- Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu always exhibited ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa. Foolish people mistook this for ordinary sentimentalism.
- His ecstatic love cannot be compared to the temporary emotional exhibitions of pretenders. Māyāvādīs cannot understand a devotee’s transcendental symptoms.
- Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī’s statement was offensive. His renunciation was artificial because he was not engaged in the Lord’s devotional service and did not know how to use things for that service.
Try this today
Use one thing you already have in a small act of service to the Lord today.
Ask yourself
Am I giving more attention to outward emotion or to steady 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.