Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 19.157
Protect Devotion Through Pure Devotee Association
“The gardener must defend the creeper by fencing it all around so that the powerful elephant of offenses may not enter.
What the purport teaches
- The growing bhakti creeper needs a protective fence. A beginner should be protected by being surrounded by pure devotees.
- Giving up the company of pure devotees is a great offense, even for someone who considers himself mature. Association with nondevotees and nondevotional activities exposes the creeper to the mad elephant offense.
- One protects the creeper by following the regulative principles and associating with pure devotees. This protection must be maintained carefully.
Try this today
Make one concrete arrangement today to spend time in the association of pure devotees.
Ask yourself
What company and activities are helping me protect my devotional creeper?
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.