Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 22.118
The vows that protect the holy nameGive up the company of nondevotees
“The twelfth item is to give up the company of nondevotees. (13) One should not accept an unlimited number of disciples. (14) One should not partially study many scriptures just to be able to give references and expand explanations.
What the purport teaches
- One should give up the company of nondevotees. One should not partially study many scriptures merely to give references and expand explanations.
- Accepting unlimited disciples is generally forbidden because the spiritual master accepts their sinful activities and reactions. Unless sufficiently powerful, he cannot assimilate those reactions and must suffer the consequences.
- According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, a preacher must accept many disciples to expand the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The purport particularly warns that accepting unlimited disciples is very risky for one who is not a preacher.
Try this today
The twelfth item of regulative service. Choose today which conversations and feeds to be away from, and be deliberate about it.
Ask yourself
Whose company is shaping my thinking most?
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.