Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 22.14-15
Devotee Association Opens the Way to Service
“In this way the conditioned soul becomes the servant of lusty desires, and when these are not fulfilled, he becomes the servant of anger and continues to be kicked by the external energy, māyā. Wandering and wandering throughout the universe, he may by chance get the association of a devotee physician, whose instructions and hymns make the witch of the external energy flee. The conditioned soul thus gets into touch with devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, and in this way he can approach nearer and nearer to the Lord.
What the purport teaches
- Ever-liberated living entities never come in contact with māyā, while ever-conditioned souls remain in her clutches.
- The conditioned soul serves lusty desires and, when they are unfulfilled, becomes the servant of anger. In this way he continues to be kicked by māyā.
- A devotee acts like a physician whose instructions and hymns make the external energy flee. Through this association, the conditioned soul comes into devotional service and approaches nearer to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Try this today
Spend a few minutes today listening attentively to a devotee’s instruction about devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.
Ask yourself
How could you make room for a devotee’s guidance rather than follow desire and anger?
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.