Live Caitanya Caritamrta · CC Madhya 24.288
Practitioners Have Different Degrees of Maturity
“Those who are practicing devotional service are either mature or immature. Therefore the sādhakas are of two types. Since the devotees execute either regulative devotional service or spontaneous devotional service and there are four groups within these two divisions, altogether there are eight varieties.
What the purport teaches
- Those practicing devotional service may be mature or immature. Thus sādhakas are of two types.
- These two types of practitioners, together with eternal associates and associates perfected by devotional service, form four groups.
- The four groups occur within both regulative and spontaneous devotional service. Altogether, this gives eight varieties of devotees.
Try this today
Draw two columns for regulative and spontaneous devotional service, and list the four groups under each.
Ask yourself
How does recognizing different degrees of maturity help you view your own devotional practice?
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.