Danger of Interpreting Scripture According to One's Own Whims
Spiritual life demands strict obedience to the laws of God, yet many are misled by their own fertile minds. Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly warns that interpreting scripture or acting according to one's own whims is a fatal error in spiritual life. He explains that such behavior not only distorts the absolute truth but also disqualifies the practitioner from attaining any genuine result or happiness.
Offense of Distorted Interpretation
The Bhagavad-gītā is meant to be accepted as it is, yet many commentators impose their own ideas upon the text. Śrīla Prabhupāda condemns this practice, noting that as soon as personal interpretation enters, the authority of the message is lost. Such whimsical commentaries are often the work of godless persons who mislead society.
- As soon as there is some personal interpretation (in the carried message of authority), the message is lost and the instructions become offensive. A person who interprets the scriptures according to his own whims should be immediately rejected.
- Asuras, instead of accepting these instructions (of Bhagavad-gita) directly, make commentaries according to their own whimsical ways and mislead everyone, without profit even for themselves.
- Interpreting the verses of Vedanta-sutra according to one's own whim is the greatest disservice to the self-evident Vedas.
Consequences of Ignoring Scriptural Rules
Freedom in spiritual life does not mean doing whatever one likes. Citing the Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that one who discards the direction of the scriptures to act whimsically achieves nothing—neither perfection, nor happiness, nor the supreme destination. This lack of discipline is compared to a mad elephant that destroys a carefully cultivated garden.
- He who discards scriptural injunctions and acts according to his own whims attains neither perfection nor happiness nor the supreme destination.
- Giving up the regulative principles and living according to one's whims is compared to a mad elephant, which by force uproots the bhakti-lata and breaks it to pieces.
- If we want to take a particular medicine, then we have to follow the directions written on the label. We cannot take the medicine according to our own whim or the direction of a friend.
True Authority vs. Whimsical Behavior
A bona fide spiritual master is defined by their strict adherence to the order of the predecessor ācāryas and Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that no one can become a spiritual master by their own whim; they must be ordered by superior authority. This strict discipline distinguishes a genuine saint from a pretender.
- Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya: "On My order." That is the crucial point. One does not become spiritual master by his own whims. That is not spiritual master. He must be ordered by superior authority.
- Sometimes the sahajiyas imitate advanced devotees and live in their own whimsical way, avoiding the principles set down in the revealed scriptures.
- In one case we are acting according to our own whims, and in the other we are acting under the direction of the government. Similarly, when we act under direction of Krsna, our actions performed are called akarma, for that kind of activity has no reaction.
Conclusion
The path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is narrow and requires careful navigation under the guidance of guru and śāstra. Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently teaches that acting according to one's own whims is a hallmark of ignorance that leads to failure. To be successful, one must surrender their personal manufacturing of ideas and simply accept the perfect instructions of the Lord without alteration.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category According to One's Own Whims. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.