Should not imitate (Books)

Expressions researched:
"guard against trying to imitate their actions. One should not try" |"not mean that an ordinary living being should imitate" |"should accept the emotional activities and not imitate" |"should not artificially imitate" |"should not attempt to imitate" |"should not falsely imitate" |"should not imitate" |"should not jump up and try to imitate" |"should not live very gorgeously and imitate" |"should not sit down to imitate" |"should not superficially imitate" |"should not try to imitate" |"should not, however, imitate"

Notes from the compiler: Vedabase query: "should not imitate"@10

BG Chapters 1 - 6

Although we have to follow in the footsteps of the Lord, we still have to remember that we cannot imitate Him. Following and imitating are not on the same level.

BG 3.24, Purport:

We should, however, note carefully that although we have to follow in the footsteps of the Lord, we still have to remember that we cannot imitate Him. Following and imitating are not on the same level. We cannot imitate the Lord by lifting Govardhana Hill, as the Lord did in His childhood. It is impossible for any human being. We have to follow His instructions, but we may not imitate Him at any time. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.33.30-31) affirms:

naitat samācarej jātu

manasāpi hy anīśvaraḥ

vinaśyaty ācaran mauḍhyād

yathā 'rudro 'bdhi-jaṁ viṣam

īśvarāṇāṁ vacaḥ satyaṁ

tathaivācaritaṁ kvacit

teṣāṁ yat sva-vaco-yuktaṁ

buddhimāṁs tat samācaret

"One should simply follow the instructions of the Lord and His empowered servants. Their instructions are all good for us, and any intelligent person will perform them as instructed. However, one should guard against trying to imitate their actions. One should not try to drink the ocean of poison in imitation of Lord Śiva."