View source for True Religion Means Executing God's Orders

Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the essence of all spiritual life is obedience to the Supreme Lord. By studying his instructions, we can understand that true religion is not sentimentalism, how the entire cosmic manifestation obeys the Lord's command, and why surrendering to His orders is the ultimate perfection for the soul.

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=== The Definition of True Religion ===

In modern times, people often concoct their own spiritual systems based on mental speculation. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that ''dharma'' (religion) cannot be manufactured by human beings; it is strictly defined as the laws and orders given directly by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

* [[Vaniquotes:Actual religion is that God is one and religion means the orders, the law given by God. That's all. Simple definition. Just like state is one, government is one, and to become good citizen means to abide by the laws of the government. That's all|Actual religion is that God is one and religion means the orders, the law given by God. That's all. Simple definition. Just like state is one, government is one, and to become good citizen means to abide by the laws of the government. That's all.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:As stated in the sastras, dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam: (SB 6.3.19) the word dharma refers to the orders or laws given by the SP of Godhead. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: (BG 18.66) real dharma is surrender unto the SPG|As stated in the sastras, dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam: (SB 6.3.19) the word dharma refers to the orders or laws given by the SP of Godhead. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: (BG 18.66) real dharma is surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Dharma is one. It cannot be different. Dharma means abiding by the orders of God|Dharma is one. It cannot be different. Dharma means abiding by the orders of God.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Generally, modern so-called religious leaders have no conception of God, and yet they are preaching religion. What good is that religion? People are simply being misled. Real religion means God's order: dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam|Generally, modern so-called religious leaders have no conception of God, and yet they are preaching religion. What good is that religion? People are simply being misled. Real religion means God's order: dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam.]]

=== The Cosmic Obedience ===

The harmony of the universe is not a product of random chance or blind physical laws. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the sun, the moon, and all the powerful demigods, including Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, perform their immense cosmic duties solely in obedience to the orders of Kṛṣṇa.

* [[Vaniquotes:Even the largest and most powerful planet, the sun, rotates within a fixed orbit, or kala-cakra, in obedience to the order of the SPG. This has nothing to do with gravity or any other imaginary laws created by the material scientists|Even the largest and most powerful planet, the sun, rotates within a fixed orbit, or kala-cakra, in obedience to the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This has nothing to do with gravity or any other imaginary laws created by the material scientists.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:All the demigods are servants who carry out the orders of the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu disclosed this fact in His childhood|All the demigods are servants who carry out the orders of the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu disclosed this fact in His childhood.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Beginning from Brahmaji, the leader of this universe, down to the insignificant ant, all are abiding by the order of the Supreme Lord. Thus the constitutional position of the living being is subordination under the control of the Lord|Beginning from Brahmaji, the leader of this universe, down to the insignificant ant, all are abiding by the order of the Supreme Lord. Thus the constitutional position of the living being is subordination under the control of the Lord.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:All these authorities (Siva, Lord Brahma, Manu or Narada) are certainly very powerful, but they do not have the power to disobey the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead|All these authorities (Siva, Lord Brahma, Manu or Narada) are certainly very powerful, but they do not have the power to disobey the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.]]

=== The Perfection of the Devotee ===

A true servant has no independent motive; their only desire is to please the master. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights how pure devotees like Arjuna and Hanumān achieved the highest spiritual perfection not by acquiring massive Vedic scholarship, but simply by executing the Lord's orders without hesitation.

* [[Vaniquotes:A servant has no individual independence. He acts only on the order of the master. A servant acting on behalf of the supreme master has no affection for profit and loss. He simply discharges his duty faithfully in terms of the order of God. BG 1972 pur|A servant has no individual independence. He acts only on the order of the master. A servant acting on behalf of the supreme master has no affection for profit and loss. He simply discharges his duty faithfully in terms of the order of God. BG 1972 pur.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Hanuman simply carried out Lord Ramacandra's orders. Hanuman apparently had no education, and he was not capable of teaching Vedanta, but he simply carried out the orders of Lord Ramacandra and attained perfection|Hanuman simply carried out Lord Ramacandra's orders. Hanuman apparently had no education, and he was not capable of teaching Vedanta, but he simply carried out the orders of Lord Ramacandra and attained perfection.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Arjuna engaged in the art of killing, and although killing is, of course, violence, he killed the enemy simply on Krsna's order. In the same way, if we commit violence as it is necessary, by the order of the Lord, that is called natihimsa|Arjuna engaged in the art of killing, and although killing is, of course, violence, he killed the enemy simply on Krsna's order. In the same way, if we commit violence as it is necessary, by the order of the Lord, that is called natihimsa.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Every moment should be utilized to understand your position. Your position means to understand you are eternal servant of God, and your duty, to carry out the orders of God|Every moment should be utilized to understand your position. Your position means to understand you are eternal servant of God, and your duty, to carry out the orders of God.]]

=== The Authority of the Spiritual Master ===

We cannot independently guess what God wants us to do. Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that to receive and execute the Lord's orders properly, one must accept the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, who acts as the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord.

* [[Vaniquotes:After giving up lofty puffed-up vanities, one may very submissively receive the orders of the Lord in the Bhagavad-gita or Bhagavatam from the lips of a bona fide devotee whose qualification is mentioned above|After giving up lofty puffed-up vanities, one may very submissively receive the orders of the Lord in the Bhagavad-gita or Bhagavatam from the lips of a bona fide devotee whose qualification is mentioned above.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If we follow the instruction of acarya, or spiritual master, then we are directly following the orders of Krsna, and thus I become a bhagavad-duta. No more I am the duta or the follower of the dictation of my senses|If we follow the instruction of acarya, or spiritual master, then we are directly following the orders of Krsna, and thus I become a bhagavad-duta. No more I am the duta or the follower of the dictation of my senses.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Devotees are simply determined to execute the order of the SP of Godhead (Krsna) or His representative, the spiritual master. In all circumstances, even amidst the greatest dangers, they undeviatingly carry on with the greatest determination|Devotees are simply determined to execute the order of the SP of Godhead (Krsna) or His representative, the spiritual master. In all circumstances, even amidst the greatest dangers, they undeviatingly carry on with the greatest determination.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:No one should neglect the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or the order of the spiritual master who is the representative of God. BG 1972 purports|No one should neglect the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or the order of the spiritual master who is the representative of God. BG 1972 purports.]]

=== The Criminality of Conditioned Souls ===

The material world is a designated place for those who refuse to serve the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that any living entity who misuses their minute independence to disobey the orders of God is factually a criminal, subject to punishment by the laws of material nature.

* [[Vaniquotes:All living entities who are residents of the material universes are considered to be more or less criminals because they do not wish to abide by the order of the Lord or they are against the harmonious activities of God's will|All living entities who are residents of the material universes are considered to be more or less criminals because they do not wish to abide by the order of the Lord or they are against the harmonious activities of God's will.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Everyone who does not obey the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is criminal. Stena eva sa ucyate. Stena eva sa . . . this is the verdict of the sastra. Forgetfulness of Krsna, or God, is materialism|Everyone who does not obey the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is criminal. Stena eva sa ucyate. Stena eva sa . . . this is the verdict of the sastra. Forgetfulness of Krsna, or God, is materialism.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Criminal means disobeying the Lord or His order. They are materially criminal. Therefore Krsna, the Supreme Lord, comes at times, at interval, when many, many millions of years have turned|Criminal means disobeying the Lord or His order. They are materially criminal. Therefore Krsna, the Supreme Lord, comes at times, at interval, when many, many millions of years have turned.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you violate the orders of God, then you suffer. You are perfect because you have got independence, but you misuse that perfectness. That is your fault. You perfect. You become imperfect by misusing|If you violate the orders of God, then you suffer. You are perfect because you have got independence, but you misuse that perfectness. That is your fault. You perfect. You become imperfect by misusing.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda definitively clears away the sentimental and speculative interpretations of religion. True ''dharma'' is a practical, scientific system based entirely on abiding by the laws and executing the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. While modern society concocts endless philosophies, the reality is that the entire cosmic manifestation—from the exact movements of the planets to the functions of the demigods—already operates strictly under the Lord's command. Conditioned souls suffer precisely because they act as criminals, misusing their minute independence to disobey God's orders. The cure for this material disease is to follow the footsteps of perfect devotees like Arjuna and Hanumān, who achieved ultimate success by undeviatingly carrying out the Lord's will. By submissively receiving the Supreme Lord's orders through a bona fide spiritual master and dedicating one's life to executing them, a soul is guaranteed immediate liberation and a safe return back home, back to Godhead.

=== 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 [[Vaniquotes:Category:God%27s_Orders|God's Orders]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

(See our [[Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles|Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles]])

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