View source for Understanding the Supreme Reality of God's Position

Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that the key to spiritual perfection is properly understanding the hierarchical relationship between the living entity and the Supreme Lord. By studying his instructions, we can realize the absolute independence of God's position, the eternal subordination of the soul, how this truth is revealed exclusively through pure devotion, the danger of atheistic ambition, the flaw of impersonal philosophy, and the perfection of the Lord's absolute equality.

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=== The Independent and Infallible Lord ===

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is never subject to the laws of material nature. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Lord's position is entirely ''svarāṭ''—completely independent, infallible, and eternally situated in unalloyed bliss and perfect knowledge.

* [[Vaniquotes:In the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam the Lord is described as svarat, which means "completely independent." That is the position of the Supreme Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth is not only sentient, but is also completely independent|In the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam the Lord is described as svarat, which means "completely independent." That is the position of the Supreme Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth is not only sentient, but is also completely independent.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:God is eternal, God is full of joy and bliss. The position of the Absolute Person, the Godhead, is that He is full of bliss, eternal, and full of knowledge|God is eternal, God is full of joy and bliss. The position of the Absolute Person, the Godhead, is that He is full of bliss, eternal, and full of knowledge.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Although You engage Your energy in matter, You are always situated in Your original form and never fall from that position, for Your knowledge is infallible and always suitable to any situation. You are never bewildered by illusion|Although You engage Your energy in matter, You are always situated in Your original form and never fall from that position, for Your knowledge is infallible and always suitable to any situation. You are never bewildered by illusion.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:As Krsna never falls, when we revive our spiritual consciousness, Krsna consciousness, we never fall again to material existence. One should understand the position of the supreme Acyuta, Krsna|As Krsna never falls, when we revive our spiritual consciousness, Krsna consciousness, we never fall again to material existence. One should understand the position of the supreme Acyuta, Krsna.]]

=== The Subordinate Position of the Living Entity ===

A fundamental error of conditioned life is the attempt to equate the tiny living entity with the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that regardless of how much material power one acquires, the individual soul—and even exalted demigods—are eternally subordinate to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

* [[Vaniquotes:According to Vedic instructions, one should understand the constitutional position of the living entity, the position of the Lord, and the position of material energy in their interrelation|According to Vedic instructions, one should understand the constitutional position of the living entity, the position of the Lord, and the position of material energy in their interrelation.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:In the Bhagavad-gita the separate positions of the jiva-atma and the Paramatma are specifically mentioned|In the Bhagavad-gita the separate positions of the jiva-atma and the Paramatma are specifically mentioned.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Even exalted demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva are inferior to Lord Narayana, but we are so foolish that we are thinking of assuming Narayana's position, or making Narayana into daridra-narayana, the poor man in the street|Even exalted demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva are inferior to Lord Narayana, but we are so foolish that we are thinking of assuming Narayana's position, or making Narayana into daridra-narayana, the poor man in the street.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:It is better to refrain from comparing the Lord's position to ours, and it becomes a simple truth as soon as we understand at least a partial calculation of the Lord's transcendental position|It is better to refrain from comparing the Lord's position to ours, and it becomes a simple truth as soon as we understand at least a partial calculation of the Lord's transcendental position.]]

=== Realizing God Through Devotional Service ===

The inconceivable supremacy of God cannot be deciphered through mental speculation or mere academic study. Śrīla Prabhupāda stresses that the actual constitutional position of the Lord can only be realized through the process of unalloyed ''bhakti'' and by hearing submissively from authorized pure devotees.

* [[Vaniquotes:Bhakti is so sublime that only through bhakti can one understand the constitutional position of the Lord. That is clearly stated in the BG (18.55): bhaktya mam abhijanati. One can understand the SG through devotional service, and by no other process|Bhakti is so sublime that only through bhakti can one understand the constitutional position of the Lord. That is clearly stated in the BG (18.55): bhaktya mam abhijanati. One can understand the SG through devotional service, and by no other process.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:A pure devotee is actually learned because he knows his constitutional position, he knows the position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and he knows the relationship between the living entity and the Supreme Lord|A pure devotee is actually learned because he knows his constitutional position, he knows the position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and he knows the relationship between the living entity and the Supreme Lord.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 3.25.25), satam prasangan mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah: only by association with devotees can one authoritatively understand the position of the Lord and His devotees|As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 3.25.25), satam prasangan mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah: only by association with devotees can one authoritatively understand the position of the Lord and His devotees.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:After leaving all his associates, the King surrendered himself as a disciple to the son of Vyasa (Sukadeva Gosvami), and thus he was able to understand the actual position of the Personality of Godhead|After leaving all his associates, the King surrendered himself as a disciple to the son of Vyasa (Sukadeva Gosvami), and thus he was able to understand the actual position of the Personality of Godhead.]]

=== The Delusion of the Atheists and Demons ===

Driven by envy, those with a demonic mentality actively try to deny or usurp the supremacy of Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that these fools mistakenly consider the Lord to be an ordinary human being, and they continually misinterpret scriptures to justify their own desire to occupy the position of God.

* [[Vaniquotes:Because the Lord's body and self are identical, His position is always different from the ordinary living entity, even when He descends to the material platform. The demons cannot adjust themselves to this transcendental nature of God. BG 1972 purports|Because the Lord's body and self are identical, His position is always different from the ordinary living entity, even when He descends to the material platform. The demons cannot adjust themselves to this transcendental nature of God.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:First they (envious persons) try to occupy high positions in this material world, & when they are frustrated in this attempt, they think, "Now I shall occupy the position of God." Of course this desire is also frustrated because no 1 can become God|First they (envious persons) try to occupy high positions in this material world, & when they are frustrated in this attempt, they think, "Now I shall occupy the position of God." Of course this desire is also frustrated because no 1 can become God.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:In Bhagavad-gita the Lord has explained His (Krsna's) position clearly, but the demoniac atheistic student squeezes out an interpretation to suit his own purpose and misleads unfortunate followers into the same mentality|In Bhagavad-gita the Lord has explained His (Krsna's) position clearly, but the demoniac atheistic student squeezes out an interpretation to suit his own purpose and misleads unfortunate followers into the same mentality.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:In the modern age a certain class of fools think that they can vote anyone into the position of God, as they can vote a man into the position of a political executive head. But the transcendental SPG is perfectly described in the authentic scriptures|In the modern age a certain class of fools think that they can vote anyone into the position of God, as they can vote a man into the position of a political executive head. But the transcendental Supreme Personality of Godhead is perfectly described in the authentic scriptures.]]

=== The Flaw of Impersonal Philosophy ===

The Māyāvādī philosophers fundamentally misunderstand the nature of the Absolute Truth by equating the conditioned living entity with the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that claiming a human being can attain the position of Nārāyaṇa through austerities is an atheistic misconception that denies the eternal, unalloyed purity of God's position.

* [[Vaniquotes:God’s position is completely different from their (Mayavadi philosophers) concoction. Such Mayavadi philosophers consider themselves above the influence of karma-kanda - fruitive activities and their reactions|God’s position is completely different from their (Mayavadi philosophers) concoction. Such Mayavadi philosophers consider themselves above the influence of karma-kanda - fruitive activities and their reactions.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:They (Mayavadi sannyasis) never consider why Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, would accept an inferior position as a human being and then again become Narayana when He is perfect|They (Mayavadi sannyasis) never consider why Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, would accept an inferior position as a human being and then again become Narayana when He is perfect.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Mayavada philosophy tries to designate the Lord as contaminated by a material body when He accepts forms of incarnation. This sort of interpolation is completely denied herein (SB 2.6.40-4) by the explanation that the Lord's position is pure and unalloyed|Mayavada philosophy tries to designate the Lord as contaminated by a material body when He accepts forms of incarnation. This sort of interpolation is completely denied herein (SB 2.6.40-4) by the explanation that the Lord's position is pure and unalloyed.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The sastras warn that if one thinks that the demigods are equal to Narayana, one is a pasandi, an atheist. We should not think that because we have become liberated, we have attained the position of Narayana|The sastras warn that if one thinks that the demigods are equal to Narayana, one is a pasandi, an atheist. We should not think that because we have become liberated, we have attained the position of Narayana.]]

=== The Perfection of the Lord's Equality ===

Although the Supreme Lord is the absolute controller, He never displays material bias or favoritism. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that the Lord’s position is perfectly neutral; He maintains the universe with flawless justice and even grants spiritual liberation to the demons He personally kills.

* [[Vaniquotes:In the sastras, we have the Yamaraja, or there is justice department. Everything is there. So he is neutral. It is not that God is kind to somebody and unkind to some other, no. His position is always neutral|In the sastras, we have the Yamaraja, or there is justice department. Everything is there. So he is neutral. It is not that God is kind to somebody and unkind to some other, no. His position is always neutral.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:For the Lord, because of His blissful position, is never affected by enmity or friendship|For the Lord, because of His blissful position, is never affected by enmity or friendship.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The Lord killed many inimical nondevotees, but they all received sarupya; in other words, they returned to their original spiritual bodies. One who does not know the Lord's position says that God is unkind to him but merciful to others|The Lord killed many inimical nondevotees, but they all received sarupya; in other words, they returned to their original spiritual bodies. One who does not know the Lord's position says that God is unkind to him but merciful to others.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:His (The Supreme Lord's) position of eka-rasa does not change in the slightest when He becomes a witness and advisor to the individual soul in each individual body|His (The Supreme Lord's) position of eka-rasa does not change in the slightest when He becomes a witness and advisor to the individual soul in each individual body.]]

=== The Divine Subordination of Love ===

In the highest realms of spiritual exchange, the majesty of God is covered by the sweetness of pure affection. Śrīla Prabhupāda beautifully describes how advanced devotees, absorbed in intense love, forget the Lord's exalted position and treat Him as an equal, a dependent child, or a beloved friend.

* [[Vaniquotes:Some great devotees of the Lord cannot surpass the boundary of awe and veneration. But other devotees are in such an intense compact of love with the Lord that they forget His exalted position and regard themselves as His equals or even His superiors|Some great devotees of the Lord cannot surpass the boundary of awe and veneration. But other devotees are in such an intense compact of love with the Lord that they forget His exalted position and regard themselves as His equals or even His superiors.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Devotees in a transcendental parental relationship with the Lord think of Him as their dependent child. They forget His exalted position and think that unless they properly feed Him He will fall victim to undernourishment and His health will deteriorate|Devotees in a transcendental parental relationship with the Lord think of Him as their dependent child. They forget His exalted position and think that unless they properly feed Him He will fall victim to undernourishment and His health will deteriorate.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:He was equal to all the wives & treated them as a perfect husband would, just to please them. For Him, there was no need of even a single wife. Since they were women, the wives could not understand the exalted position of Krsna, nor the truths about Him|He was equal to all the wives & treated them as a perfect husband would, just to please them. For Him, there was no need of even a single wife. Since they were women, the wives could not understand the exalted position of Krsna, nor the truths about Him.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda makes it abundantly clear that the highest spiritual education consists of understanding the unalterable, eternal position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. God's position is absolute and ''svarāṭ''; He is never subject to the illusory energy (''māyā''), nor does He ever fall down from His transcendental status. The living entities, being minute parts and parcels of the Lord, must abandon the demonic and futile ambition to occupy God's position. Envious atheists and impersonalist philosophers, blinded by false ego, continuously attempt to drag the Lord down to the mundane level or vote themselves into His place, but their efforts are always frustrated by the laws of nature. The genuine constitutional position of the soul is to be an eternal servant of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. By submissively hearing from bona fide spiritual masters and engaging in pure devotional service, a sincere soul is freed from illusion, perfectly realizes the supreme reality of God's position, and easily attains the ultimate spiritual destination.

=== 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's_Position|God's Position]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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