Absolutely Dependent on the Supreme Will

In the material world, the conditioned soul is deeply intoxicated by the false ego, dreaming of complete freedom and mastery over nature. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda continually shatters this illusion by pointing out the factual reality of our existence: we are not the supreme controllers. While human civilization strives for ultimate liberation from restrictions, true spiritual knowledge begins with the realization that the living entity is absolutely dependent on the Supreme Will, and only the Supreme Personality of Godhead is absolutely independent. Understanding this dynamic dictates what is actually necessary for a successful human life.

The Illusion of Absolute Freedom

The concept of absolute freedom in the material world is a myth. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that even within human society, a so-called free nation simply means its citizens are dependent on state laws rather than foreign powers. Real independence is impossible for the living entity. As parts and parcels of God, we are always subordinate to His energy. It is a fundamental shift in consciousness to recognize that we are ultimately under His control, united or separated solely by His supreme will.

• Free nation means you are free, certainly, but not absolutely free. You are dependent on the state laws. Similarly, nobody can be free. That is not possible.
• One should make it a point in his life to know perfectly well that he is not independent absolutely. One is certainly under the control of the Supreme Lord and under different agencies.
• The Supreme Lord is the creator of everything. The objects we see are different manifestations of His energy. By His supreme will we are sometimes united and sometimes separated. We can therefore conclude that ultimately we are absolutely dependent on His will.
• In this material world it is called dual world, duality. Everything cannot be understood absolutely. Rather in ordinary language, relative world.

Supreme Lord is Absolutely Independent

While the living entities are dependent, the Supreme Lord possesses complete autonomy. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that God is absolutely free from any external control or misconception. Because He is all-perfect, there is no mistake in His actions. No one can excel Him in any opulence, and therefore He is the only being who is absolutely independent of everything.

• The Sanskrit word asambhuti refers to those who have no independent existence. Sambhuti is the Absolute Personality of Godhead, who is absolutely independent of everything.
• The spiritual soul is more important than the gross body, and the Supersoul, Paramatma, is still more important than the soul. The Supreme Godhead is absolutely independent, and His incarnations are transcendental.
• The example of the player cited in this verse is quite appropriate, for the Supreme Will is absolutely free to do whatever He likes, and because He is all-perfect, there is no mistake in any of His actions or reactions.
• He (the Absolute Truth) is completely free from false ego, for He is the full spiritual identity. It is absolutely impossible for Him to be subjected to ignorance and fall under the spell of a misconception.

The Absolute Necessity of Spiritual Life

Because we are spirit souls dependent on the Supreme Lord, investing all our energy into the temporary material body is a "bad bargain." Śrīla Prabhupāda declares that taking up spiritual life is not an optional hobby but an absolute necessity to cure the disease of material existence. If one wants to stop the painful repetition of birth and death, full surrender to Kṛṣṇa and engagement in kṛṣṇa-kathā must be the primary focus of human civilization.

• Our material bodies and our lives in that connection are bad bargains because the living entity is actually spirit and spiritual advancement of the living entity is absolutely necessary. Human life is intended for the realization of this important factor.
• To stop this repetition of birth and death, krsna-katha, or Krsna consciousness, is absolutely necessary.
• You should know it that without surrender bhakti does not begin. Surrender to Krsna or to His representative is absolutely necessary.
• If anyone is very serious to go to the other side of this material ocean for him to be completely freed from material attachment is absolutely necessary.

Accepting Only What is Absolutely Required

When one realizes their dependence on Kṛṣṇa, their interaction with the material world drastically changes. Instead of striving to accumulate excessive wealth or sensual comforts, a devotee adopts the principle of strict simplicity. As Śrīla Prabhupāda advises, one should maintain the body by accepting only what is absolutely necessary. By not creating artificial needs, the devotee reserves their valuable time and energy entirely for the devotional service of the Lord.

• Real devotees of bhakti-yoga accept only the material necessities of life absolutely needed to maintain the body and soul together; they refrain completely from all exaggerated material sense gratification.
• The revealed scripture advises that, "You have to maintain your body. That's all right. But for simply material comforts you should not devote time more than it is absolutely required." That means don't increase your bodily necessities.
• Narada Muni advises the hunter to accept only what is absolutely necessary for him and his wife. The devotee should always be alert to consume only those things that he absolutely requires and not create unnecessary needs.
• First of all produce your own food grain, milk and vegetables, eat as much as absolutely necessary, don't eat more, and in this way keep your health.

Conclusion

Our rebellious desire to be independently happy in the material world is the very cause of our suffering. By acknowledging our subordinate position and becoming absolutely surrendered to the Absolute Truth, we actually attain the highest perfection. As we minimize our material demands to what is absolutely needed and maximize our spiritual endeavors, we find that the Supreme Lord personally carries all necessities to His devotees, rendering all other anxieties completely useless.

• Vidura wanted to achieve sincere devotional service of the Lord and therefore became a soul absolutely surrendered to the Absolute Personality of Godhead. He could realize this in the progress of his pilgrim's journey, and thus he was freed from all doubts.
• The pure devotee, by the grace of the Lord, absolutely loses all attraction for material enjoyment, and to keep free from contamination he always thinks of the lotus feet of the Lord.
• Everyone's life must be so arranged that the last stage of life, say at least the last fifteen to twenty years prior to death, can be absolutely devoted to the devotional service of the Lord to attain the highest perfection of life.
• There are many duratmas who claim to have realized themselves as Brahman and yet are unable to conquer material desires. In the Bhagavad-gita it is clearly explained that an absolutely self-realized soul becomes completely aloof from all material desires.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Absolutely. 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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