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, and how this truth is revealed exclusively through pure devotion.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- In the Bhagavad-gita the separate positions of the jiva-atma and the Paramatma are specifically mentioned.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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.
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 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.