The Divine Intervention of God's Removing
Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals the dynamic ways the Supreme Personality of Godhead removes the obstacles that hinder both the universe and the individual soul. By studying his instructions, we can understand how the Lord removes the burden of demonic rulers, the shroud of material illusion, the distractions of material wealth, and the glaring spiritual effulgence.
Removing the Global Burden
When atheistic leaders amass military power and exploit the earth, they create an unbearable weight on the planet. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Supreme Lord, particularly in His forms as Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, descends into this world specifically to destroy these demonic forces and remove the heavy burden they create.
- In the nineteenth and twentieth incarnations, the Lord advented Himself as Lord Balarama and Lord Krsna in the family of Vrsni and by so doing He removed the burden of the world.
- All glories to the Personality of Godhead, the hue of whose soft body resembles the blackish color of a new cloud! All glories to Lord Mukunda, who removes the burdens of the earth.
- O Lord (Visnu), we (the demigods) are fortunate because the heavy burden of the demons upon this earth is immediately removed by Your appearance - SB 10.2.38.
- Dhrtarastra could realize two opposing factors acting before him. He could understand that Krsna was there to remove all the unnecessary burdens of the world. His sons were an unnecessary burden, and so he expected that they would be killed.
Removing the Shroud of Illusion
Conditioned souls are completely blind to the spiritual reality due to the covering of māyā. Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that when a sincere living entity cultivates transcendental knowledge and prays for deliverance, the Lord personally acts from within to remove the curtain of illusion.
- By culture of transcendental knowledge, when the living being prays to the Lord for deliverance from the clutches of forgetfulness, the Lord, by His causeless mercy, removes the living being's illusory curtain.
- By culturing the mode of goodness, one can understand the position of the transcendental Lord and how the Lord is always prepared to remove all obstacles on the path of understanding Him.
- Only the influence of the illusory energy, the reflection of light in the darkness, can, by the mercy of the Lord, be removed.
- Brahma was completely mystified. He could not understand what he was seeing, and then he was not even able to see. Lord Krsna, understanding Brahma's position, then removed that yogamaya covering.
Mercifully Removing Material Assets
Material wealth and prestigious relationships often create a false sense of security that hinders pure surrender. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights a highly confidential mercy of the Lord: He sometimes forcibly removes a sincere devotee's material assets so that the devotee is left with no choice but to take absolute shelter in Him.
- As a special favor, God may remove all material paraphernalia. By such action, the bewildered devotee is forsaken by all friends and relatives, and so he comes to his senses again by the mercy of the Lord and is set right to execute his devotional service.
- Sometimes it so happens that if a person sincerely serves the Lord and at the same time maintains material ambitions, the Lord very kindly removes the sources of material happiness.
- The Lord expertly removes the shroud of illusion for the neophyte devotee by depriving him of his material assets, and thus the devotee finds himself alone in the midst of his so-called relatives.
- Dangers can be created by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and they can also be removed by Him. This is known to devotees, but demons cannot understand it.
Removing the Glaring Effulgence
Beyond the material coverings lies the spiritual covering of the brahmajyoti. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the ultimate prayer of the advanced transcendentalist, as found in the Īśopaniṣad, is for the Lord to remove His dazzling bodily rays so the devotee can perceive His supremely attractive personal form.
- All the Vedas worship the transcendental form of the Lord. In the Vedic mantras the devotees request the Lord to remove the glaring effulgence because it covers His real face. That is the version of the Isopanisad.
- In the Isopanisad also, the devotee prays that the glaring effulgence of Brahman may be removed from his eyes so that he can see the real, personal feature of the Lord and thus satisfy himself fully.
- O Lord, O primeval philosopher, maintainer of the universe, O regulating principle, destination of the pure devotees, well-wisher of the progenitors of mankind, please remove the effulgence of Your transcendental rays so that I can see Your form of bliss.
- O my Lord, sustainer of all that lives, Your real face is covered by Your dazzling effulgence. Please remove that covering and exhibit Yourself to Your pure devotee - ISO 15.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda vividly illustrates that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate remover of all inauspiciousness. On a cosmic scale, whenever demonic rulers disrupt the peace and multiply their atheistic armies, the Lord incarnates to annihilate them, effectively removing the crushing burden from the earth. On an individual level, the Lord acts as the supreme well-wisher in the heart, eager to remove the dense shroud of ignorance for any soul who sincerely prays for transcendental knowledge. In His most confidential and intimate dealings, the Lord may mercifully remove a devotee's material opulence and false social security, ensuring that the devotee has no other shelter but His lotus feet. Finally, for those who have traversed beyond material illusion into spiritual realization, the Lord responds to their fervent prayers by removing the blinding glare of His own brahmajyoti effulgence, granting them the ultimate perfection of life: eternal, face-to-face loving association with His supremely beautiful personal form.
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 Removing. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.