Accepting the Authority of God - The Cure for Material Frustration
Material existence is characterized by a struggle for independence that ultimately leads to frustration. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the root cause of all suffering is the living entity's attempt to deny the authority of God and claim personal proprietorship. Whether manifested as atheistic science, political plan-making, or mental speculation, this defiance captures the soul in the net of māyā. To find a factual cure for the miseries of life, one must abandon the rebellious attitude of the asura and accept the supremacy of the Lord. By aligning one's life with the "daiva", or divine authority, the confused living entity is restored to its original, peaceful consciousness.
The Material Disease of Defiance
The material world is defined by a collective attempt to live independently of the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the material world means being full of criminals who are against God or defying the authority of God. Living entities in this world falsely think they are the supreme proprietors and that they are self-sufficient, dismissing the authority of God as a primitive thought. However, as soon as we are rebellious to the authority of the Supreme Lord, we are captured by māyā—an energy of Kṛṣṇa—and become conditioned. This misuse of intelligence and denial of authority is the sole reason everyone is suffering.
- Material world means full of criminals, or against God, or defying the authority of God. And the spiritual world? Everyone is accepting the supremacy of God.
- All the living entities in this material world, they are thinking that "I am proprietor. I am supreme. I can do anything, whatever I like. There is no question of accepting any authority of God. These are primitive thoughts. We are self-sufficient."
- As soon as we are rebellious to the authority of the Supreme Lord, we are captured by maya - that is also an energy of Krsna - and we become conditioned. So this is our position.
- Everyone is suffering for misuse of their intelligence, denying the authority of God. And everyone can take advantage. We are giving that knowledge. Without any exception, everyone can take. This is our line.
The Supervision of Daiva
Contrary to the theories of modern science, the journey of the soul is strictly regulated by divine laws. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that a living entity is offered a particular type of body as a result of his actions, and these activities are taken into account by a superior authority known as daiva, or the authority of God. This is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as daiva-netreṇa, which means the supervision of the Supreme. While atheists believe they can be successful without accepting this authority, the fact is that the Lord is situated in everyone's heart, dictating the results of work through the various modes of nature.
- A living entity is offered a particular type of body as a result of his action in the present body. These activities are taken into account by a superior authority known as daiva, or the authority of God.
- In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that a man takes his next body by daiva-netrena, which means by the supervision of the authority of the Supreme. In an ordinary sense, daiva is explained as destiny.
- Atheists are of the opinion that there is no need to accept the authority of the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be successful in religion, economic development, sense gratification or liberation.
- The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (5.13) that He is not the cause of anyone's particular work, nor the authority, nor the result of such work - but that all these come out of the various modes of nature.
The Penalty of Neglecting the Lord
History proves that those who challenge the supremacy of the Lord are eventually dealt with by the laws of nature. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that whenever the authority of the Lord is neglected, penalties are dealt by the laws of nature, as confirmed by the verse yadā yadā hi dharmasya glāniḥ. Modern civilization, by defying the Personality of Godhead through material adventures, becomes increasingly covered by the illusory energy. Even powerful beings like Rāvaṇa, who wanted to challenge the authority of Lord Rāma, were eventually destroyed. History repeats itself, and modern atheists who flout the authority of the Lord will be dealt with in a similar manner.
- History repeats itself, and what was occurring in the past will recur again and again when there is necessity. Whenever the authority of the Lord is neglected, the penalties dealt by the laws of nature are always there.
- Modern civilization is defying the authority of the Personality of Godhead; the more a man advances in his material adventures, the more he becomes covered by the illusory energy.
- Ravana was very attached to Lord Siva, and by easily pleasing him, Ravana became so powerful that he wanted to challenge the authority of Lord Rama.
- This is also the case with the modern atheists who also dare to flout the authority of the Lord. Such atheists will be dealt with similarly, for history repeats itself.
The Unity of Authorized Religions
The essence of all genuine spiritual traditions is the same: submission to the Supreme. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Bible begins by stating God is the supreme authority, and the Bhagavad-gītā concludes with the call to surrender; there is no fundamental difference except for the description based on time and place. Lord Buddha also required his followers to surrender to him, which ultimately means accepting the authority of God. Even the inaugurator of the Islam religion is accepted as an empowered servant of God because he induced people to accept the authority of God. Our proposition, therefore, is simply to make people God conscious by accepting this universal principle of authority.
- Bible begins, "God is the supreme authority," and Bhagavad-gita concludes, "You surrender." Where is the difference? Simply the description is according to the time, society, and place and people.
- Lord Buddha said, "All right, there is no God, but you surrender to me." Then where is the difference? That means one has to accept the authority of God either this way or that way.
- The inaugurator of Islam religion, I accept him as empowered servant of God because he preached God consciousness in those parts of the world and induced them to accept the authority of God.
- In religious principle there is the teaching to become God conscious, to accept the authority of God. So our proposition is to make people God conscious.
Perfect Knowledge Through Surrender
Authentic spiritual realization is achieved not by challenging the Lord but by submissively hearing from Him. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that perfect knowledge is technically called paramparā, which comes down from the authority to the submissive aural receiver; one cannot challenge the authority of the Supreme. Kapiladeva is the greatest authority because He is the Personality of Godhead, and by accepting His explanations without interpretation, one can see oneself clearly. By recognizing the authority of the Lord and performing saṅkīrtana-yajña to glorify Him, the living entity is eligible for liberation and avoids the confusion of plan-making attempts.
- Perfect knowledge is called parampara, or deductive knowledge coming down from the authority to the submissive aural receiver who is bona fide by service and surrender. One cannot challenge the authority of the Supreme.
- Kapiladeva is the greatest authority because He is the Personality of Godhead, and if someone accepts whatever is explained as it is, without interpretation, then he can see himself.
- It is recommended that we have to recognize the authority of the Lord, and in this age, simply by performing sankirtana-yajna, He will be satisfied. Sankirtana-yajna means to glorify the Lord in so many ways.
- Without taking to God consciousness and accepting the authority of the Lord, the living entities become ultimately confused and frustrated in their planmaking attempts.
Conclusion
The cure for the perpetual frustration of material life is the voluntary and sincere acceptance of the authority of God. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the attempt to live without God is not "progress" but a criminal state of mind that results in conditioning by the illusory energy. From the supervision of our transmigration by daiva-netreṇa to the penalties dealt by nature for neglecting religious principles, the universe is governed by the Supreme Lord's authority. Modern scientists and politicians who manufacture plans while defying this authority are ultimately destined for confusion and ruination. Conversely, the essence of every authorized religion—be it through the Bible, the Koran, or the teachings of Lord Buddha—is to bring the living entity back to the platform of God consciousness. By hearing from the highest authorities like Kapiladeva and Kṛṣṇa through the paramparā system, the seeker receives perfect, deductive knowledge that is free from the defects of interpretation. Surrendering to the lotus feet of the Supreme Person is the only way to escape the bewilderment caused by the modes of nature and the nature of the asuras. Those who follow the footsteps of the great authorities become eligible for liberation and derive the ultimate benefit of spiritual life. Ultimately, by glorifying the Lord through saṅkīrtana-yajña and accepting His supremacy, the soul transcends the criminality of the material world and returns to its eternal home in the spiritual world, where every being joyfully accepts the authority of the Supreme Personality of 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 Authority of God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.