Considering God - Avoiding the Pitfalls of Mundane Vision
To understand the Absolute Truth, one must view the Supreme Lord through the lens of authorized Vedic literature rather than through the limitations of the material mind. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when conditioned souls attempt to consider the nature of God, they frequently fall into the traps of impersonalism, polytheism, or anthropomorphism. To achieve pure devotion, one must completely discard these mundane calculations and recognize the Lord's supreme, transcendental position.
Mistake of Equalizing God and Man
Because the Supreme Lord mercifully descends and exhibits human-like activities, foolish people often mistake Him for a mundane historical figure. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that Kṛṣṇa is never an ordinary human being, and calculating His position based on our own material experience is the height of ignorance.
- When the Supreme Personality of Godhead - Rama or Krsna - descends to act transcendentally for our benefit, we should not consider Him an ordinary human being.
- One should not consider the Supreme Lord an ordinary human being. Material names and forms are contaminated, but spiritual name and spiritual form are transcendental.
- Disrespectfully, one who does not know this (The Supreme Personality of Godhead is not affected by the material qualities) considers the Supreme Personality of Godhead an ordinary living being (avajananti mam mudhah) - Bhagavad-Gita 9.11.
- Param bhavam ajanantah: such a conclusion (considering the Supreme Personality of Godhead an ordinary living being) is reached by the unintelligent because they are unaware of the transcendental qualities of the Lord.
The Offense of Equating Viṣṇu with Demigods
A fundamental principle of Vedic knowledge is the absolute supremacy of Lord Viṣṇu. Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly warns against the atheistic mentality of considering the Supreme Lord to be on the same level as powerful demigods like Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva.
- One who considers Lord Visnu to be in the same category with devas like Lord Brahma or Lord Siva or who thinks Lord Brahma and Siva to be equal to Lord Visnu is to be considered as pasandi - a faithless nonbeliever.
- One who considers Lord Narayana on a level with great demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva is immediately listed among nonbelievers. The fact is that by performing sankirtana-yajna one can immediately please the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The offenses against the holy name are as follows: (1) to blaspheme a devotee of the Lord, (2) to consider the Lord and the demigods to be on the same level or to think that there are many gods, (3) to neglect the orders of the spiritual master.
- We should never consider that the Supreme Lord Visnu and the demigods are on an equal footing.
The Transcendental Nature of the Deity
To the uninitiated eye, the form of the Lord in the temple appears to be made of ordinary matter. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that a devotee must never consider the arca-vigraha to be wood or stone; it is the absolute, spiritual form of the Lord, appearing mercifully for our benefit.
- No one should consider the Deity in the temple to be made of stone or wood, nor should one consider the spiritual master an ordinary human being.
- Because we cannot see the Supreme Lord with our present blunt eyes, the Lord has kindly consented to come before us in a form we can see. Therefore the Deity in the temple should not be considered material.
- He (son of the elderly brahmana) did not believe in the spiritual position of the Deity, nor did he have any faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, as a typical idol worshiper, he considered the form of God to be made of stone or wood.
- Sometimes the Mayavadis worship Lord Visnu, but they do not actually believe in the form of Lord Visnu. They consider His image to be some imaginary form to utilize as a means for self-realization.
Ecstasy of Transcendental Illusion
While considering God an ordinary man due to mundane ignorance is offensive, there is a higher, spiritual platform where pure devotees consider the Lord their equal or even their dependent. Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that this is the blissful work of yoga-māyā, designed to facilitate intimate loving exchanges.
- Considering the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be his own son, Maharaja Nabhi was certainly in illusion, but this was transcendental illusion. This illusion is required; otherwise how can one accept the supreme father as his own son.
- The parents of the Lord (who are all pure devotees) consider Him a child only. The Lord accepts the chastisements of the parents more cheerfully than the prayers of the Vedic hymns.
- When the devotee is further advanced, he has nothing to fear. He considers the Lord and himself on an equal level.
- Serving the lotus feet of God, offering God respectful worship, offering prayers to God, becoming His servant, considering God one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him - these processes are accepted as pure devotional service - Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.23.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the true nature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be ascertained through mundane mental speculation or imperfect sensory perception. As Śrīla Prabhupāda rigorously establishes, considering the Lord to be an ordinary human being, an impersonal force, or merely equal to the demigods is the hallmark of a polluted, unintelligent mind. To approach the Absolute Truth, one must strictly follow the injunctions of the śāstras and the realized ācāryas. By doing so, a sincere practitioner learns to see the Deity not as stone, but as the supreme, worshipable form of Kṛṣṇa. Ultimately, when the heart is completely purified by devotional service, the soul may enter the realm of transcendental illusion, where they are granted the supreme privilege of considering the almighty Lord as their intimate friend or beloved child, forever relishing the sweetest nectars of divine love.
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 Considering God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.