God's Association - The Supreme Goal of the Conditioned Soul
The fundamental crisis of the conditioned soul is a deep, existential loneliness. Disconnected from our spiritual source, we desperately seek lasting relationships, love, and security in the material world, only to be repeatedly frustrated by the temporary nature of material bodies. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this unending search for connection is actually a misdirected search for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because we are eternal parts and parcels of the Lord, our true happiness lies exclusively in His association. By understanding the nature of God's association, how we lost it, and the scientific process to regain it, a sincere soul can navigate out of the darkness of material existence and return to the eternal, blissful society of the spiritual sky.
The Tragedy of Separation
The suffering of the material world is not a punishment inflicted by a cruel God; it is the natural consequence of separating ourselves from Him. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when the tiny, atomic soul misuses its independence to imitate the supreme enjoyer, it falls from the Lord's association into the dark, illusory energy.
- We are part and parcel of God, but if we fall down from the association of God, then we appear like material. But we are not material. It appears that extinguished.
- After falling from the association of the Supreme Lord, the living entity thus transmigrates from one bodily form to another according to nature's course, until he finally attains the human form.
- Because they are atomic individual souls eternally, they are prone to be covered by the illusory energy, and thus they become separated from the association of the Supreme Lord.
- When we detach ourselves from His association, we are always in the midst of want and scarcity, but as soon as we get in touch with Him, our gradual endowment with all bliss begins.
The Prophylactic Power of the Lord
The Supreme Lord is entirely transcendental and pure. Śrīla Prabhupāda uses the word "prophylactic" to describe the Lord's association, meaning that simply by coming into contact with Him, all material contamination is immediately destroyed.
- He is antiseptic in the sense that even an impure thing can become purified just by touching Him. The word "prophylactic" refers to the power of His association.
- As mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita, a devotee may appear to be su-duracara, not well behaved, in the beginning, but he should be accepted as pure because he is on the right path. This is due to the prophylactic nature of the Lord's association.
- One who is able to associate with the Lord is sure to be delivered from the darkness of the created world, which is a product of false ego.
- A thief asked: "So may I take some of your these ornaments? You are so rich." "No, no, no. My mother will be angry. I cannot..." Krsna as a child. So he became more and more eager for Krsna. And then, by Krsna's association, he had already become purified.
The Superiority of Personal Association
Many spiritual practitioners aim to merge into the formless brahmajyoti, believing this to be the ultimate liberation. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that this is an incomplete realization. The highest perfection is to maintain one's spiritual individuality and directly associate with the Supreme Person.
- Oneness with the impersonal brahmajyoti is not ultimate liberation; superior to that is the sublime association of the Personality of Godhead in one of the innumerable spiritual planets in the Vaikuntha sky.
- After liberation from material contamination, the atomic soul may prefer to remain as a spiritual spark in the effulgent rays of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the intelligent souls enter into the spiritual planets to associate with the Personality of Godhead.
- The impersonalist, because of his neglecting the association of the Lord, does not develop a spiritual body for spiritual activity, but remains a spiritual spark only, merged in the effulgent spiritual rays of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- One can enter into the abode of the Supreme Lord in his individuality to engage in His association and render service unto Him. For instance, a green bird enters a green tree not to become one with the tree but to enjoy the fruits of the tree.
Associating Through Instruction and Sound
Because the Lord is absolute, one does not need His physical presence (vapuḥ) to associate with Him. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that following the Lord's instructions (vāṇī) and chanting His holy names is direct, factual association with the Supreme.
- To follow the instructions of the Lord is to associate with the Lord. The Lord is not a material object whose presence one has to feel for such association. The Lord is present everywhere and at all times.
- It is quite possible to have His association simply by following His instruction because the Lord and His instruction and the Lord and His name, fame, attributes and paraphernalia are all identical with Him, being absolute knowledge.
- One can immediately enjoy the association of the Lord by the pure vibration of the sound representation of His holy name, and the concept of the Lord is immediately manifested before the pure devotee.
- By chanting the Hare Krsna mantra one constantly associates with Rama and Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore becomes liberated. A practical example is Ajamila, who always remained transcendental to his activities simply by chanting the name Narayana.
The Loving Desire of the Lord
The Supreme Lord is completely self-sufficient; He does not need anything from the conditioned souls. Yet, Śrīla Prabhupāda beautifully explains that like an affectionate father, the Lord deeply desires His children to return and be happy in His association.
- The Lord is perpetually happy, and if the living entities associate with the Lord, cooperate with Him and take part in His association, then they also become happy.
- The Lord is the soul of all living beings, and He desires always to have all the living beings, in their svarupa, in their constitutional position, to participate in transcendental life in His association.
- The supreme "1" always wants to make our zero efforts valuable by His association, just as a loving father always wants an unhappy son to be in a prosperous position.
- Caitanya says, etadrsi tava krpa bhagavan mamapi: "My dear Lord, You are so kind to me that You are always prepared to give me Your association." Durdaivam idrsam ihajani nanuragah - But I am so unfortunate that I do not take advantage of this opportunity.
Conclusion
The supreme goal of existence is to end the unnatural state of separation from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda meticulously establishes that because the living entities are eternal parts and parcels of Kṛṣṇa, attempting to find happiness independent of His association is a futile struggle in the darkness of māyā. To cure the disease of material conditioning, one must expose oneself to the prophylactic, purifying power of the Lord's association. Because the Lord is absolute, this association is immediately available to anyone who sincerely chants His holy names, hears His pastimes, or strictly follows His instructions (vāṇī). The true perfection of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is not to dissolve one's identity into the impersonal brahmajyoti, but to purify the consciousness entirely so that one can enter the Vaikuṇṭha planets in an eternal, spiritual body. There, the liberated soul resumes its constitutional position, engaging in direct, face-to-face loving service with the Supreme Lord in one of the five transcendental relationships. The Lord, being the ultimate loving father, is constantly waiting and arranging opportunities for His lost children to give up their false ego, turn away from the illusions of the material world, and joyfully return to His eternal association.
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 Association. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.