God's Awarding - The Supreme Dispenser of Results and Benedictions
In the material world, people work tirelessly under the illusion that they are the creators of their own destiny. They believe that their intelligence, hard work, or perhaps the favor of powerful people will bring them success. However, the Vedic literatures explain that no living entity is truly independent. Every result, whether it be a momentary material pleasure, a devastating failure, or ultimate spiritual liberation, is sanctioned and awarded by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By understanding how the Lord acts as the supreme dispenser of all awards, we can shift our desires away from temporary material gains and focus on the highest benediction He has to offer.
The Impartial Awarder of Karma
For the conditioned souls absorbed in the material energy, the Supreme Lord acts as the impartial witness (antaryāmī). Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Lord grants us the minute independence to desire, and then strictly awards us the results of those desires according to the laws of karma.
- The Lord awards everyone different kinds of karma as the individual living entities desire; He is the Supersoul present within the heart of everyone, and He is so kind and liberal that He gives everyone full facilities to perform whatever acts one wants.
- In different places and in different planets there are different standards of life, bodily features and educational statuses, all awarded by the Supreme Personality of Godhead according to pious or impious activities.
- The body is awarded by God according to your karma. Just like according to your payment, the landlord gives you an apartment. The apartment does not belong to you. That's a fact.
- I may forget, but He awards me suffering or enjoyment for the misdeeds or good deeds of my past life.
Fulfilling Material and Mystic Desires
The Lord is so kind that if someone stubbornly desires material opulence or mystic powers, He will award them. Even when people mistakenly worship demigods for these temporary boons, it is actually the Supreme Lord who sanctions the award.
- It is sometimes seen that demigods like Indra and Candra are worshiped and offered sacrificial awards, yet the rewards of all such sacrifices are awarded to the worshiper by the Supreme Lord, and it is the Lord only who can offer all welfare to the worshiper.
- Devotees who worship the demigods, the different parts of the Lord, receive the benedictions they desire because the Lord is the original master of all benedictions. If anyone wants a particular benediction, for God to award it is not at all difficult.
- For those who are fruitive workers, the Lord awards the desired results of their prescribed duties, as the yajnesvara; and those who are yogis seeking mystic powers are awarded such powers.
- In Bhagavad-gita the Lord affirms, ye yatha mam prapadyante: anyone who desires to be a successful enjoyer in this material world is awarded that benediction by the Lord.
Awarding Liberation to Enemies and Impersonalists
The Supreme Lord is so pure and all-auspicious that any contact with Him, even in a mood of animosity, yields a transcendental result. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that the Lord freely awards impersonal liberation to both His demonic enemies and the speculative philosophers.
- He is so kind that He awards salvation even to His enemies because they come into contact with Him and are indirectly absorbed in Him by their inimical thoughts.
- Since the Lord is very kind to everyone, the impersonalists, who accept bhakti as the means of merging in the existence of the Lord in His impersonal brahma-jyotir, are also awarded their desired destination.
- The asura worships Lord Siva, takes some benediction from him, misuses the benediction and ultimately is killed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who awards him liberation.
- Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead may be seen, glorified or remembered with an attitude of envy, He nevertheless awards the most confidential liberation, which is rarely achieved by the demigods and demons.
The Rare Award of Pure Devotion
While the Lord easily dispenses material wealth, mystic siddhis, and impersonal liberation, there is one award He keeps highly guarded. Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that the Supreme Lord rarely awards pure devotional service (bhakti), giving it only to those who are completely sincere.
- The Lord can award anyone and everyone liberation (mukti) from the bondage of material existence, yet He rarely awards the privilege of love of Godhead, as confirmed by Narada.
- The purport is that the Lord does not award devotional service to ordinary persons who are not serious about it.
- A pure devotee, who constantly engages in the loving service of the Lord, is awarded all knowledge necessary to reach the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Persons constantly thinking of the eternal form of the Lord in the shape of the Deity or in the shape of a mental form are awarded the transcendental benediction of entering into the kingdom of God and associating with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Conclusion
A comprehensive study of the Absolute Truth reveals that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate source of all rewards. Śrīla Prabhupāda meticulously explains that the Lord perfectly reciprocates with every living entity according to their desires. For those enamored by the temporary material world, the Lord acts as the strict but fair judge, awarding them different bodies and circumstances based on their karma. For the impersonalists and the demons who are killed by the Lord, He generously awards them the liberation of merging into His brahmajyoti effulgence. However, a wise person recognizes that material opulence is temporary and impersonal liberation is incomplete. The greatest, most confidential benediction the Lord can award is pure, unalloyed love of Godhead (bhakti-yoga). The Lord does not award this precious gift to casual or insincere practitioners. Only those who surrender fully and engage in His transcendental loving service are awarded the perfect knowledge and spiritual body required to enter the eternal, blissful kingdom of Vaikuṇṭha. Therefore, the perfection of life is to stop asking the Supreme Dispenser for temporary material trinkets and instead beg Him to award us eternal engagement in His divine service.
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 Awarding. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.