God's Bestowing - The Causeless Mercy of the Absolute Truth
A fundamental flaw in material consciousness is the belief that we are the absolute creators of our own success. Atheists and mundane philosophers argue that the results of our labor are produced strictly by our own efforts. However, the Vedic literatures explain that while the living entity has the minute independence to act, the results of those actions—whether material or spiritual—are entirely dependent on the sanction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By understanding how the Lord acts as the supreme bestower of all blessings, we can shift our consciousness from arrogant independence to humble, loving dependence on His causeless mercy.
The Source of All Necessities and Results
The Upaniṣads clearly distinguish the living entity from the Supreme Lord. While the tiny living entity is subjected to the reactions of their work, the Supreme Lord acts as the impartial witness who sanctions and bestows the results of that work.
- The Mundaka Upanisad completely distinguishes the Lord from the living entities. The living entity is subjected to the reactions of fruitive activity, whereas the Lord simply witnesses such activity and bestows the results.
- The word sevadhim means that He is the original bestower of all the necessities of life upon the living entities.
- In the Vedas it is stated that He is the chief living entity and that He bestows all the desired necessities of other living entities.
- Remaining within the hearts of all living entities, the Lord bestows remembrance by which the living entities can enjoy certain things.
The Bestower of Causeless Mercy
While the Lord imparts material results according to strict karmic laws, His distribution of spiritual mercy is completely causeless. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Supreme Lord can elevate anyone to the highest platform of spiritual realization, regardless of their material qualifications.
- The causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead may be bestowed upon anyone, regardless of his position in this material world. Everyone is eligible to worship the Supreme Lord, irrespective of his material position.
- The Almighty God can bestow upon anyone the kingdom of the universe from a very small beginning, and similarly, He can take away the kingdom of the universe on the plea of begging a small piece of land.
- The Supreme Lord has multipotencies, which the Lord bestows on His fortunate devotees.
- There is a common saying in Bengal that the Lord has ten hands. If He wants to bestow benedictions upon us with His ten hands, we cannot factually receive them all with our two hands; in other words, the benedictions exceed our ambitions.
Revelation Through Grace
The Absolute Truth cannot be conquered by academic research or severe physical austerities. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the Lord only reveals Himself to those upon whom He has specifically bestowed His divine grace.
- The Lord can be known only by those whom He favors, and not by anyone else. Such special favors are bestowed upon His pure devotees only. Sri Isopanisad thus points to the favor of the Lord, which is beyond the purview of the brahma-jyotir.
- One can know the supreme cause, the Personality of Godhead, by the causeless mercy of the Lord, which is bestowed upon the Lord's pure devotees like Brahma and those in his disciplic succession.
- One upon whom His mercy is bestowed can hear Him. The Lord was much pleased with Narada Muni, and therefore the necessary strength was invested in him so that he could hear the Lord.
- The appearance and disappearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His different activities are all confidential, even to the Vedic literatures. Yet they are displayed by the Lord to bestow mercy upon the conditioned souls.
Trusting the Supreme Father
Neophyte practitioners often approach God to demand specific material boons. In contrast, pure devotees understand that the Supreme Lord is the perfect father. They do not dictate terms; they simply trust the Lord to bestow whatever is necessary for their ultimate spiritual benefit.
- Prthu Maharaja tells the Lord that, as the supreme father, He may elect to bestow whatever He considers beneficial for Prthu Maharaja. That is the perfect position of the living entity.
- Such benedictions are available automatically, even in the lives of living entities suffering in hellish conditions. My dear Lord, You can certainly bestow merging into Your existence, but I do not wish to have such a benediction.
- O my Lord, best of the givers of benediction, if You at all want to bestow a desirable benediction upon me, then I pray from Your Lordship that within the core of my heart there be no material desires.
- The Supreme Lord bestows upon His pure devotee the inconceivable power that allows him to stay aloof from all mundane circumstances and reside eternally in the spiritual world.
Conclusion
A sane and sober understanding of reality requires recognizing that we are not the ultimate controllers of our destiny. Śrīla Prabhupāda systematically explains that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the singular source who bestows all results, from the basic necessities of biological life to the highest peaks of spiritual realization. While the mundane karma-mīmāṁsā philosophers foolishly believe that their work automatically generates results independent of God, the truth is that the Lord, as the Supersoul, personally sanctions every outcome and even bestows the remembrance needed to enjoy it. However, the most profound aspect of the Lord's nature is His distribution of causeless mercy. Unlike material rewards, which are strictly bound by the laws of karma, the Lord's spiritual blessings defy all material calculations. He can elevate anyone, regardless of their societal or material standing, simply by bestowing His favor upon them. This is why pure devotees, taking the position of dependent children, never demand specific material benedictions from the supreme father. They know that the Lord, acting as Varada (the bestower of benedictions), will naturally provide exactly what is required for them to transcend the material world. By humbly engaging in devotional service and actively preaching Kṛṣṇa consciousness—the highest welfare work—a sincere soul quickly attracts the Lord's attention, qualifying themselves to receive the ultimate benediction of returning home, back to Godhead.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category God's Bestowing. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.