God's Company - The Ultimate Joy of the Living Entity
Everyone in the material world is searching for the perfect companion—someone who can provide unfailing love, security, and eternal happiness. However, because material relationships are temporary and based on the changing physical body, they inevitably end in separation and disappointment. The Vedic literatures reveal that the living entity's yearning for companionship is completely natural, but it is misdirected. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the soul is originally meant to enjoy eternal, blissful life in the company of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By understanding our original position, the nature of our fall, and the process to reestablish our divine connection, we can regain the ultimate joy of God's company.
The Original Position and the Fall
We are all sparks of the Supreme Spirit, and just as a spark glows brightly only when connected to the fire, the soul can only be happy in connection with God. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that our suffering began the moment we decided to leave the Lord's company to enjoy independently.
- Practically our creation is for enjoying in the company, in the association of the Supreme Lord. But we thought that it is better to become an imitation God and try to lord it over the material nature. That is not possible; therefore we are suffering.
- The sparks are illuminated when they are with the original fire, but if the sparks no longer associate with the original fire, they are extinguished. Similarly, our real happiness is in enjoying with the Supreme Being. Happiness is being in His company.
- Maya is so strong that Kala Krsnadasa left Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's company to join gypsy women. Even though a person may associate with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he can be allured by maya and leave the Lord's company due to his slight independence.
- When the living entity falls down into the material world, the Supreme Lord, through His svamsa expansion (Paramatma), keeps company with the living entity. In this way the living entity may some day return home, back to Godhead.
Returning to the Supreme Destination
The entire process of spiritual life is meant to qualify the conditioned soul to return to their original home. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that anyone who is intelligent will utilize this human form of life to regain their spiritual body and reenter the Lord's eternal company.
- One should try to return home, back to Godhead, to the Vaikuntha planets - or to the topmost Vaikuntha planet, Goloka Vrndavana - to live eternally in full, blissful knowledge in the company of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Everyone can enjoy the company of the Lord in the spiritual realm if he at all desires and sincerely tries for it by the process of bhakti-yoga.
- If he is intelligent enough, he can desire to get a spiritual body to enjoy the company of the Lord, and he will get it.
- The words janma na eti indicate that these living entities remain in their original, spiritual bodies to enjoy the company of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the transcendental abodes Vaikuntha and Vrndavana.
The Ecstasy of the Eternal Associates
In the spiritual sky, the Lord is never alone; He is constantly surrounded by His pure devotees. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes the intense, dynamic ecstasy experienced by these liberated souls, who find complete satisfaction only by His side.
- Nitya-siddha-bhakta indicates the eternally liberated associates of the Lord. Such devotees enjoy the company of the Lord in four relationships - as servant, friend, parent or conjugal lover.
- The goddess of fortune cannot stay anywhere but by the side of Narayana; therefore another of her names is Cancala, restless. She cannot be peaceful unless she is in the company of her husband, Narayana.
- Maharaja Yudhisthira has compared the inhabitants of Dvaraka to the Maha-paurusikas of Vaikunthaloka because they are so happy with the Lord.
- The loving propensity of the asraya (devotee) toward the visaya (Lord) becomes so ecstatic that even after enjoying the company of the beloved, the devotee feels that his enjoyment is insufficient.
Keeping Company in the Present Moment
One does not necessarily have to wait until death to associate with the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that by constantly thinking of Kṛṣṇa and engaging in His service, a pure devotee remains in His direct company even while navigating the material world.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead says: "I am not in Vaikuntha nor in the hearts of the yogis. I remain where My devotees engage in glorifying My activities." It is to be understood that the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not leave the company of His devotees.
- The pure devotee of the Lord is always in company with the Lord by thinking of Him. Yet, in the particular context of time and place, the transcendental emotions take a different turn, and this breaks the mental equilibrium of the devotee.
- If a devotee follows the instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he lives in the company of the Lord. Wherever he lives, he converts that place into Vrndavana and Navadvipa. This means that materialism cannot touch him.
- Your duty as you are doing, even nobody is coming in morning, Lord Jagannatha will hear your kirtana, because we are always in company with the Lord of the Universe.
Conclusion
The fundamental teaching of the Vedic literatures is that the living entity is an eternal part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, specifically created to enjoy blissful loving exchanges in His divine company. As Śrīla Prabhupāda vividly explains, we are like sparks of a great fire; when we are situated with the supreme fire, we shine brilliantly, but the moment we declare independence and fall into the material world, our spiritual illumination is extinguished by māyā. Yet, the Lord's compassion is so extraordinary that He does not abandon us. He expands as the Paramātmā, patiently keeping us company as we wander through countless species of life, waiting for us to turn back to Him. The true perfection of human intelligence is to recognize the futility of material life and utilize the process of bhakti-yoga to regain our original, spiritual body, enabling us to return to Vaikuṇṭha or Goloka Vṛndāvana. In that transcendental realm, the liberated associates—like the restless goddess of fortune or the blissful residents of Dvārakā—relish the Lord's company in such ever-increasing ecstasy that their desire to serve Him is never fully satiated. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda beautifully concludes that a pure devotee does not even need to wait for physical transfer to the spiritual world to experience this joy. By strictly following the instructions of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, constantly thinking of the Lord, and enthusiastically glorifying Him in kīrtana, a sincere soul transforms their immediate environment into the spiritual world, remaining eternally and joyfully in the company 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 God's Company. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.