God As an Enemy - The Absolute Benefit of Adversarial Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
It is a common understanding that we must approach the Supreme Lord with love and devotion to receive His blessings. However, the Vedic literatures reveal the astounding absolute nature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead: any connection with Him, even if it is out of intense hatred or fear, results in ultimate spiritual purification. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains this fascinating paradox of how God acts as an "enemy."
Illusion of Enmity
By our original constitutional nature, every living entity is a lover of God. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that it is only when we are covered by material illusion (māyā) that we begin to see God as our enemy and prefer the temporary material world. Śrīla Prabhupāda is very clear that the Lord Himself is never actually an enemy to anyone; He is universally equal and the supreme friend. To view Him as an enemy is simply a symptom of paśu-buddhi, or animalistic intelligence.
- The Lord is never an enemy to any of the millions of living entities, but is always a friend to everyone. This is true understanding. If one thinks that the Lord is an enemy, his intelligence is pasu-buddhi, the intelligence of an animal.
- By nature, we are lover of God, but here, being illusioned, we think God as our enemy and we don't like God. We like this maya.
- This does not mean that the Lord is someone's enemy and someone else's friend. He helps everyone; one who is not bewildered by the influence of material energy is saved, and one who is bewildered is destroyed.
- Thus the two associates of Lord Visnu who had become Hiranyaksa and Hiranyakasipu, the sons of Diti, were both killed. By illusion they had thought that the Supreme Lord, who is situated in everyone's heart, was their enemy.
Adversarial Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
Even though thinking of God as an enemy is a sign of illusion, it paradoxically brings immense spiritual benefit. Śrīla Prabhupāda gives the example of the demon Kaṁsa. Because Kaṁsa knew that Kṛṣṇa was destined to kill him, he lived in absolute terror. He thought of Kṛṣṇa constantly—while eating, sleeping, and walking. Because Kṛṣṇa is absolute, this intense, unfavorable meditation completely cleansed Kaṁsa of all sinful reactions.
- While sitting on his throne or in his sitting room, while lying on his bed, or, indeed, while situated anywhere, and while eating, sleeping or walking, Kamsa saw only his enemy, the Supreme Lord, Hrsikesa - Srimad Bhagavatam 10.2.24.
- By thinking of his all-pervading enemy, Kamsa became unfavorably Krsna conscious - Srimad Bhagavatam 10.2.24.
- From the statements of the Bhagavatam it appears that if one thinks of Krsna, even as an enemy, that particular qualification - thinking of Visnu, or Krsna - cleanses one of all sins.
- The Lord is very kind to His so-called enemy because one who always thinks of the Personality of Godhead as an enemy also benefits, although he thinks of the Lord adversely.
Absolute Impartiality of the Lord
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the Supreme Lord does not exhibit partiality by helping one and hindering another. If a yogī meditates on the Lord favorably for many lifetimes, he attains spiritual perfection. Astoundingly, if a demon meditates on the Lord unfavorably, constantly absorbed in thoughts of Him as an enemy, that demon attains the exact same spiritual perfection. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that this absolute equality proves the supreme mercy of God.
- If a conditioned soul, thinking of the Lord as an enemy or a friend, somehow or other becomes attached to the Lord, he receives great benefit.
- The Vedas said, "My dear Lord, yogis meditate upon Your localized features, and thus they achieve the spiritual perfection of being merged in the impersonal brahma-jyoti. Persons who treat You as an enemy achieve the same perfection without meditating."
- Whether thinking of Him as their worshipable Lord or an enemy, because of constantly thinking of Him they will regain their spiritual bodies.
- The question may be raised why the Lord, who is all-merciful, helps one to remember and another to forget. Actually, His mercy is not exhibited in partiality towards one and enmity towards another.
Enemy of the Demons
While the demons wrongly see the Lord as their personal enemy, the pure devotees joyfully glorify the Lord specifically for this trait. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Lord is famously known as Murāri (the enemy of Mura), the enemy of Madhu, and the ultimate enemy of the asuras. Devotees invoke these protective names of the Lord to vanquish their own material distresses and to safeguard themselves from evil influences.
- For one who has accepted the boat of the lotus feet of God, who is the shelter of the cosmic manifestation and is famous as Murari, the enemy of the demon Mura, the ocean of the material world is like the water contained in a calf's hoofprint - Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.58.
- Lord Visnu, the Supersoul within the core of everyone's heart, is the ultimate enemy of the asuras and is therefore known as asura-dvit - Srimad Bhagavatam 10.4.42.
- By serving the feet of the spiritual master, one is enabled to develop transcendental ecstasy in the service of the Personality of Godhead, who is the unchangeable enemy of the Madhu demon and whose service vanquishes one's material distresses.
- The gopis, following the proper system, protected Krsna, their child, with this mantra: may Lord Yajnabhuk, the fearful enemy of all evil planets, always protect You while You enjoy life - Srimad Bhagavatam 10.6.25-26.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda's profound teachings reveal that the Supreme Lord is so pure and absolute that even enmity toward Him acts as a powerful purifying force. However, rather than imitating the terrifying, adversarial path of the demons, an intelligent person should voluntarily accept the Lord as their supreme friend and take shelter of Him, knowing that the "enemy of the demons" will afford them ultimate protection from all the dangers of the material world.
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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 As an Enemy. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.