God Completely - The Absolute Independence of the Supreme Lord
The Vedic literatures describe the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the complete whole, lacking nothing and dependent on no one. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that because God is absolute, He remains completely unaffected by the material creation, existing in perfect, transcendental independence while maintaining complete control over all cosmic manifestations.
Completely Independent and Aloof
Despite being the original cause of all causes, the Supreme Lord is never entangled in the affairs of the material world. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that the Lord acts only as the supreme instigator (nimitta-mātram), remaining completely aloof while the material energy carries out the strict laws of cosmic maintenance.
- In the previous verse, the word nimitta-matram indicates that the Supreme Lord is completely aloof from the action and reaction of this material world.
- Everything is going on under the strict rules and regulations of the material energy, represented by Durga. Therefore the Lord is completely detached and need not give attention to the material world.
- Out of the five subjects, the Supreme Lord, the living entity, nature, and time and space are eternal, but the living entity, nature and time are under the direction of the Supreme Lord, who is absolute and completely independent of any other control.
- These are some of the instances of His (God's) complete independence and perfection. That He has nothing to do does not mean that He is impersonal.
Completely Unaffected by Matter
Because the Lord is the supreme creator of the material elements, He can never be subjected to their influence. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that God exists in a completely spiritual state, entirely devoid of material qualities and forever free from the false ego that bewilders the conditioned souls.
- Daksa addressed the Supreme Personality of Godhead: My dear Lord, You are transcendental to all speculative positions. You are completely spiritual, devoid of all fear, and You are always in control of the material energy.
- O completely peaceful Lord, although material nature, fruitive activities and their consequent material names and forms are Your creation, You are unaffected by them.
- He Himself is not under the control of the external energy; in His personal feature He is completely devoid of the variegated manifestation of material qualities, and He is under no illusion of false identification.
- God remains completely in His internal potency and yet has full knowledge of the external and internal energy, just as His devotee remains always in a transcendental position, keeping himself in God's service without becoming attached to the material body.
The Complete Master of Potencies
The Lord's detachment does not diminish His absolute supreme power. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the complete master of all universal energies, effortlessly creating, maintaining, and destroying millions of universes as if they were mere playthings.
- He (Krsna) is the Lord of the three principal potencies, namely cit-sakti, maya-sakti and tatastha-sakti, and He is the complete master of six kinds of fortune - wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation.
- All these universes are thus created by the exhalation of Maha-Visnu, and when Maha-Visnu inhales, they re-enter His body. The unlimited opulences of Maha-Visnu are completely beyond material conception.
- This material creation, consisting of the moving and nonmoving, is exactly like His plaything. Being the Supreme Lord, He is completely competent to destroy and protect.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead has nothing to do with the human secretions of sexual intercourse. He is always completely aloof from such material combinations.
Completely Purifying and Compassionate
Although the Lord is fully self-sufficient, He is not an unfeeling void. He manifests complete compassion for the living entities, completely sanctifying the world by His divine presence and even accepting a subordinate role out of pure love for His devotees.
- The word utpatita-loka-salyah indicates that Maharaja Prthu completely uprooted all the miseries of his citizens. The word salya means "piercing thorns."
- If a devotee can sanctify the place and family of his birth so extraordinarily, then what to speak of how completely the Lord can sanctify the place and family in which He chooses to take His birth.
- Although the Lord is completely independent and no one can check Him, He still did not go without the permission of His devotees.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully delineates the absolute and perfect nature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. God is completely independent and entirely aloof from the actions and reactions of the material universe. Although He initiates the cosmic creation, the detailed management is carried out by His material energy, allowing the Lord to remain completely detached and peacefully situated in His internal, spiritual potency. He is completely devoid of material qualities, untouched by the illusion of false ego, and completely free from mundane conceptions such as biological birth. Yet, this complete detachment is perfectly balanced by His absolute supremacy and compassion. As the complete master of all potencies—internal, external, and marginal—He is completely competent to protect or destroy the universes, which are nothing more than His playthings. Furthermore, when He descends, He completely uproots the miseries of the conditioned souls and sanctifies the world. Ultimately, the most beautiful paradox of the Absolute Truth is that while He is completely independent and no one can check His supreme will, He is perfectly conquered by love, voluntarily seeking the permission of His pure devotees.
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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 Completely. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.