God Is Able To - The Omnipotence of the Supreme Lord
The material mind often struggles to comprehend how a single person can manage the infinite complexities of the universe. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is absolutely omnipotent; He is able to perform inconceivable feats, from entering the smallest atom to nullifying the strictest laws of material nature, simply by His supreme will.
The Omnipotence of the Lord
The capabilities of the Supreme Lord transcend all scientific and logical limitations. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that a pure devotee is never surprised by the Lord's miraculous activities, knowing that God is perfectly able to manipulate the entire cosmos while simultaneously residing in His own eternal abode.
- A devotee is therefore not astonished to see the wonderful boar because he knows that the Lord is able to act far more wonderfully by His potencies, which are inconceivable to the brain of even the most erudite scientist.
- He (the Supreme Personality of Godhead) is able to remain in His own abode and without endeavor supervise and manipulate the entire cosmic manifestation through the interaction of the three modes of material nature.
- Because of His all-pervasiveness, He (The Supreme Lord) is able to enter not only into the hearts of the living entities, but even into the atoms also. As the Supersoul, He is the controller of all activities of the living entities.
- Actually, the Lord's birth is never ordinary. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is already situated within the core of everyone's heart as antaryami, the Supersoul. Thus because He was present in full potency in Devaki's heart, He was also able to appear outside her body.
Neutralizing Sins and Karma
The strict laws of material nature and karmic reaction bind every conditioned soul, but the Lord stands above these laws. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that God is uniquely able to neutralize the heavy reactions of sinful deeds and effortlessly extend or alter the lifetime of His surrendered devotees.
- Everyone has a limited duration of life, but a devotee's lifetime can be extended by the mercy of the Supreme Lord, who is able to nullify the results of one's karma. Karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajam.
- If the Lord is able to change the reactions of one's past deeds, then certainly He is not Himself bound by any action or reaction of His own deeds. He is perfect and transcendental to all laws.
- This (mother Ganges fears being burdened with the sins of the people in general who would bathe in her waters) indicates that no one but the SP of Godhead is able to neutralize the reactions of sinful deeds, whether one's own or those of others.
- Even though we are not free from sins, the Lord is kind enough to allow us the facility of seeing Him in His arca-murtis in the temple. The Lord is all-powerful, and therefore He is able to accept our service by presentation of His arca form.
Bestowing Benedictions and Knowledge
Taking shelter of the Supreme Lord removes all anxieties regarding material maintenance and spiritual ignorance. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that as the supreme father, God is completely able to bless a devotee with all opulences, provide definitive answers, and empower His representatives to deliver the fallen souls.
- Accept the father, the bona fide father. Take protection from Him. He is able to give you everything. Why you are suffering? What is the logic.
- There is no need to artificially exert oneself. It is better to be plain and simple and with respectful obeisances offer to the Lord whatever one can secure. The Lord is completely able to bless the devotee with all opulences.
- Arjuna has addressed the Supreme Lord as Purusottama, Supreme Person, which means that he was putting these (BG 8.1) questions not simply to a friend but to the Supreme Person, knowing Him to be the supreme authority able to give definitive answers.
- From the teachings of Caitanya to Sanatana we learn: A person who is expert in understanding the conclusion of the revealed scriptures and who fully surrenders to the cause of God is actually able to deliver others from the clutches of material existence.
Empowering Demigods and Incarnations
The Supreme Lord's power effortlessly flows through His divine expansions and authorized servants. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how the Lord's incarnations are fully able to maintain planetary order, defeat the most formidable demons, and empower exalted demigods like Lord Śiva to accomplish extraordinary feats.
- When an incarnation of Godhead descends on this planet, demigods like the sun-god, the moon-god or the King of heaven, Indra, all join Him. Consequently the incarnation is able to act for the departmental demigods to keep the planetary systems in order.
- Kamsa was a great giant, and Vasudeva and Devaki never thought that Krsna and Balarama (Baladeva) would be able to kill such a great and strong enemy.
- Lord Balarama was able to see, with the eye of transcendental knowledge, that all these calves and Krsna's friends were expansions of the form of Sri Krsna - SB 10.13.38.
- Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has made the following observations. Lord Siva, being the most exalted Vaisnava and one of the most powerful demigods, is able to do anything he desires.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda definitively establishes that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the absolute reservoir of all power, able to accomplish anything by His inconceivable potencies. The Lord's omnipotence is continuously demonstrated in His ability to effortlessly manipulate the vast cosmic manifestation while remaining fully situated in His own spiritual abode. Because He is all-pervading, He is perfectly able to enter the core of every atom and the heart of every living entity. Most mercifully, God is the only person able to completely neutralize the stringent laws of material nature, nullifying the heavy karmic reactions of His devotees and accepting their service despite their past sins. Sincere souls have no need to artificially exert themselves for material accumulation, because the supreme father is completely able to bless them with all opulences and provide the ultimate answers to all spiritual inquiries. Furthermore, His power flawlessly extends to His incarnations, who are able to maintain universal order and defeat gigantic demons like Kaṁsa, and to His pure representatives and exalted demigods, who are able to perform wonderful acts solely by His grace. Therefore, a pure devotee is never bewildered by the miraculous pastimes of the Lord, knowing with absolute certainty that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is able to do anything and everything.
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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 Is Able To. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.