God Is An Individual - The Eternal Reality of the Supreme Person
A prominent misunderstanding in spiritual philosophy is the idea that individuality is a product of material illusion. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that individuality is an eternal, spiritual fact. Both the living entities and the Supreme Personality of Godhead are individuals, and this eternal individuality forms the very basis of their loving relationship.
The Eternal Reality of Individuality
Individuality is not a temporary condition that is erased upon reaching spiritual perfection. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that in the Bhagavad-gītā, Lord Kṛṣṇa definitively establishes that the Lord and the living entities retain their individual identities in the past, the present, and the eternal future.
- In all circumstances, the Lord and the living entities are individual personalities, and the personal features of both the Lord and living beings are never abolished.
- Lord Sri Krsna stated in the Second Chapter (2.12) that every living being is individual and that the Lord also is individual.
- They (God and every living being) were all individuals in the past, they are individuals at present, and they will continue to be individuals in the future, even after liberation.
- We are also individual, and God is also individual person. "And all the kings, all the soldiers assembled, they are also individual." So this individuality is never lost. Krsna says that "At present we are individuals, and in the past we are individuals.
The Supreme Among Subordinates
While both God and the living entities share the quality of individuality, there is a vast difference in their quantity and power. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Supreme Lord is the singular, chief individual who maintains and leads all the innumerable, plural, subordinate individuals.
- Among the minute living entities, one being can excel another in one capacity or another. Like each of these living entities, the Lord is an individual, but He is different in that He is the supreme individual - CC Intro.
- God and we, we are all individuals. But the difference is that He's nityo nityanam. Nityanam means plural number. Nityo nityanam. Nityo is singular number, and nityanam means plural number. We are all plural number.
- In the Vedas it is said, nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13): the Lord is the chief individual living entity, the leader of the subordinate living entities.
- The Supreme Lord is as much an individual as other living beings, but He is different in that He is the Supreme and all other living beings are subordinate to Him.
The Basis of Devotional Reciprocation
True religion requires a loving exchange, which is impossible in an impersonal void. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the ultimate goal of life is not to finish one's personal existence by merging into the Absolute, but to engage in a dynamic reciprocation of love between the supreme individual and the subordinate individual.
- Bhagavan is individual, bhakta is individual, and the reciprocation of dealings between two individuals, it is called bhakti.
- The living entities and the Supreme Personality of Godhead are individuals.
- The Lord and living beings are all individual persons. With the help of the material energies the living beings are also creating something, but none of their creations are equal or superior to the creations of the Lord.
- The ultimate goal of the yoga system is to become one with the Absolute. This means finishing one's personal existence. But the spiritual part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead has an eternal individual existence.
The Lord's Individual Expansions
The absolute nature of God allows Him to multiply Himself without diminishing His original identity. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how the Lord expands into countless individual forms and incarnations, and even resides as an individual witness within the heart of every single living entity.
- From the multitotal energy He further expands Himself into individuals in three dimensions, namely adhyatmic, adhidaivic and adhibhautic, as explained before (vyasti).
- However, although the Supreme Person, the Paramatma, is also one, He is present as an individual in all the different bodies.
- The Lord is situated in many forms, such as Rama, Laksmana, Bharata and Satrughna, and these forms may exist in any part of His creation. All these forms exist permanently, eternally, as individual Personalities of Godhead, and they resemble many candles, all equally powerful.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda definitively establishes that individuality is not a product of material contamination, but an eternal spiritual reality. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the original, eternal individual, and the living entities are His eternal individual parts and parcels. The Bhagavad-gītā boldly confirms that this individuality existed in the past, exists in the present, and will never be abolished in the future, even after liberation. While both God and the living entities are individuals, the crucial distinction lies in their position: God is nityo nityānāṁ, the singular, supreme individual who maintains and leads the plural, subordinate living entities. Because both parties retain their individual identities eternally, the idea of merging into the Absolute and finishing one's personal existence is rejected as an incomplete understanding. True spiritual perfection is found in bhakti—the dynamic, loving reciprocation between the supreme individual (Bhagavān) and the subordinate individual (bhakta). Furthermore, the Lord's supreme individuality allows Him to expand into unlimited, equally powerful individual forms like Lord Rāma, and to reside as the individual Paramātmā in every heart. By understanding that God is an individual, the sincere soul gives up the desire for impersonal merging and embraces the eternal bliss of personal, loving service to the Supreme Lord.
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 Is An Individual. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.