God Is Not So Cheap - Refuting False Incarnations
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the Absolute Truth is the supreme controller of all universes and can never be subjected to the whims of mundane imagination. Because people in the modern age lack spiritual education, they easily fall prey to the illusion that God is a cheap commodity, accepting ordinary, conditioned rascals as divine incarnations.
The Fashion of False Gods
In the modern age, it has become a trend for ordinary, conditioned souls to declare themselves as the Supreme. Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly condemns this mentality, warning that anyone who claims everyone is God or accepts a mundane person as an incarnation is simply a rascal.
- Everyone is coming out and he declares himself, "I am God. I am God." As if the God has become a very cheap thing, and it can be had in the market, wherever you go. You see? That is not the thing. God is not so cheap thing.
- These societies, those who are claiming that "I am God. You are God. Everyone God" - God has become so cheap that everyone is God - you immediately should know he's a rascal number one. Immediately.
- God has become so cheap. There are so many incarnations of God, especially in India. It is a breeding ground of Gods, so many. So that is, means they do not know what is God. Mudha. They think God is so cheap thing.
- One who has no idea what God actually is thinks that any form he imagines or any rascal he accepts can be God. This acceptance of cheap gods or incarnations of God is actually atheism.
The Real Power of God
A true understanding of the Absolute Truth requires recognizing His unlimited power. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while a false God is overwhelmed by a simple toothache, the actual Supreme Lord effortlessly exhales millions of universes from His transcendental body.
- Don't very cheaply accept any fool as God. So this is the highest imperfection, that he is in the stringent laws of the material nature. If there is simply a toothache, he becomes overwhelmed, and he himself preaches as God.
- God is not so cheap. We have got conception of God, that we get conception from the sastras, from the breathing of one of the portion of God, Maha-Visnu, innumerable universes are coming out, and just like we are exhaling, inhaling.
- There are innumerable universes, and within one breath of the Maha-Visnu these universes are inhaled and dissolved within His body. How then can a living entity become God? God is not so cheap.
- When God says, "Let there be creation," millions of planets, immediately created. That is God. Not that cheap God, "I am God." In your country they come, and you become cheated. We don't accept such cheap God.
Rejecting Mental Speculation
The philosophy that one can artificially become the Supreme through mysticism or meditation is a dangerous illusion. Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly refutes the Māyāvādī theory, clarifying that God is eternally God and cannot be manufactured.
- As if God is so cheap thing that anyone can become God. So God has given us the chance, "All right. You try to become God." He's trying to become God, and more and more... This is asuric. Just like Hiranyakasipu.
- This theory is going on amongst the Mayavadis, that by the mystic yoga practice, one can become God. So we don't want such cheap God.
- They do not believe in God. "Everyone is God. I am God, you are God, he is God, everyone is God. So whatever law you give yourself, that becomes your religion." This is going on. So God is not so cheap that you become God, I become God, he becomes God.
- If so desired, we can worship the picture of Lord Jesus Christ who we admit as the son of Godhead. We worship all worthy sons and servants of God, but we kick on the face of all rascals who claim to have become God so cheaply.
The Science of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness
Understanding the Absolute Truth is a serious, scientific endeavor that requires strict purification. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that one cannot realize God quickly or whimsically; it demands breaking the pillars of sinful life and submissively following the authorized process.
- God is not so cheap thing, that "I have become God; you have become God." It is a great science. So those who want to understand God scientifically, philosophically, let them read these books. That is our presentation, Krsna consciousness.
- You have to become God conscious. Then you will understand what is God. It is not a so trifle thing you ask me and in one minute, you understand God. That is foolishness. You have to study the science of God. God is not so cheap.
- Meat-eating, or intoxication, drinking, gambling, and illicit sex. These are the four pillars of sinful life. So unless you stop, you break these four pillars, how you can think of God? God is not so cheap.
- You must study my books very scrutinizingly, follow the four regulative principles very strictly and chant 16 rounds daily avoiding the ten offenses. Don't take this movement as something cheap.
Conclusion
To accurately comprehend the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one must completely reject the foolish idea that divinity is an easily attainable status. Śrīla Prabhupāda firmly establishes that God is the supreme, omnipotent creator who can never be equated with an ordinary, suffering human being. While Māyāvādī philosophers and mundane rascals attempt to artificially elevate themselves to the position of the Lord, a sincere soul recognizes that God realization is a profound science. By abandoning sinful activities and dedicating oneself to the authorized path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, a devotee transcends cheap, atheistic illusions and awakens true, loving devotion to the Absolute Truth.
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 Not So Cheap. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.