God Is Supplying - The Supreme Maintainer of All
Śrīla Prabhupāda continuously reminds us of our absolute dependence on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although modern civilization falsely claims independence through technological advancement, the reality is that without the raw materials, intelligence, and natural resources that God is supplying, humanity could not survive for even a moment.
The Universal Maintainer
According to the Vedic literature, the Supreme Lord is the singular maintainer of the plural living entities (eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmān). Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that from the grandest cosmic phenomena down to our daily food, everything is a direct supply from the Lord.
- According to the Vedic injunction, eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman: the Supreme Personality of Godhead maintains this creation; therefore, He arranges for a supply of whatever is required for all living entities.
- The human necessities of life are fully supplied by the Lord in the shape of food grains, milk, fruit, wood, stone, sugar, silk, jewels, cotton, salt, water, vegetables, etc., in sufficient quantity to feed and care for the human race of the world.
- Without the Supreme Lord, there can be no profuse sunlight, moonlight, rainfall, breeze, etc., without which no one can live. Obviously, our life is dependent on supplies from the Lord.
- Everything we need is being supplied by God - land, grain, fruits, milk, shelter and clothing. We only have to live peacefully and cultivate Krsna consciousness. That should be our mission in life.
The Source of Ingredients and Intelligence
Material scientists often claim credit for their inventions, but Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that they are merely using the tools provided by God. The raw materials used in laboratories and factories, as well as the brainpower required to use them, are all supplied by the Supreme Lord.
- The ingredients to manufacture wonderful machines like airplanes are also supplied by the Lord, not by the scientists. Before the airplane was created, its ingredients already existed, having been caused by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The West is creating many automobiles. The ingredients for these cars are supplied, of course, by the Supreme Lord, and the intelligence for the so-called creation is also supplied by the Lord.
- A chemist can manufacture water in the laboratory by mixing hydrogen and oxygen, but in reality the living entity can only work under the direction of the Supreme Lord. Indeed, all materials used by a chemist are supplied by the Lord.
- The intelligence with which you are working, that is supplied by God. Your body is supplied by God. You are God's. So everything becomes God's. Prabhavah: I am the source of supply of everything.
Supplying According to Desire and Karma
The Lord is impartial, yet He perfectly fulfills the desires of the conditioned souls. As the Paramātmā situated in the heart, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that God supplies the living entities with specific bodies and the corresponding memory required to act out their material karma.
- The living entity desires a particular type of material enjoyment, and thus the Lord supplies him with a body, which is like a machine. Just to keep him alive in that body, the Lord remains with him as the purusa - Ksirodakasayi Visnu.
- Man proposes; God disposes. God is very kind. Whatever you desire, He will fulfill. Although He says that "This kind of material desires will never satisfy you," but we want. Therefore God supplies us, Krsna, different types of body.
- A living being desires something, and the Lord supplies the object of that desire in proportion to one's qualification.
- As stated in Bhagavad-gita, intelligence and forgetfulness are both supplied by the Supersoul sitting with the individual soul within the body.
Transcending the Order-Supplier Conception
While many religious traditions approach God to ask for daily sustenance, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that this is only the beginning stage of spiritual realization. True love of Godhead (bhakti) means loving the Lord unconditionally, without expecting Him to act as our personal order-supplier.
- We should not approach God as supplying agent. That is the lowest stage. He is supplying even to the cats and dogs. Then what is the difference between human being and the cats and dogs?
- If we are praying to God, "O God, give us our daily bread," and the bread is supplied to us, how God is dead? God cannot be dead.
- Love is without reason. Even God does not supply me daily bread, I'll love God. That is love.
- A pure devotee is anyabhilasita-sunyam. He has no desire for material profit, nor does the Lord induce him to try to profit materially. When a devotee needs something, the Supreme Personality of Godhead supplies it.
Conclusion
To accurately understand our position in the universe is to recognize that we are entirely dependent on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that God is endlessly supplying everything—from the macroscopic cosmic ingredients down to the microscopic intelligence and memory within our own minds. Because Bhagavān is already perfectly supplying the necessities of life for all living beings, including the animals and insects, a human being should not waste their valuable time laboring solely for economic development or praying for material things. Instead, realizing that the Lord is the ultimate maintainer, a sincere soul should use the energy and facilities supplied by God to cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness, confident that the Supreme Lord will always supply whatever is needed for His pure devotees.
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 Supplying. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.