God Is The Supreme Controller - The Ultimate Master of All
Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently contrasts the actual position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead with the false ambitions of the conditioned souls. In the material world, everyone attempts to assert control over their environment, their families, or their nations. However, the Vedic literatures systematically dismantle this illusion, revealing that there is only one absolute, supreme controller: the Personality of Godhead.
The Supreme Īśvara
While it is true that living entities possess some minute controlling power, this does not make them God. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the definition of God is not simply a controller (īśvara), but the supreme controller (īśvara parama), who is controlled by no one.
- This is simple definition of God. You will find everyone relatively controller and controlled. But go on searching out where is that person that He is controller but not controlled. That is isvarah. That is isvarah paramah, the supreme isvara.
- There are some men who claim to become Isvara, to become God. If somebody says, "I am God," or "I am controller," we have no objection. But if somebody says that "I am supreme God," or "supreme controller," then we have got objection.
- As controller every one of us has got some scope or facility to control. At least we are controlling our cats and dogs. In that controller sense everyone is god. But we are not supreme controller. The supreme controller is called Godhead.
- The Lord is paramesvara, the supreme controller; therefore we are also isvaras, or controllers. For example, I have some controlling power to take a drink of water when I cough.
The Director of Material Nature
Atheistic scientists often attribute the complex workings of the universe to blind nature. Śrīla Prabhupāda refutes this by explaining that material nature is merely the external energy acting under the direct supervision of the supreme controller.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the master of the material nature (mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sacaracaram). Therefore, being the supreme controller of the laws of nature, the Lord cannot be under their influence.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead in His form of Ksirodakasayi Visnu maintains all the affairs of material nature. Thus the supreme controller of the three modes of material nature is Lord Visnu.
- Following the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I create, Lord Siva destroys, and He Himself in the form of Ksirodakasayi Visnu maintains all the affairs of material nature. Thus the supreme controller of the three modes of material nature is Lord Visnu.
- The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the supreme independent controlling person, and all the demigods, including Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, Indra (the King of heaven), the king of the moon planet and the king of the sun planet, work under His direction.
The Material Disease of Independence
The root cause of the conditioned soul's suffering is the false ego that dictates they can exist independently of God. Śrīla Prabhupāda defines this rebellion against the supreme controller as the fundamental material disease.
- The material disease is to declare independence from the supreme controller. Factually, our material existence begins when we forget the supreme controller and wish to lord it over material nature.
- Living entities are never independent. As soon as they declare their independence of the supreme controller, they are immediately put into this material world to try their luck freely, as far as possible.
- Supreme God, the supreme controller, is not controlled by anyone. I am controlling, but I am being controlled by somebody else. That is God. So therefore we have to admit . . . we must admit that we are not free. We are controlled.
- He is the supreme controller Himself, and He cannot be compared to the ordinary living entities, who are controlled by the laws of material nature.
The Controller of the Senses
Not only does the Lord control the vast cosmos, but He also intimately controls our very bodies and minds. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that without the empowerment of the supreme controller, Hṛṣīkeśa, our senses could not function for even a moment.
- The Supreme Lord is called Hrsikesa; He is the only conductor of the senses. Unless empowered by His energy, our senses cannot act. In other words, He is the only seer, the only worker, the only listener, and the only active principle or supreme controller.
- My Lord, You are the origin of the creation by virtue of the lotus flower which sprouts from Your navel. You are the supreme controller of the senses and the sense objects, and You are also the all-pervading Vasudeva.
- My dear Lord, You are the supreme controller of the worker, sense activities and results of sense activities (karma). Therefore You are the controller of the body, mind and senses. You are also the supreme controller of egotism, known as Rudra.
- You are the supreme controller of the senses, and Your expansions of form are unlimited. You are the greatest, and therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.
Realization and Surrender
When a conditioned soul realizes the futility of their false independence, the natural response is surrender. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that true peace and spiritual advancement come only from submitting to the supreme controller with a service attitude.
- God is the supreme controller. And we have to learn how to remain peacefully under the supreme controller. Just like citizens and the government. Good citizenship means one who lives under the control of the government.
- The supreme controller Himself appears as Lord Krsna, as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and as Lord Ramacandra to give us instructions and to show us by example how to surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Narayana is actually the supreme controller of everyone. This understanding is self-realization.
- You must always know that "He's the supreme controller and I am also controlled. So if I can please God by my service, then He'll reveal to me." That is the process of knowing God.
The Controller Controlled by Love
The ultimate mystery of the Absolute Truth is that the supreme controller, who is feared by all universal administrators, allows Himself to be controlled by His pure devotees. Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that this is the highest perfection of bhakti.
- A devotee can control the Supreme Controller. Why they shall become one with God? They'll be God's father, God's controller. This is bhakti-marga.
- Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme controller, is equal toward all living entities, He is especially favorable to the devotees.
- Aditi appealed to her husband by saying that since even the supreme controller favors His devotees and since Indra, Kasyapa's devoted son, was in difficulty, Kasyapa should bestow his favor upon Indra.
- Everyone will be pleased with him (Prahlada) because the Personality of Godhead, the supreme controller of the universe, is always satisfied with a devotee who does not wish for anything beyond Him.
Conclusion
A person suffering from a fever cannot cure themselves simply by declaring they are healthy; they must submit to the authority of a physician. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that similarly, the conditioned soul is suffering from the material disease of false independence. As long as a living entity tries to usurp the position of the supreme controller, they will be endlessly battered by the strict laws of material nature and karma. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the absolute īśvara parama, the ultimate master of all cosmic manifestations and the internal conductor of the senses (Hṛṣīkeśa). By recognizing this truth and joyfully accepting one's eternal constitutional position as a subordinate servant, the soul is instantly freed from material anxiety. In the highest stages of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the devotee discovers that the almighty supreme controller is not a harsh dictator, but a loving person who eagerly allows Himself to be controlled by the pure, unalloyed love of His 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 Is The Supreme Controller. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.