The Eternal Companion - Understanding God As Our Best Friend
We are all searching for a perfect friend—someone who will never abandon us, who understands our deepest desires, and who will support us unconditionally. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this flawless, eternal friendship can only be found with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who lovingly accompanies the soul through every phase of existence.
Two Birds on the Tree
To illustrate the relationship between the soul and God, the Vedic literatures (specifically the Upaniṣads) use the famous analogy of two birds sitting in the same tree. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the tree represents the material body. One bird (the individual soul) is frantically trying to enjoy the fruits of the tree, while the other bird (the Supersoul, or Paramātmā) sits patiently as a witness and a friend.
- The God, He is also with me always as friend. So it is said in the Upanisad, there are two birds in one tree. The two birds means I, individual soul, and God, the Supreme Soul.
- This one tree is this whole body, and the two birds - one the individual soul and the other is the Supersoul - both of them are sitting as friends. One bird is eating the fruits of the tree, and the other bird is simply onlooker.
- The Supersoul, being seated in everyone's heart, can witness everyone's activities - past, present and future. In the Upanisads the Supersoul is described as being seated with the individual soul as friend and witness.
- According to the sruti-mantra (dva suparna sayuja sakhayah), the Lord is sitting within the heart of every living entity as suhrt, the best friend.
Most Loyal Companion
Even when a living entity completely forgets God and falls into the darkest regions of material existence, the Lord never abandons him. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that God is so causelessly merciful that He travels with the soul through millions of different species of life. As the ultimate well-wisher, He supplies intelligence and facilities according to our desires, patiently waiting for the moment we turn back to Him.
- When the living entity wants to enjoy himself, he falls down into the material world. Even while he is in that position, the Lord remains with him as the Supersoul, his intimate friend. Because of his forgetfulness, the living entity does not know.
- No one can be a greater well-wishing friend to any living entity than the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is so kindly disposed towards everyone that in spite of our completely forgetting our relationship with the Supreme Lord, He comes Himself - sometimes personally.
- The Lord is never an enemy to any of the millions of living entities, but is always a friend to everyone. This is true understanding. If one thinks that the Lord is an enemy, his intelligence is pasu-buddhi, the intelligence of an animal.
- God is so great friend of ours. He is always witnessing, witnessing. And as I am desiring, God is giving us facility, "All right, you want to enjoy like this? You take this body and enjoy.
Peace Formula
The root cause of all anxiety is our failure to recognize who our true friend is. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the ultimate peace formula, as stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (5.29), is to understand that Kṛṣṇa is the supreme proprietor, the supreme enjoyer, and the best friend of all living entities (suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām). Once we establish friendship with Kṛṣṇa, we automatically become peaceful and friendly toward everyone else.
- In Bhagavad-Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Caitanya Caritamrta, or any Vedic literature or any other literature in any other religion, the same fact is presented: God is the proprietor. God is the only friend. If you understand this, then you'll have peace. This is the peace formula.
- We are searching for a friend to give us peace and tranquillity. That friend is Krsna, God. Just make friendship with Him; you'll find everyone to be your friend.
- The four Kumaras came to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead Narayana. The word suhrttama, "best of all friends," is important. As Lord Krsna states in the Bhagavad-gita, He is the best friend of all living entities. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam - Bhagavad-Gita 5.29.
- He holds no one as very dear and no one as inimical. He has no one for His own relative, and no one is alien to Him. He is actually the soul of the soul of all living entities. Thus He is the auspicious friend of all living beings.
Personal Friendship (Sakhya-Rasa)
Beyond the realization of the Supersoul, the perfection of spiritual life is to engage in a direct, personal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Becoming a friend of the Lord (sakhya-rasa) is one of the nine authorized processes of devotional service. In this highly elevated stage, the Lord voluntarily puts aside His supreme majesty to reciprocate with His pure devotees as an equal.
- Serving the lotus feet of God, offering God respectful worship, offering prayers to God, becoming His servant, considering God one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him - these processes are accepted as pure devotional service - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.5.23.
- His (God's) becoming the associate neighbor of the inhabitants of Vrndavana, as the son of Nanda-Yasoda, the friend of Sudama, Sridama and Madhumangala, or the lover of the damsels of Vrajabhumi, etc. That is part of His personal features.
- On account of the Pandavas' faithful devotion to the Lord, He agreed to become their charioteer, their advisor, their friend, their messenger and sometimes their bodyguard. Such is an example of the result of devotional service towards Visnu.
- Bhismadeva takes this opportunity to address the Lord as vijaya-sakhe (friend of Arjuna) because the Lord is pleased when He is addressed conjointly with His devotees, who are related with Him in different transcendental humors.
Conclusion
We do not need to look outward into the material world to find a reliable friend; our greatest well-wisher is already sitting patiently within our own heart. By turning our attention away from the bitter and sweet fruits of material life and focusing on the Supreme Lord through the practice of pure devotional service, we can revive our eternal, blissful friendship with God and return to our true home.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
The instructions of the pure devotee are our eternal guide. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category God As a Friend. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.