The Supreme Whole and the Duties of God's Parts
Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently emphasizes the philosophical truth that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the complete whole, while all other living beings are His fragmental parts. By understanding our constitutional position as eternal parts of the Supreme, we can realize that our true happiness lies only in serving the complete whole through pure devotional service.
The Complete Whole and the Fragmental Sparks
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that every living entity, from the greatest demigod to the smallest insect, is a spiritual spark and an eternal part of the Supreme Lord. Because we are qualitative samples of God, we possess His divine qualities, but only in minute quantities.
- In the Second Chapter (of Bhagavad-gita) the Lord explains that a living entity is not the material body but is a spiritual spark, a part of the Absolute Truth.
- Because the living entities are parts or samples of God, their qualities are not different from those of the Supreme Lord.
- Both the mosquito and Lord Brahma are living entities in the material world; both are minute sparks and are part of the Supreme Lord.
The Duty to Serve the Whole
The constitutional duty of the part is to serve the whole. Śrīla Prabhupāda uses the analogy of the body to explain that just as the limbs must feed the stomach to receive nourishment, the living entity must engage in the loving service of the Supreme Lord to achieve true satisfaction.
- Every living entity, being part of the Supreme Lord, is meant to serve the Lord, just as every part of the body is meant to serve the whole body.
- A part of the body cannot in itself be independently happy. It can only derive its happiness and pleasure out of serving the entire body. The Supreme Lord is the whole, and we are the parts, but we are all busily engaged in activities of self-interest.
The Position of the Demigods
Many people mistakenly elevate the demigods to the level of the Supreme Lord. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the demigods are simply different parts of the Lord's universal form, and worshiping the Supreme Lord automatically satisfies them.
- A devotee knows that various demigods are but different parts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that these parts need not be worshiped.
- As supplying food to the stomach enlivens the senses and limbs of the body, so simply worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead through devotional service automatically satisfies the demigods, who are parts of that Supreme Personality - SB 4.31.14.
Plenary Expansions Versus Separated Parts
It is crucial to distinguish between the Lord's separated parts (the living entities) and His direct expansions. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the Lord expands into plenary portions (like the puruṣa-avatāras), who remain fully potent as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, never to be equated with the minute living beings.
- Ete camsa-kalah pumsah (SB 1.3.28). All other names of God are either parts of God or portions of parts. The parts are called amsa, and the portions of parts are called kalah.
- All the incarnations of Godhead are plenary portions or parts of the plenary portions of the purusa-avataras, but the primeval Lord is Sri Krsna. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the fountainhead of all incarnations.
- If the living entity is eternally a fragmental part, how can he become one with the whole? The part is never equal to the whole. That is an axiomatic truth. So it is a wrong conception to try to become equal to God.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that the philosophy of the complete whole and its parts is the foundation for understanding our relationship with the Supreme Lord. By recognizing that we are minute, fragmental sparks of God, we can abandon the illusion of false independence and artificial equality. Instead, we can embrace our natural constitutional position as eternal servants. Just as the branches and leaves are nourished by watering the root of a tree, satisfying the Supreme Lord through unalloyed devotional service fulfills the desires of all His parts, including the demigods and all living entities.
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's Parts. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.