Fallacy of Becoming Equal to God

The desire to be equal to God is the fundamental illusion of the conditioned soul. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that while the living entity shares the same spiritual quality as the Lord, the claim of being equal in all respects is a "rascaldom" that perpetuates material bondage. The Vedas define the Supreme Personality of Godhead as asamordhva, meaning that no one is equal to or greater than Him. Although modern philosophies may encourage the idea that "everyone is God," the Vedic conclusion is that the living entity is an eternal part and parcel, qualitatively one but quantitatively minute.

Qualitative Oneness, Quantitative Difference

Śrīla Prabhupāda uses the logic of the part and the whole to clarify the relationship between the soul and God. Just as a small particle of gold is gold, the living entity is spiritual and possesses godly qualities in minute degrees. However, the part can never equal the whole. He argues that if the living entities were truly equal to God in potency, they would never have fallen under the control of the material energy.

• As a part can never be equal with the whole, so a living entity, as a minute fragment of the spiritual whole, cannot be equal at any time to the Supreme Whole, the absolute Personality of Godhead.
• Qualitatively the living being and the Supreme Lord are equal, but quantitatively they are different, for the Lord is unlimitedly potent whereas the living entities, being infinitesimal by nature, have limited potency.
• 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.

Pāṣaṇḍī Mentality

A specific class of atheists, known as pāṣaṇḍīs, mistakenly equate the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa (or Kṛṣṇa) with the demigods. Śrīla Prabhupāda sternly warns against this offense. While demigods like Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva are powerful administrators of the universe, they are never equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To place them on the same level is a symptom of lost intelligence.

• A pasandi is one who considers the great demigods such as Lord Brahma and Lord Siva equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana - Hari-bhakti-vilasa 7.117.
• Even demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, who are the chief amongst all demigods, are never equal to or greater than Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
• To think that the demigods are independent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and equal to Him is called hrta-jnana, a loss of intelligence, kamais tais tair hrta jnanah - BG 7.20.

Last Snare of Māyā

The notion that one can become God through meditation or austerity is described by Śrīla Prabhupāda as the last snare of māyā. After being frustrated with material enjoyment, the conditioned soul often seeks to merge into the Supreme, thinking, "I am God." This monistic theory misguides people and prevents them from understanding their true position as eternal servants.

• It is said that the last snare of maya is to dictate to the living entity to try to become equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
• Don't foolishly... Don't become rascal, that you are one with God or equal to God, that you have become God. This is all rascaldom, simply rascaldom. You are eternal servant of Krsna.
• Nowhere in revealed scripture does Lord Siva claim to be equal to Lord Visnu. This is simply the creation of the so-called devotees of Lord Siva, who claim that Lord Siva and Lord Visnu are one.

Equality in Love

While ontologically no one is equal to God, in the spiritual world, the intensity of love allows for a different kind of equality. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that devotees in sakhya-rasa (friendship) interact with Kṛṣṇa as an equal, sometimes even climbing on His shoulders. Additionally, certain types of liberation, such as sārṣṭi (equal opulence) and sārūpya (equal bodily features), grant the devotee a status that resembles the Lord's. However, the devotee never forgets their position as a servant.

• Sakhya-rati is described in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (2.5.30). According to the opinion of advanced devotees and learned scholars, a devotee in sakhya-rati feels equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is a relationship in friendship.
• Devotees who qualify themselves for liberation by devotional service are offered four kinds of liberation: salokya (status equal to that of the Lord), samipya (constant association with the Lord), sarsti (opulence equal to that of the Lord) and sarupya (features like Lord).

Conclusion

The philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is based on the realistic understanding that God is great and the living entity is small. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that true peace and freedom are found not in trying to usurp God's position, but in voluntarily accepting the natural, constitutional position of His eternal servant.

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 Equal to God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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