Spiritual Qualification for Recognizing God
The human form of life offers a unique facility—the intelligence to inquire into the Absolute Truth and recognize the Supreme Lord. While the living entity is always accompanied by the Lord as the Supersoul, the conditioning of material existence often covers this knowledge. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that true recognition of God is not based on whimsical sentiment but is established through authoritative evidence, the study of scripture, and the development of pure devotion.
Human Prerogative
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that consciousness in the animal kingdom is not developed enough to perceive the divine, yet human beings possess the necessary intelligence to understand the laws of nature and their source. Although the Lord is present as a friend within the heart of every living being, the forgetful soul in material existence often fails to acknowledge His presence.
- Animals do not have developed consciousness by which to recognize the Lord, but a human being is sufficiently intelligent to take lessons from the Vedic literature and thereby know how the laws of nature are working and derive profit out of such knowledge.
- Although the Lord follows him as a friend, the living entity, because of forgetful material existence, does not recognize Him.
- We can easily attain to the true, spiritual conception by recognizing the Superself (Paramatma) to be our friend and guide and by dovetailing our intelligence with the superior intelligence of Paramatma.
Three Features of Absolute Truth
According to Vedic knowledge, the Supreme Lord is not formless or void but is realized in three distinct aspects depending on the seeker's qualification. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that those who know the truth, the tattvavit, understand the Absolute as Brahman, Paramātmā, and Bhagavān.
- The tattvavit says that the Supreme Absolute Truth is recognized in three aspects: impersonal Brahman, and Paramatma, the localized Supersoul, and Bhagavan. Bhagavan means the Personality of Godhead. So they are three angles of vision.
- If the leaders do not recognize the existence of the all-powerful Visnu, who is simultaneously both the supreme transcendental personality and the impersonal spirit existing everywhere, then what will ordinary men understand about Him.
Blindness of Materialism
Despite vivid descriptions in the scriptures and the visible display of the Lord's uncommon energies, atheistic persons and demons are unable to perceive God. Śrīla Prabhupāda cites historical examples like Rāvaṇa and Hiraṇyakaśipu to illustrate how defiance of the Lord's supremacy leads to the loss of all power and opulence.
- Because he (Ravana) did not recognize the supremacy of Lord Ramacandra and defied Him by stealing His wife, Sita, Ravana was killed, and all his opulence and power were destroyed.
- Hiranyakasipu failed to recognize Lord Nrsimhadeva as Lord Visnu. He thought that Nrsimhadeva was some living entity who had acquired such opulence by various pious activities.
- Similarly, there are Sankhya philosophers, metaphysicians or materialistic scientists who study this cosmic manifestation by their invented scientific method and do not recognize the supreme authority of God as the creator of the cosmic manifestation.
- They could not recognize Him (Krsna) because they had no eyes to see (param bhavam ajanantah (BG 9.11)). How is it possible to recognize God? He can be recognized through supernatural power, by the evidence of authorities, and by scriptural evidence.
Authority and Unalloyed Devotee
God is not a subject for whimsical presentation; He is the original person, ādi, and is known through the evidence of authorities. Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that while pious men may approach God for benefits, only the unalloyed devotees, through the eyes of scripture and devotion, truly recognize Kṛṣṇa as He is.
- I am not presenting a God whimsically. I am presenting a God who is recognized. So why don't you accept? What is the difficulty?
- Only a section of human beings - the unalloyed devotees - can recognize Krsna on the authority of revealed scriptures, but others are bewildered by the influence of material energy.
- Either my father was lord or I have accumulated some wealth, the government has recognized me as lord . . . under certain condition, I have become lord. But He is adi. Adi means He is the origin. There is nothing beyond Him; therefore adi. Adi, anadi.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the recognition of God is not an intellectual feat but a spiritual awakening. While the foolish are pushed into degraded lives due to their refusal to acknowledge the Supreme Ruler, those who follow the path of devotion and accept scriptural authority can see the Lord everywhere. As Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches, utilizing our intelligence to recognize the Supersoul as our guide allows us to transcend the bewilderment of material energy and attain the true spiritual conception of life.
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 Recognizing God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.