Only the God Can Manufacture a System of Religion
Śrīla Prabhupāda defines religion not as a blind faith or a set of rubber-stamped rituals, but as the direct laws and orders given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because God is the supreme authority, only He can manufacture a genuine religious system. Any process that fails to awaken one's eternal relationship with the Lord is a cheating religion. Ultimately, real religion is measured by only one standard: how well it develops the practitioner's pure, unalloyed love for the Supreme Lord.
The Law of the Supreme Lord
Religion is simply the code of laws directly enacted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Śrīla Prabhupāda gives a simple, practical definition: actual religion is that God is one and religion means the orders, the law given by God. That's all. Simple definition. Just like state is one, government is one, and to become good citizen means to abide by the laws of the government. That's all. Therefore, essentially religion is the prescribed codes enunciated by the Personality of Godhead Himself. Because it is a divine law, no human being can create it; only the Lord can manufacture a system of religion. When human beings try to formulate their own systems, they fail, because religion means enacted by God. God is one. So not that God makes one kind of religion for one kind of person and another kind of religion for another person.
- Actual religion is that God is one and religion means the orders, the law given by God. That's all. Simple definition. Just like state is one, government is one, and to become good citizen means to abide by the laws of the government. That's all.
- Essentially religion is the prescribed codes enunciated by the Personality of Godhead Himself.
- Only the Lord can manufacture a system of religion.
- Religion means enacted by God. God is one. So not that God makes one kind of religion for one kind of person and another kind of religion for another person.
No Manufactured Religions
Genuine religious principles cannot be concocted by mental speculation; they must be received from authorized representatives of the Lord. We cannot invent our own way to approach the Absolute Truth. Śrīla Prabhupāda uses a practical example: if one wants to become a lawyer, he must learn laws which is given by the government. He cannot become a lawyer at home. Similarly, if you want to become religious, you must learn what is religion from God. You don't manufacture your own religion. This absolute knowledge descends through authorized persons. A mahājana means those who are authorized person by God, one who knows what is the law of God, he's mahājana. He mahājana. So a guru is mahājana because he knows what is religion and what is the law given by God. Therefore, our Vedic mantra says that religion and God cannot be manufactured by speculation.
- If one wants to become a lawyer, he must learn laws which is given by the government. He cannot become a lawyer at home. Similarly, if you want to become religious, you must learn what is religion from God. You don't manufacture your own religion.
- Mahajana means those who are authorized person by God, one who knows what is the law of God, he's mahajana. He mahajana. So a guru is mahajana because he knows what is religion and what is the law given by God.
- You can understand your real father only by the certificate of your mother. That's all. Therefore our Vedic mantra says that religion and God cannot be manufactured by speculation.
- That supreme authority is God, and whatever He gives, the rules and regulation, that is called religion. You cannot change it.
Cheating Religions and Impersonalism
Any system claiming to be a religion that lacks a clear conception of God is a farce and a cheating process. A religion without the Supreme Lord is entirely meaningless. Śrīla Prabhupāda states clearly that any kind of religion which is going on under the name of religion, but the system has no information of God, that is cheating religion. Religion is not a kind of blind faith. Religion is factual. Therefore, religion can be performed by a person who has full conception of God. Without God, religion is a farce. That is not religion. Even if a system has some moral codes, if you do not know God then what is the meaning of your religion? And if you do not surrender to God, if you surrender to your senses only, then what is religion? Consequently, any religion where God is the target, that is applied in bhakti. But when there is no God or impersonalism, there is no question of bhakti-yoga.
- Any kind of religion which is going on under the name of religion, but the system has no information of God, that is cheating religion.
- If there is no conception of God, there is no direction of God, that is not religion. Religion is not a kind of blind faith. Religion is factual.
- Religion can be performed by a person who has full conception of God. Without God, religion is a farce. That is not religion. Religion means you must have obligation to God, you must have clear conception of God.
- If you do not know God then what is the meaning of your religion? And if you do not surrender to God, if you surrender to your senses only, then what is religion?
- Any religion where God is the target, that is applied in bhakti. But when there is no God or impersonalism, there is no question of bhakti-yoga.
The Ultimate Test of Religion
The perfection of any religious system is tested by how well it develops the follower's unalloyed love for the Supreme Lord. How do we judge the validity of various faiths in the world? Śrīla Prabhupāda provides the ultimate formula from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: that religion is best which helps someone, the religionist, to develop love of God, Godhead. If you put to test all kinds of religion in this formula of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, you'll understand which religion is best. You haven't got to ask anybody. The goal is universal, regardless of the specific tradition. The searching process may be different according to the country, climate, but if the ultimate goal is God, then that is accepted as religion. Just like Christian religion. Christian religion, they are also searching after God. Ultimately, there are different religious systems, different parts of the world, of the universe. But the real purpose of religion is yato bhaktir adhokṣaje, how to become engaged in the service of the Lord. That is religion.
- That religion is best which helps someone, the religionist, to develop love of God, Godhead. If you put to test all kinds of religion in this formula of Srimad-Bhagavatam, you'll understand which religion is best. You haven't got to ask anybody.
- The searching process may be different according to the country, climate, but if the ultimate goal is God, then that is accepted as religion. Just like Christian religion. Christian religion, they are also searching after God.
- There are different religious systems, different parts of the world, of the universe. But the real purpose of religion is yato bhaktir adhoksaje, how to become engaged in the service of the Lord. That is religion.
- Anything which does not lead to the devotional service of the Lord is irreligion, and anything which leads to the devotional service of the Lord is called religion.
Surrender and Devotional Service
True religion culminates in completely surrendering to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and rendering Him loving service. The final conclusion of all spiritual practice is complete surrender. Śrīla Prabhupāda summarizes: I have already explained what is meaning of religion. Religion means to render service to God. If you do not render service to God, that is not religion; that is cheating. The basic principle of religion is truthfulness, and the ultimate goal of all religions is to satisfy the Lord. To achieve this, the factual way of religion is to accept the Lord as the supreme authority and thus render service unto Him in spontaneous love. Recognizing this absolute necessity, Lord Kṛṣṇa asked everyone to give up all kinds of religious rites and simply surrender unto Him. Ultimately, when we accept the leadership of God and His direction, that is religion.
- I have already explained what is meaning of religion. Religion means to render service to God. If you do not render service to God, that is not religion; that is cheating.
- The basic principle of religion is truthfulness, and the ultimate goal of all religions is to satisfy the Lord.
- The factual way of religion is to accept the Lord as the supreme authority and thus render service unto Him in spontaneous love.
- Krsna asked everyone to give up all kinds of religious rites & simply surrender unto Him. It is said that this Age of Kali is three-fourths devoid of religious principles. Hardly one fourth of the principles of religion are still observed in this age.
- When we accept the leadership of God and His direction, that is religion; I don't think on principle the Communist can change this idea.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings strip away the complexities and superficialities often associated with faith, revealing that religion is simply the law of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just as mundane citizens must follow state laws, spiritual entities must abide by the divine codes enacted by the supreme controller. Therefore, no human being, regardless of their speculative prowess, can manufacture a religious system. Any path that lacks a clear conception of a personal God or fails to teach loving devotional service is fundamentally flawed and must be rejected as a cheating religion. The ultimate test of any spiritual path is whether it awakens pure, unmotivated love for the Lord—yato bhaktir adhokṣaje. When we abandon our concocted rituals, surrender to the Supreme Lord, and lovingly carry out His orders, we are perfectly executing the true purpose of religion.
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 and Religion. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.