"Spiritual Suicide" - The Consequences of the "I Am God" Mentality
In the pursuit of spiritual perfection, there is a trap so subtle and dangerous that Śrīla Prabhupāda warned it could lead to "spiritual suicide." This is the "I am God" mentality. While often presented in modern spiritual circles as a high realization, Śrīla Prabhupāda diagnosed it as the "last snare of māyā"—the final desperate attempt of the ego to maintain supremacy. Instead of liberating the soul, this misconception binds it tighter, preventing the very act of surrender that leads to true freedom. This article examines the psychology behind this false claim and its devastating consequences for the soul's progression.
Psychology of Frustration
Why would a tiny living entity, battered by the miseries of life, claim to be the Almighty? Śrīla Prabhupāda explains this as a psychological reaction to material failure. Everyone in the material world struggles to be a master—a big politician, a wealthy financier, or a powerful controller. When they inevitably fail in this struggle for existence, the frustrated ego seeks a new outlet. It thinks, "If I cannot be a master here, I must be the Supreme Master." Thus, the claim "I am God" is not born of realization, but of frustration.
- Everyone is trying to become a big doctor or a big financier - everyone. This is the struggle for existence here. Everyone. At last, when failed in everything, then he thinks of him - I am God.
- Everyone is servant. He's simply falsely thinking that he's God, he's master. You have got very nice example in the life of Mr. Nixon. He was thinking that he's everything: "I am the President." But now what is his position, you can understand.
A Diagnosis of Insanity
Śrīla Prabhupāda did not treat the "I am God" philosophy with diplomatic reverence; he treated it as a medical condition. He used terms like "lunacy," "insanity," and "disease." A person who is kicked by the laws of nature at every step—forced to eat, sleep, and die—yet claims to be the Supreme Controller, is factually insane. This "doggish mentality" blocks the intelligence from seeing reality.
- If we falsely claim that, "I am God. I am that supreme consciousness," it is our lunacy. We should not indulge in that way, and anyone teaching in that way, that is a cheating.
- A demoniac preacher tells his followers: "Why are you seeking God elsewhere? You are all yourselves God! Whatever you like, you can do. Don't believe in God. Throw away God. God is dead." These are the demoniac's preachings.
Trap of Spiritual Suicide
The ultimate danger of this mentality is that it makes spiritual progress impossible. The path to God is through surrender (śaraṇāgati) and service. However, if one thinks they are God, who is there to surrender to? By denying the existence of a superior authority, the soul commits "spiritual suicide," cutting off its own lifeline to mercy. This position is described as the "last snare of māyā"—it looks like liberation, but it is actually the deepest bondage.
- Krsna is personally advising us to take up the opportunities offered by the Krsna consciousness movement. We should take them and not run the risk of committing spiritual suicide.
- As soon as we make mistake that "I am the Lord, I am the Supreme," then this illusory energy entraps us. This is also illusion. This is the last snare of illusory energy, that "I am God."
Returning to Sanity
The cure for this disease is simple but requires humility. One must admit the obvious: "I am not the great God; I am a small god." By accepting our qualitative oneness with God but acknowledging our quantitative smallness, we return to sanity. As Śrīla Prabhupāda notes, the realization "I was thinking I was God, but now I understand I am God's eternal servant" brings immediate relief and joy (prasannātmā).
- We can say: "God. I am God," but if you have got sense, you will say that, "I am not the great God, but I am small God." That is sense.
- The joy which follows realization arises from understanding - I was illusioned by false notions for so long. What a fool I was! I was thinking that I was God, but now I can understand that I am God's eternal servant.
Conclusion
The claim "I am God" is not an expansion of consciousness, but a delusion of the ego. It is a reaction to material helplessness that leads to spiritual ruin. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement aims to cure this insanity by educating the soul about its true, constitutional position: eternally existing, eternally knowledgeable, and eternally blissful—but eternally a servant of the Supreme.
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 "I Am God". We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.