Last Snare of Māyā - Thinking "I Have Become God"
The conditioned soul wanders through the material universe, driven by the desire to enjoy. First, one tries to become a master of the material world—a king, a billionaire, or a powerful leader. When these attempts inevitably fail to bring satisfaction, or when one realizes the temporary nature of material power, the ego constructs a final, desperate defense: the idea of becoming God. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes this mentality as the "last snare of māyā." It is the ultimate illusion because it disguises the same desire for supremacy in the garb of spiritual realization. In this article, we explore Śrīla Prabhupāda’s uncompromising refutation of this "cheating religion" and his clear distinction between becoming God and becoming godly.
Logical Impossibility
Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently challenged the "I am God" philosophy with simple, common-sense logic. God, by definition, is the Supreme Controller (Parameśvara). If a living entity is currently suffering, confused, or forced to undergo birth and death, how can they be God? If God has fallen under the clutches of māyā (illusion), then māyā would be superior to God—an absurd conclusion.
- Does Bhagavan comes under maya? No. Krsna says, mama maya. Maya is the maidservant of Krsna, and we are servant of maya. So how we can become Bhagavan? This is common sense.
- Mayavada philosophy, that "At the present moment, I am under the control of maya, but as soon as I become free from the control of maya, then I become the Supreme," therefore they cannot answer - If you are Supreme, why you are under the clutches of maya.
- Why you have become under the control of maya? Then maya is greater than God. Then how you can become God? Maya is greater than God. - So they cannot answer this. Because their theory is foolish, they cannot answer all these things.
God is Not Manufactured
Another misconception is that one can "become" God through meditation, yoga, or silence. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that God is eternally God. He does not need to perform austerities to attain His position. When Kṛṣṇa appeared as a baby, He killed the Pūtanā witch and lifted Govardhana Hill; He did not have to wait to grow up or meditate to exhibit His divinity. A God who is "manufactured" by mystic practice is not the real God.
- God is always God. The Mayavadi philosopher says that, "I am God, but I am, by maya, I am thinking I am not God. So by meditation I shall become God." But that means he is under the punishment of maya.
- Krsna is God from the childhood. When He was three months old He demonstrated His godly powers. He immediately killed Sakatasura. He immediately killed Putana. So He did not become God by meditation, manufactured in some mystic factory.
- As if God is so cheap thing that anyone can become God. So God has given us the chance, "All right. You try to become God." He's trying to become God, and more and more... This is asuric. Just like Hiranyakasipu.
Godly, Not God
Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that while we cannot become God, we can become godly. As parts and parcels of the Supreme, we share His qualities in minute degree, just as a drop of ocean water shares the chemical composition of the vast ocean. However, the drop can never become the ocean. The desire to attain divine qualities (purity, knowledge, eternity) is legitimate, but the desire to usurp the position of the Supreme is the root cause of our bondage.
- You do not become God, but you are already in godly quality, qualities, to some extent, not fully. So when you are free from these material clutches, you attain your original quality, spiritual quality.
- The living being can never possess attributes like Siva, Visnu or Lord Krsna. A living being can become godly by developing the seventy-eight-percent transcendental attributes in fullness, but he can never become a God like Siva, Visnu or Krsna.
- We are also lords, but not Supreme Lord. You cannot become the Supreme Lord. You are lord to a jurisdiction. You may be lord in your business, controlling so many clerks, officers, workers.
The Last Snare
Why is this idea so dangerous? Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that as long as one thinks "I am God," they cannot surrender. And without surrender, there is no liberation. Thus, this philosophical misconception is the "last snare" that keeps the soul locked in the material world, falsely thinking they are liberated when they are actually in the grip of the deepest ignorance.
- Vimukta-maninah, falsely thinking that, "I have now become liberated." Avisuddha-buddhayah. But the intelligence is not very clear. This is last snare of maya. When one thinks that, "I am God. I have become God," that is the last snare of maya.
- Those who give up the protection of the Lord and become so-called lords themselves, out of spiritual ignorance, come back again to this material world, even after prolonged tapasya of the severest type. That is the verdict of all Vedic literature.
- 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.
Conclusion
The modern world is full of "cheap gods" and spiritualists who promise that anyone can become God through a simple mantra or meditation technique. Śrīla Prabhupāda stood as a solitary, powerful voice against this deception. He compassionately exposed this "last snare" not to discourage us, but to save us from a spiritual suicide. He taught that our true glory is not in trying to be an imitation master, but in realizing our eternal, blissful nature as the servant of the Supreme. As Śrīla Prabhupāda often said, "God is God, and dog is dog." A dog cannot become God. But by surrendering to Kṛṣṇa, even the lowest of men can become a pure devotee, which is a position even greater than God, for Kṛṣṇa Himself becomes purchased by the love of His 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 Becoming God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.