Qualitative Oneness - We Can Become Godly, but Never God
A common spiritual confusion arises when one learns that the soul is divine. If we are spirit, and God is spirit, are we not identical? Śrīla Prabhupāda resolves this confusion with the perfect logic of "qualitative oneness and quantitative difference." He teaches that while we can never become the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we can—and should—become godly. To be godly means to revive our original spiritual qualities, which are currently covered by material contamination. This article explores the bona fide goal of spiritual life: not to usurp God's position, but to attain the divine nature of His eternal servants.
Principle of Qualitative Oneness
Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently uses the analogy of the ocean and the drop to explain our relationship with the Absolute. A drop of ocean water is salty, just like the ocean. Qualitatively, they are one. However, the drop can never float a massive boat or contain millions of aquatic species. Quantitatively, they are vasty different. Similarly, the living entity is part and parcel of God, sharing His nature, but never His infinite capacity.
- It is called ahangrahopasana, ekatvena, to become one. One in quality, not in quantity. We cannot become God. That is not possible. But we can attain God's quality.
- 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.
- He is never Narayana, just as a molecular portion of sunshine is never the sun itself. The living entity is nothing but a fragmental part of the Absolute Truth; therefore at no stage of perfection can a living entity become the Supreme Personality of God.
Developing Godly Qualities
While we cannot become the infinite God, we can develop divine attributes to a very high degree. The scriptures analyze the specific qualities of the Lord and the living entities. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a perfected living being can manifest up to 78% of the Lord's attributes in fullness. This is the definition of becoming godly—restoring our original, pure consciousness.
- 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.
- The Mayavadis are trying to become God, but that is impossible. Let them try to become godly. Godly means "servant of God." That will make them perfect.
- Krsna's body and my body is the same. If He has become God, so why shall not I become God? But that is not possible. His body is transcendental; your body is not transcendental.
Dog or Godly: The Choice is Ours
The human form of life is a junction. From here, we can elevate ourselves to the spiritual platform, or we can degrade ourselves to the animal platform. Śrīla Prabhupāda often framed this choice as "becoming dog or becoming godly." If we misuse our advanced intelligence for mere eating, sleeping, mating, and defending, we are developing a "dog mentality" and will take birth accordingly. But if we use this life for self-realization, we become godly.
- Krsna consciousness movement is to rescue these rascals from ignorance and give Krsna consciousness. Most philanthropic work. They will become dog next life. We are trying to save them, "Don't become dog. Just become god, or godly." This is our movement.
- We are trying to save them, "Don't become dog. Just become god or godly." This is our movement. But they are persistent to become dog. Even they are coming here, again falling. Persistent to become dog. So that is nature's law, what can be done?
- If one has maintained a dog mentality, then he'll get a dog's body. All this property he made in this life goes to hell. He becomes a dog if he has maintained a dog mentality. And if he has maintained a god's mentality, then he becomes a god also.
Standing in the Light
Ultimately, becoming godly means coming out of the darkness of ignorance and standing in the light of Kṛṣṇa. Just as a person standing in the sunshine becomes illuminated without becoming the sun, a devotee fully engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness becomes illumined by God's energy. We do not need to artificially claim supremacy; we simply need to admit our subordinate position. In that admission, there is freedom and joy.
- You needn't become God. You, simply if you become in the light of God, you become joyful. Just like from the darkness of night, if you simply come to the sunshine, immediately your position is changed. It does not require that you have to become the sun.
- You cannot become even equal to God. You are always under. You admit it, then we have no quarrel with you. You admit that, "Yes, we are under God," then we are friends.
- You desire; at the same time, you deserve. First deserve, then desire. Just like these rascals, "I desire to become God." That kind of desire will never be fulfilled.
Conclusion
The path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the path of reality. The illusion that "I am God" is a hallucination that leads only to frustration and repeated birth. However, the realization that "I am godly, a servant of God" is the key to eternal life. Śrīla Prabhupāda invites us to give up the false ambition of being the master and instead embrace the glorious position of being the servant. By doing so, we do not lose our identity; rather, we find our true, eternal self, shining with the same spiritual quality as the Lord, yet eternally sheltered by His grace.
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.