The Beginning Cause of Bondage – Envious of God
The material world is essentially a prison house for the envious. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the root cause of our separation from the spiritual world is envy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This envy drives the living entity to reject God's authority and attempt to become the lord of nature. Whether manifested as atheism, impersonalism, or open hostility, this "disease" of envy binds the soul to the cycle of birth and death. This article examines the origins of this envy, its various manifestations, and the severe consequences awaiting those who refuse to cure themselves of this madness.
The Root of Material Existence
The condition of the living entity in the material world is not accidental; it is a result of a specific choice. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that "desire to be the Lord" and "envy of the Lord" are the twin causes of material bondage. In this world, everyone is competing to be greater than the other, and ultimately, to be greater than God. This envious nature leads to the struggle for existence and the desire to lord it over material nature.
- The living entity's conditional life of material existence is due to his desire to lord it over material nature and due to his envy of the Supreme Lord.
- These two items, desire to be the Lord and envy of the Lord, are the beginning cause of material bondage.
- In the material world if someone is greater than us, we are envious. We are not only envious of one another, but of God.
Manifestations: Impersonalists and Demons
Envy of God appears in different shades. The subtle form is found in the impersonalists, who deny the personal form of the Lord because they cannot accept a master. Śrīla Prabhupāda states that they "fall down" from the spiritual platform because of this envy. A more gross form is found in the demoniac and atheistic philosophies, such as Communism, which actively deny God's existence to justify sense gratification. Historical demons like Śiśupāla demonstrated an intense, personal envy, yet paradoxically attained liberation by constantly thinking of the Lord in enmity.
- Actually the sum and substance is those who are impersonalist, they are envious. Impersonalists are on the spiritual platform, but because they are envious of the Person, they fall down to the material world.
- Enviousness means because they have no knowledge they say, "No. The Supreme Absolute Truth cannot be person." That is enviousness.
- This is the philosophy of the Communists. "Why should you go to the church? Why should you go to the temple? Forget all these things. Work hard, earn money and enjoy life." But that is demonic. Because there is envy against God.
- Sisupala, however, was neither a jnani nor a bhakta, yet simply by envy of the Lord he attained an exalted position by merging into the Lord's body. Certainly this was astonishing.
The Consequences: Cast Down
The Supreme Lord is generally neutral, but He responds strongly to envy. Those who are envious and mischievous are "perpetually cast" into hellish existence and demoniac species. This is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā. Because such persons want to forget God, He puts them in a condition where they can never understand Him. This cycle of birth in lower species is the natural result of challenging the Supreme Authority.
- In the Bhagavad-gita we understand from the 16th Chapter that when a living entity becomes envious of Krishna, he is put into the darkest region of material existence.
- Because of their envy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, nondevotees are born in demoniac families life after life. They are great offenders, and because of their offenses the Supreme Lord keeps them always bewildered.
- Those who are envious of My form, who are cruel and mischievous and the lowest among men, are perpetually cast by Me into hellish existence in various demoniac species of life.
The Cure: Becoming Non-Envious
The only way to escape this cycle is to give up envy. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that real peace and unity can only be established when we are no longer envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Bhagavad-gītā itself is forbidden to those who are envious, as they cannot understand its mystery. However, for the non-envious devotee, Kṛṣṇa gives special attention and guidance, leading them back to their original position of eternal service.
- When we are no longer envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there will be real peace, unity and fraternity in human society.
- In the Bhagavad-gita the Lord says - My dear Arjuna, I am equal to everyone. No one is the object of My envy, and no one is My special friend, but I give special attention to one who engages in Krsna consciousness.
- This confidential knowledge may never be explained to those who are not austere, or devoted, or engaged in devotional service, nor to one who is envious of Me.
Conclusion
Envy of God is the wall that separates the conditioned soul from liberation. Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teachings reveal that this envy is not just an emotion but an existential stance of defiance against the Reality. Whether it manifests as the dry speculation of the impersonalist or the violent aggression of the demon, the result is the same: a fall into the darkest regions of ignorance. To reclaim our heritage as eternal servants, we must abandon this suicidal envy and gratefully accept the supremacy of Kṛṣṇa, finding therein our true happiness and the only solution to the problems of the world.
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 Envious of God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.