Within Six Months You Will Become God - A Cheating Process
In the spiritual marketplace of the modern world, consumers are often attracted to the best bargain: maximum result for minimum effort. During the rise of the counterculture movement, many so-called gurus arrived in the West capitalizing on this sentiment. They offered a "magical formula"—often a secret mantra given in exchange for money—with the audacious promise that the practitioner would become God within a short period, typically six months. Śrīla Prabhupāda condemned this as a massive fraud. In these quotes, he exposes the absurdity of these claims, the commercial motivation behind them, and the unfortunate gullibility of the public who fell for these "bluffs."
The "Magical Formula" Business
Śrīla Prabhupāda saw through the mystical veneer of these teachers to the commercial reality beneath. He noted that the exchange was purely material: dollars for a mantra. He specifically criticized figures who charged fees (mentioning "thirty-five dollars") to dispense these "secret" sounds. He lamented that sincere seekers in the West were being "looted" by these opportunists who promised that a human being could transform into the Supreme Lord in half a year.
- Maharishi came here, and he supported that "Whatever nonsense you like, you do. You simply pay me thirty-five dollars and I give you one mantra, and within six months you become God." Oh, he looted your country.
- We're very shocked and astonished that so many people are coming to the West, to the United States, and posing as holy men and simply making business, charging money, and giving somebody some magical formula whereby they can become God in half of a year.
- They have got money, they want to pay somebody some fees, and if he says that, "I'll give you some mantra and you will, fifteen minutes' meditation, within six months you'll become God," these things they want.
License for Sense Gratification
The primary appeal of these cheating processes was that they required no austerity. Unlike the bona fide Vedic path, which demands the control of the senses and the abandonment of sinful activities, these "yogis" told their followers to go ahead with their sense gratification. Śrīla Prabhupāda pointed out the deception of encouraging people to enjoy sex life while simultaneously promising them the highest spiritual perfection.
- If somebody comes, "All right, you go on with your sense gratification. You simply meditate for fifteen minutes, and within six months you become God," these things are . . . these bluffs like this will be accepted very easily.
- So-called yogis encourage the public to enjoy sex life in different varieties and at the same time advertise that if one meditates on a certain manufactured mantra one can become God within six months.
Absurdity of "Becoming" God
Theologically, the claim is nonsensical. God is eternal and unborn. He does not "become" God through practice. Śrīla Prabhupāda ridiculed the idea that the Supreme Lord could be manufactured by "sitting postures" or "gymnastics." He often joked that if one could become God so cheaply, then "Gods are loitering in the street."
- Foolish persons are misled into believing that simply by some caricature of meditation and sitting postures one can become God within six months.
- Gods are loitering in the street," and "Make this gymnastic and you will become God in six months." These things are going on.
- Within six months you'll become God - very foolish conclusion.
Blind Leading the Blind
Why does this cheating flourish? Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that it is a supply-and-demand issue. Because people want to be cheated—they want the result without the work, and they want to be told they are God without giving up their dog-like habits—cheaters appear to fulfill that desire. It is a case of the blind leading the blind into a ditch of ignorance.
- Suppose we advertise some falsehood - "If you follow this path, within six months you will become God, and you will be all-powerful." Many people would come. This is actually one blind man leading other blind men.
- If we give some false hope that, "If you follow this path, then within six months you will become God, and you will be all-powerful, and then . . ." oh, so many people will come.
Conclusion
True spiritual life is not a commercial transaction, nor is it a cheap process of instant self-aggrandizement. Śrīla Prabhupāda stood firm against these popular but misleading trends, declaring that "God is not so cheap." The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement offers something different: the truth. The truth is that we are eternal servants of God, and purification takes sincerity, time, and the grace of a bona fide spiritual master. While the promise of "becoming God in six months" flatters the ego, it ultimately leaves the soul empty and exploited. As Śrīla Prabhupāda reminds us, we must be intelligent enough to reject these "bluffs" and accept the real path of surrender.
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 Within Six Months. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.
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