Man Proposes, God Disposes

(written on January 24, 2020)

(References: BG 5.15)

Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport of BG 5.15, “The Lord is the constant companion of the living entity as Paramātmā, or the Supersoul, and therefore He can understand the desires of the individual soul, as one can smell the flavor of a flower by being near it. Desire is a subtle form of conditioning for the living entity. The Lord fulfills his desire as he deserves: Man proposes and God disposes. The individual is not, therefore, omnipotent in fulfilling his desires. The Lord, however, can fulfill all desires, and the Lord, being neutral to everyone, does not interfere with the desires of the minute independent living entities. However, when one desires Kṛṣṇa, the Lord takes special care and encourages one to desire in such a way that one can attain to Him and be eternally happy.” In simpler words, the living entity has the ability to have desires due to the limited freewill that they are given. However, it is not in the power of the living entity to be omnipotent (or all-powerful) when it comes to fulfilling their desires. The Lord, who is the one who can fulfill all desires, therefore, fulfills the desire as the living entity deserves. The keyword is ‘deserve’. Unless the living entity does not deserve it, the Lord will not fulfill the desires. Additionally, the Lord is not responsible for the actions and reactions of the situation which the living entity has desired. Those actions and reactions are due to the living entity’s karma and their misidentification with the temporary happiness and distress of the material world. But when one desires Lord Krishna, then the Lord makes sure that one desires in such a way that one can attain Him. According to Kausitaki Upanisad 3.8, “The Lord engages the living entity in pious activities so that he may be elevated. The Lord engages him in impious activities so that he may go to hell.” So, based on what one desires, God will dispose. If one desires for material things, then they will be stuck in this material world due to the reactions of their desires, however if one desires to attain God then Krishna will do everything to make sure you desire Him so that you may go back to Him. That is the meaning of the phrase: man proposes and God disposes.