Gods Transcendence Means That He Is Free From Taking Sides And Free For Taking Sides

Transcript

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Thank you. God’s transcendence means that he is free from taking sides and free for taking sides.
Some people ask, is God impartial? If so, then why does he take the side of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata war? Yes, God is impartial. He is transcendental to all worldly categories. Simultaneously, his transcendence means that he is transcendental, that even his impartiality is transcendental to our conceptions of impartiality.
This means that being transcendental and impartial, he is free from taking sides and free for taking sides. Let’s see how. First, God is free from taking sides.
The Bhagavad Gita states in 1861, इश्वर सर्भूतानम् रिद्देशे अर्जुनतिष्टति that he is present in the hearts of all living beings impartially. They may be godly or godless, still he is present as their indwelling guide. They are present less in the hearts of the godless.
And he provides the world as an arena for all people, godly, ungodly, for all living beings in fact, to try out their various ideas of what they think will make them happy. Secondly, God is free for taking sides. Although he lets us experiment, he wants us to be actually happy.
And he knows that we are souls and it is only through spiritual evolution that we can find lasting happiness. Therefore, he provides scripture as guidance for living to help us evolve. And he also creates and supports socio-political structures such as governments that are supportive of our spiritual growth.
And when ungodly people try to disrupt such socio-political structures, God doesn’t hesitate to get involved. He is more concerned about the elevation of our souls than about his own reputation of impartiality. So when the Kauravas tried to disrupt the spiritually conducive socio-political government at that time, Krishna got involved.
And it’s not exactly right to say that he takes side in worldly conflicts. Rather, those who take his side, he supports them. Like the Pandavas who were virtuous and who wanted to serve Krishna by establishing a spiritually conducive government.
So Krishna assisted and empowered them. In Bhagavad Gita 9.29, Krishna is equal to all. Simultaneously, he is devoted to those who are devoted to him.
He is equal to everyone. He does not favor anyone or does he disfavor or abhor anyone. If somebody worships him with devotion, the Gita says that he is present in them and they are present in him.
Is this partiality towards the devotees? No, because he keeps the doors of devotion open for everyone irrespective of their past or present. As he states in 9.32, whatever be their present situation or their past record. And thus Krishna is not exactly neutral.
He is reciprocal. That’s 4.11. Now when we understand Krishna’s transcendental impartiality, which manifests as his loving reciprocity, we feel inspired to reciprocate with him and thereby enter into his ecstatic world of immortal love.