When I Become An Order Supplier To Him

“O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.27)

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यत् करोषि यद् अश्नासि
यज् जुहोषि ददासि यत्
यत् तपस्यसि कौन्तेय
तत् कुरुष्व मद्-अर्पणम्

yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi
yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada makes repeated reference to the concept of an order supplier. The context is to avoid entering that sort of mood with respect to worship of the Almighty. The warning is only necessary because of the common tendency to flow in that direction. A simple reversal of roles, however, can help in meeting the ultimate objective of the human birth.

This world is a dangerous place. There is practically nothing you can count on. We have assurances in death and taxes, but these are nothing to take comfort from. Both are forces which take away. Death breaks any attachments which might linger. There is no leniency based on emotion. There is no grace period extended due to perfect attendance.

We might love our job so much. We are dutiful to the place of employment. We will do whatever they instruct, no matter how ridiculous the ask. If they want us to return to the office, to a place where we know not a single person, if only to swipe our badge to be recorded in the timekeeping system, we will follow along.

We might be so diligent in saving our money. We are responsible. We do not gamble everything away on a weekend trip to Las Vegas. We are careful with our expenditures. We review the monthly budget after taking a fine-toothed comb to our daily habits. We eliminate what we do not need. We make sure there is no chance for waste, fraud, or abuse.

Still, death will arrive. We will have to pay taxes. Even if the tax revenue gets shifted overseas, to pay for a foreign war to help protect the corrupt interests of the politicians, we will have to hand over what we worked so hard to earn. A wise person concludes that this world appears to only take from us.

It is no wonder, then, that when we turn to worship, we look for help. It is like we are subtly acknowledging the truth from the science of self-realization relating to the doer. We can make choices in action, but the results do not always comply with our desires. We require cooperation from higher forces.

प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि
गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः
अहङ्कार-विमूढात्मा
कर्ताहम् इति मन्यते

prakṛteḥ kriyamāṇāni
guṇaiḥ karmāṇi sarvaśaḥ
ahaṅkāra-vimūḍhātmā
kartāham iti manyate

“The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself to be the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 3.27)

Therefore, the typical interaction with God, in the way we view Him, in our preferred place of worship, is to ask for things. The plea for help might resemble the following:

“I do not ask for much. I just want this one thing. I am really struggling. I think I am a good person. I have not intentionally harmed anyone. Sure, I curse every now and then. I use foul language. I might succumb to temptation when scrolling through images and videos on the smartphone. I am envious from time to time, but I always believe in you. I try to be good to the religion I follow. Can you help me?”

Though we are looking to the heavens for help, if we are honest the interaction is not much different than browsing the website of the online retail outlet. We have a higher status based on our paid membership. The items can arrive at our doorstep as soon as tonight. We can look for deals that are not available to others. We click the selections we want, enter our payment information, and the outlet supplies. The act of supplying complies with our act of ordering.

Should we view God in a similar manner? Is that a valuable use of our time? Should His position not be higher? Why would He be obligated to do as we ask? What is in it for Him? Does this kind of relationship hold true anywhere else? Do we continue to give and give to others while they only exploit from us?

Prabhupada advises that the proper way is to become the order supplier for God. Allow Him to exploit us, if necessary. He is not envious. He is not looking for anything. He effortlessly creates the entire universe. Everything eventually withdraws back into Him. If we supply His order, how exactly are we losing?

समो ऽहं सर्व-भूतेषु
न मे द्वेष्यो ऽस्ति न प्रियः
ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या
मयि ते तेषु चाप्य् अहम्

samo ‘haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu
na me dveṣyo ‘sti na priyaḥ
ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā
mayi te teṣu cāpy aham

“I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.29)

The visual manifestation of this principle in action is the narrative attached to the Bhagavad-gita conversation. Arjuna seeks guidance. He asks for help. He wants some clarity in how to proceed. Shri Krishna is there to give advice, but ultimately there is action. Arjuna moves forward in the manner of supplying an order for Krishna. He is acting as but an instrument of the Divine will.

तस्मात् त्वम् उत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व
जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम्
मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वम् एव
निमित्त-मात्रं भव सव्य-साचिन्

tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva
jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham
mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva
nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savya-sācin

“Therefore get up and prepare to fight. After conquering your enemies you will enjoy a flourishing kingdom. They are already put to death by My arrangement, and you, O Savyasachin, can be but an instrument in the fight.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 11.33)

Arjuna does not lose in this proposition. Whether the outcome to the work is up or down, high or low, victory or defeat, Arjuna is attached to the Supreme Lord. Someone like Lakshmana, the younger brother of Shri Rama, vows to continue to supply orders for as long as Rama will ask. This is the mood of pure devotion. This is the only mood which completely aligns with our dharma, with our essential way of living.

परवानस्मि काकुत्स्थ त्वयि वर्षशतं स्थिते
स्वयं तु रुचिरे देशे क्रियतामिति मां वद

paravānasmi kākutstha tvayi varṣaśataṃ sthite
svayaṃ tu rucire deśe kriyatāmiti māṃ vada

“O Rama, for as long as You shall stand before me, even if it be for one hundred years, I will always remain Your servant. Therefore You should be the one to choose a beautiful and appropriate place for the cottage. After You have selected a spot, please then command me to start building.” (Lakshmana speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 15.7)

In Closing:

Ultimately to fight,
Choosing right.

That instead orders to fulfill,
Service spirit instilled.

That even if repeatedly to ask,
Ready and willing in task.

Arjuna showing the way,
Dharma on full display.