Unlike parents, whose guidance can be flawed, God encompasses all wisdom, power and impartiality

The following verse will shed light on this, which is, “You alone are my mother; You alone are my father; You alone are my relative and You alone are my friend; You alone are my knowledge and You alone are my wealth; O Lord of all Lords, You alone are my everything.” In verse #7.19 of the Bhagavad-Geeta, Lord Krishna states, “After efforts of many births, a yogi in the end becomes wise, and he takes My shelter. A great soul, who considers Lord Vasudeva thus as everything is very rare.” The answer, therefore, is: that God is very much more than a mother or father can ever be.These entities, i.e., a mother or a father have severe limitations. Their knowledge is very limited. They don’t know the Big Picture.

Far from it, they may guide their children wrongly. On the other hand, God is omniscient. He knows past, present and future also. Lord Krishna informs us what He can do. “By being specially kind, I, situated within, destroy the darkness, born of ignorance, by the shining lamp of knowledge.” (10.11) Then, a parent has limited resources that he or she can give to his or her children, whereas God has all the opulence in full. Sanjaya of the Mahabharata fame informs, “Where there is yogeshwara Shri Krishna, and where there is a soul linked to Him, there will be opulences (‘soubhagya’), victory (success), wealth, and morality.” (18.78)A parent can help only in a limited way. Suppose his or her child is unwell. What can he or she do besides arranging medical facilities and taking care of the best way possible?

A good parent prays additionally for the rapid cure of the child. Because

 Only God has the power to help us get out of the trouble we get into quickly (18.53); only God has the power to forgive. Parents can be whimsical in their decision-making. They can be partial in dealing with their children; it is natural, but God is always impartial. Lord Krishna states, “I am similarly inclined towards all beings, no one is hateful for Me, and no one is dear; that is God has no preconceived and prejudiced notion towards anyone.” (9.29) Many parents are poor role models. They lie but expect their children to be truthful.

What has God instructed us to do? “Whatever a superior person does, other people follow that only. Whatever standard he establishes a common man tries to emulated that.” (3.21) What does God do? He always goes by dharma. God is so strict about dharma that He incarnates to reestablish it if it becomes weak. (4.7) Additionally, God is always engaged in doing duties, Lord Krishna says, “I am always carefully engaged in action, because men follow My lead in all respects.” (3.34)For parents, only their children are their own, but for God, all souls are His parts. (15.7) He has to consider all of them in all His actions. God is very compassionate towards all of them. Lord Krishna confirms, “I am a well-wisher of all living entities.”

Our children are forever competing against children of other parents, but for God, all children are His parts and must be dealt with fairly. That is the reason our selfish prayers are not answered. Many parents do not consult their children about their future and try to impose their desires on them. God has forbidden this, when He stated, “Svadharma (duty) of all souls are according to what their natures are.” “The four divisions of the human society, based on qualities and activities, have been created by Me.” (4.21)

One can excel in whatever suits one’s nature because it comes naturally. What is the message? God is a parent alright but not in a conventional way. He only takes charge of those souls, who take His shelterParents should also try to be self-supporting to the end by taking active shelter from God; He will take care. Is God not responsible for keeping the Creation going? Is it not our responsibility as parents to do ours? I take mine towards my descendants very seriously.

(The writer is a spiritual guide; views are personal)