As You Sow, So You Reap

July 6, 2026

Material entities are governed by predictable behavior and qualities. Krishna, giving insight into the relationship between the omnipotent Unmanifest and nature, says, “I worship my devotees in whatever way they worship me; for all men follow my path in all respects” (4.11). First, this is an assurance from God that whatever path we follow, no matter how contradictory these paths may be, they are all the paths of the Unmanifest Supreme Soul. Second, God responds like a multifaceted mirror, reflecting and echoing our feelings, thoughts, and actions. Third, when we sow a seed, it takes time for it to reach its full potential as a tree, and this time lag prevents us from fully understanding this principle of resonance with the Divine. If we fill our lives with unconditional love and devotion, the love and devotion inevitably return to make our lives blissful. If we sow anger, fear, hatred, cruelty, or jealousy, the same will be returned, making our lives miserable. There are countless examples of this, and it’s worth noting that the time lag between sowing and reaping causes us to forget the strong connection between the two. This verse operates on both the subtle and the gross levels. In our quest to realize our big dreams, we should never miss small victories. These victories help us realize the Supreme Consciousness on an experiential level. Sri Krishna further says, “Those who desire the fruits of their actions in this human world worship the demigods; for they quickly attain the accomplishments that come from their actions” (4.12). The demigods are nothing but a glimpse of the Supreme Being. To attain the Divine, we must completely abandon our ego, but this takes time. The demigods are the midpoint on the journey to realizing the Divine, where our ego still remains.