Kṛṣṇa Is Present in Everyone's Heart As Paramātmā
Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, is not limited to His residence in the spiritual sky. Through His plenary expansion as the Paramātmā, He is intimately present within the core of every living entity's heart. This localized presence of the Lord serves as the supreme teacher, witness, and the ultimate object of meditation for all transcendentalists.
The Localized Expansion of the Lord
Lord Kṛṣṇa resides in the heart of every living being as the Paramātmā. Śrīla Prabhupāda compares this presence to the sun, which is one but appears before everyone simultaneously. This feature of the Lord is an expansion of His plenary portions and ensures He is always all-pervading.
- A devotee should see that Krsna is present in everyone's heart as Paramatma.
- Although He (Krsna) is present as the Paramatma in the core of everyone's heart, He is nonetheless one, either as an individual or as the all-pervading Brahman.
- By His (Krsna's) inconceivable energy He is present in everyone's heart, as the sun is present before everyone all over the world. The Paramatma feature of the Lord is an expansion of His plenary portions.
- Krsna is present in everyone's heart, localized. This is impersonal expansion. Just like sunshine is impersonal expansion of the sun rays, so similarly, Brahman effulgence is the impersonal expansion of Krsna's bodily rays.
The Source of Intelligence and Direction
Within the heart, Lord Kṛṣṇa is not a passive observer; He is the active source of the living entity's cognitive functions. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that remembrance, knowledge, and forgetfulness all emanate from the Lord, who directs the soul according to its specific desires and karma.
- Krsna confirms this in Bhagavad-gita (15.15): I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.
- Everyone's heart, Krsna is there, or the Paramatma is there. And mattah smrtir jsanam apohanam ca: and all the speculation or real understanding or forgetfulness or real knowledge, they are coming, being initiated from Him.
- He (Krsna) is all-perfect. He can hear everything. Even if you don't speak, even if you simply think, "I shall do it," then He hears you. Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistah: (Bg. 15.15) Krsna is seated in everyone's heart.
- Because He (Krsna) is the Supreme Lord or the Supersoul who is present in the heart of all living entities, Krsna gives impetus to man to worship certain demigods.
Distinguishing Soul from Supersoul
A vital point of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s teaching is the distinction between the individual soul and the Lord. While Kṛṣṇa is present in everyone's heart—even in the bodies of animals—He remains transcendental and does not become "doggish" or material. He is the master and the super-knower, while the living entity remains the worker and the owner of only one specific body.
- He, as Paramatma, is in everyone's heart. But that does not mean everyone is Krsna. You are in this room. That does not mean you are room. Without God we have no existence.
- Krsna is there, just like the master is there and many workers are there also. The master speaks to the important persons, not to the ordinary person. Similarly, the master is there in everyone's heart.
- Krsna or Visnu is living in everyone's heart, but He is living in the dog's heart also. Does it mean that He's doggish? He's living in Vaikuntha. Although He's living in the dog's heart, but He's living in Vaikuntha.
- Krsna says, "I am also the knower, but I am not the individual owner of the body. I am the superknower. I am present in every body as the Paramatma, or Supersoul."
The Perfection of Yoga and Vision
The goal of the yoga system is to locate and realize the presence of Kṛṣṇa within the heart. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that a person who understands the Lord as the indwelling Paramātmā becomes a perfect seer and remains faultless in their spiritual practice, seeing the same Supreme Person everywhere.
- Krsna consciousness is the highest stage of trance in yoga practice. This very understanding that Krsna is present as Paramatma in everyone's heart makes the yogi faultless.
- Krsna is there, everyone's heart. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati (BG 18.61). Krsna is not far away. But you have to search out where is Krsna within your heart. That is called yoga.
- A Krsna conscious yogi is the perfect seer because he sees Krsna, the Supreme, situated in everyone's heart as Supersoul (Paramatma). Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati.
- Kuntidevi knew that Krsna was neither her nephew nor an ordinary family member of her paternal house. She knew perfectly well that Krsna is the primeval Lord who lives in everyone's heart as the Supersoul, Paramatma.
Conclusion
The realization that Lord Kṛṣṇa is present in everyone's heart as the Paramātmā is a foundational principle of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It transforms one’s worldview, changing the way a person interacts with others and perceives the material world. As the indwelling guide, Kṛṣṇa is always ready to instruct those who are sincerely engaged in His service, providing the intelligence needed to return to the spiritual world. By turning one's attention inward through the process of yoga and devotional service, the soul can experience the constant companionship and guidance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is never far away but is always the closest friend within the heart.
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