Nearness to God - The Paradox of the Supreme Presence
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is often described as being simultaneously everywhere and nowhere. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that although the Lord resides in His eternal spiritual abode far beyond the material universe, He is simultaneously situated within our very hearts; realizing this intimate closeness is the ultimate goal of spiritual life.
Far Away Yet Very Near
The Vedic scriptures frequently emphasize the paradoxical nature of the Absolute Truth. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that due to our material anxieties, we fail to perceive the Supreme Lord, even though He exists both internally and externally, pervading everything around us.
- He (the Supreme Person) is present both in the spiritual and material world. Although He is far, far away, still He is near to us. These are the statements of Vedic literature.
- The Lord is far away but very near also. The abode of the Lord is beyond the material sky, and we have no means to measure even this material sky. If the material sky extends so far, then what to speak of the spiritual sky, which is altogether beyond it?
- The Supreme Truth exists both internally and externally, in the moving and nonmoving. He is beyond the power of the material senses to see or to know. Although far, far away, He is also near to all. BG 13.16
- But because of our material anxieties, which are inevitable in this material world, we cannot understand the Supreme Lord, although He is situated so near to us.
The Process of Drawing Nearer
Approaching the all-pervading Supreme Lord requires a systematic process of purification. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that by executing prescribed duties, traveling to holy places, and submissively hearing transcendental sound from a bona fide spiritual master, the conditioned soul gradually awakens to the Lord's proximity.
- Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very difficult to approach, He is very near to us because He lives within our hearts. As soon as God understands that one is seeking His favor by fully surrendering, naturally He immediately takes action.
- Varnasrama-dharma easily brings one nearer to Lord Visnu, who is the only true objective in human society.
- Such (transcendental) sound should be received from the transparent agency of the bona fide spiritual master, and the chanting may be practiced by the direction of the spiritual master. That will gradually lead us nearer to the Lord.
- Vidura considered himself less pious, and therefore he decided to travel to all the great places of pilgrimage in the world in order to achieve greater piety and advance nearer to the Lord.
Mercy, Surrender, and Service
While personal endeavor is necessary, the ultimate distance between the soul and God is bridged exclusively by divine grace. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that we cannot bridge this gap by attempting to become the Lord; rather, we must become humble servants, fully depending on His mercy to drag us closer.
- By dint of one's personal endeavor one may go nearer to the Lord, but without the Lord's mercy one cannot reach the ultimate point. Such understanding of the Lord is possible only by devotional service, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gita - BG 18.55.
- Lord Caitanya's philosophy is not to become God, but to become servant, servant, servant of God. The more one becomes the lower grade servant of the Lord, the more he is devoted nearer to the Lord.
- That is the way of dragging a sincere soul nearer to God. The poor boy was being looked after only by his affectionate mother, and yet the mother was taken from the world by the supreme will in order to put him completely at the mercy of the Lord.
- There is calculation that suppose God is cent percent perfect. So when you get you, your spiritual body, you may not be as powerful as God, but almost near to God. You get seventy-eight percent.
The Perfection of Intimate Association
The highest perfection of nearness is achieved in the spiritual world or during the Lord's earthly pastimes. The Vedic texts reveal that great devotees achieve the facility to live eternally near the Lord, witnessing His majestic unapproachability and participating in His divine arrangements.
- The brahmana attained the liberation of samipya, the facility of living near the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Laksmiji was present near Narayana, engaged in the service of the Lord, and still, without contact with Laksmiji, Narayana begot Brahma. That is the omnipotency of the Lord.
- Although born of his dead father, King Prthu would still remain just like fire. Just as fire is not easily approached, King Prthu would be unapproachable by his enemies, even though they would appear to be very near him.
- Just to check the crowds from coming too near the Lord, the devotees formed three circles. The first circle was guided by Nityananda Prabhu, who is Balarama Himself, the possessor of great strength.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that the nearness to God is both a philosophical reality and a profound spiritual achievement. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is never truly absent; He is omnipresent, residing both far beyond the immeasurable material sky and intimately within the core of every living entity's heart. It is only the thick covering of material anxiety and false identification that makes the Lord seem unreachable. By seriously engaging in the purificatory processes of Kṛṣṇa consciousness—submissively hearing transcendental sound, fulfilling prescribed duties, and associating with saintly persons—the conditioned soul gradually dissipates this illusion. Yet, no amount of independent endeavor can fully bridge the infinite gap between the soul and the Absolute Truth; it is solely by the causeless mercy of the Lord that a sincere soul is dragged nearer. When a devotee finally abandons all desire to artificially imitate God and instead adopts the humble disposition of an eternal servant, they become eligible for the highest perfection. Attaining the liberation of sāmīpya, the pure devotee receives a spiritual body and is granted the supreme, eternal facility to reside in the intimate, blissful association of the Supreme Lord.
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