Without Being Liberated, One Cannot Understand God as He Is
The Absolute Truth is the source of everything, yet He remains hidden from the eyes of the materially conditioned souls. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that while empiric philosophers and scientists struggle in vain to define God using their limited intellects, the Supreme Lord freely reveals Himself to those who approach Him with love. Understanding God as He is requires a complete transformation of consciousness, elevating the living entity from the darkness of material illusion to the liberated platform of pure devotional service.
The Impossibility of Knowing the Unlimited Lord Fully
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is infinite, and the living entity is infinitesimal. Therefore, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that we may say that we have understood God, but it is not possible to understand Him as He is, because we have limited senses, and He is unlimited. In fact, it is impossible for the Lord to be known perfectly as He is, even by such liberated persons as Śiva or Brahmā, so what to speak of other demigods or men in this world. The absolute reality is that no one can know Him one hundred percent as He is (na yaṁ vidanti tattvena); that no one can fully understand Him is explained in the Vedic scriptures, but the qualification for understanding to some degree is provided through devotion. Thus, pure devotees humbly state, "Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose incarnations and activities are chanted by us for glorification, though He can hardly be fully known as He is."
- We may say that we have understood God, but it is not possible to understand Him as He is, because we have limited senses, and He is unlimited.
- It is impossible for the Lord to be known perfectly as He is, even by such liberated persons as Siva or Brahma, so what to speak of other demigods or men in this world.
- No one can know Him (God) one hundred percent as He is (na yam vidanti tattvena). That no one can fully understand Him is explained also in this verse (SB 2.6.40-41), but the qualification for understanding to some degree is mentioned here.
- Let us offer our respectful obeisances unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose incarnations and activities are chanted by us for glorification, though He can hardly be fully known as He is.
The Process of Devotional Service
The key to unlocking the mystery of the Absolute Truth is active, loving devotion. Śrīla Prabhupāda references the ultimate authority, noting that the Bhagavad-gītā (18.55) declares, bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ—one can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. In Bhagavad-gītā it is confirmed that only a devotee can understand Him as He is, and one can understand Him only by devotional service, not otherwise. While there are different processes of understanding the Absolute Truth, if a person wants to understand the Supreme Lord as He is, he has to take to the process of bhakti-yoga. Therefore, by rendering such constant devotional service to Kṛṣṇa with love only, and not by merely acquiring a bulk of discriminative knowledge, can we know the Supreme Lord as He is.
- The Bhagavad-gita (BG 18.55) declares, bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah - One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service.
- In Bhagavad-gita it is confirmed that only a devotee can understand Him (The Supreme Personality of Godhead) as He is. Bhaktya mam abhijanati: (BG 18.55) One can understand Me only by devotional service, not otherwise.
- There are different processes of understanding the Absolute Truth, but if a person wants to understand the Supreme Lord as He is, he has to take to the process of bhakti-yoga.
- By rendering such (constant) devotional service (to Krsna with love) only, and not by merely acquiring a bulk of discriminative knowledge, can we know the Supreme Lord as He is.
Liberation and Perfect Vision
Material senses are inherently defective and cannot perceive spirit. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that without being liberated, one cannot understand God as He is; it is not possible, because he has no perfect vision, as liberated means perfect knowledge, perfect vision. Consequently, unless one is very highly elevated in loving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one cannot see Him as He is. This vision is restored naturally through service; when the dormant propensity for bhakti is awakened, one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is. When one is purely engaged in devotional service, there is no scope for his senses to be engaged otherwise, and in such full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can understand the Supreme Lord as He is.
- Without being liberated, one cannot understand God as He is. It is not possible, because he has no perfect vision. Liberated means perfect knowledge, perfect vision. That is liberation.
- Unless one is very highly elevated in loving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one cannot see Him as He is.
- When the dormant propensity for bhakti is awakened, one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is. Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah.
- When one is engaged in devotional service, there is no scope for his senses to be engaged otherwise. In such full Krsna consciousness, one can understand the Supreme Lord as He is.
The Personal vs. Impersonal Conception
The desire to become one with God acts as a thick curtain, blocking spiritual vision. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that a Vaiṣṇava wishes to worship God as He is and retain his separate individuality to serve Him, whereas the Māyāvādī impersonal philosopher wishes to lose his individuality and merge into the existence of the Supreme. This very conception of the impersonalists and so-called yogīs checks them from seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is; the Lord, therefore, is always beyond the sight of such nondevotees. Conversely, a bhakta not only realizes Him as He is but also associates with the Personality of Godhead face to face. Ultimately, when a living entity gives up this material embodiment and enters into the spiritual world, he can hear and speak to Him face to face, and he can understand the Supreme Personality as He is.
- A Vaisnava wishes to worship God as He is and retain his separate individuality to serve Him, whereas the Mayavadi impersonal philosopher wishes to lose his individuality and merge into the existence of the Supreme.
- This very conception of the impersonalists and so-called yogis checks them from seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is. The Lord, therefore, is always beyond the sight of such nondevotees.
- A bhakta not only realizes Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead) as He is but also associates with the Personality of Godhead face to face.
- When a living entity gives up this material embodiment and enters into the spiritual world, he can hear and speak to Him face to face, and he can understand the Supreme Personality as He is. BG 1972 purports.
Direct Realization and Revealing the Truth
Because God is fully independent, He can choose to reveal Himself to His sincere servants. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that God is indefinable, but when He comes before you as He is, then it is definable; if He is so pleased to reveal Himself, then He is definable because He is defining Himself. The Lord says in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.26) that He knows everything, past, present and future, but that no one but a devotee knows Him as He is. It is this profound realization that qualifies one to teach, for a real preacher cannot be bogus; he must first of all realize Lord Viṣṇu as He is, under the guidance of a bona fide guru. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā, "one who has seen the truth can impart knowledge," meaning the devotee who is pure and advanced realizes God as He is, just as Mahārāja Prātīha did when, due to his direct realization of Lord Viṣṇu, he propagated self-realization and became a preacher.
- God is indefinable, but when He comes before you as He is, then it is definable. God is indefinable, that's all right. But if He is so pleased to reveal Himself, then He is definable because He is defining Himself.
- The Lord says in the Bhagavad-gita (BG 7.26) that He knows everything, past, present and future, but that no one but a devotee knows Him as He is.
- A real preacher cannot be bogus; he must first of all realize Lord Visnu as He is. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (BG 4.34), upadeksyanti te jnanam jnaninas tattva-darsinah: "one who has seen the truth can impart knowledge."
- The devotee who is pure and advanced realizes God as He is, Maharaja Pratiha did so, and due to his direct realization of Lord Visnu, he propagated self-realization and became a preacher.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda decisively establishes that Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is not an abstract concept to be unraveled by mental speculation. The unlimited Lord cannot be captured by limited material senses, nor can He be understood by impersonal philosophers who seek to extinguish their own identities. The actual science of God realization demands a surrender to the process of bhakti-yoga. It is only when the soul is completely purified of material desires and liberated from false ego that true spiritual vision awakens. By constantly engaging in loving devotional service under the guidance of a self-realized guru, the devotee attracts the causeless mercy of the Lord. Ultimately, Kṛṣṇa joyfully reveals Himself to such a pure devotee, granting them the ultimate perfection of understanding Him exactly as He is and serving Him face to face in the spiritual world.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category God - As He Is. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.