THE SENSES ARE IMPERFECT

THE SENSES ARE IMPERFECT

(bhakti-yogena manasi)
samyak praṇihite ‘male
apaśyat puruṣaṁ pūrṇaṁ
māyāṁ ca tad-apāśrayam
[SB 1.7.4]

Prabhupāda: The materialistic person, they have only one experience: this cosmic manifestation. Beyond this they have no other vision. Their senses are imperfect. Just like the astronomers, they have got big, big telescope, many other instruments. They want to see through the eyes how many stars are there, how the planets are moving, and whatever imperfect knowledge they receive, by that little knowledge they advertise themselves as great scientists. But they do not calculate that “We are trying to see the stars and planets with powerful binoculars. That means our eyes are imperfect.” And what is the guarantee that the instruments which they’re using, they are also perfect? Because that machine, that binocular, is also made by a person who is imperfect. So what is the guarantee that by seeing through binocular or microscope, the conclusion arrived, it is perfect? What is your answer? Your eyes are imperfect, that’s a fact. Otherwise, why you are using binocular, microscope? Eyes are imperfect. Originally your eyes are imperfect. Now, eyes or other senses, it doesn’t matter. Sense is sense. So you are manufacturing a machine, some instrument, by the same imperfect senses, then what is the guarantee that this machine, this binocular, if you see through the binocular, the knowledge is perfect? What is your answer?

Devotee: Can’t be perfect. (Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/conversations/1971/nov)

CAN I SEE GOD?

During question-time, a strange, dishevelled hippy with long hair, but dressed in devotional apparel, stood up at the back of the audience and spoke to Prabhupada in a challenging tone. Is it possible to see Krishna right now? Prabhupada appeared grave. Why don’t you see Him in your back? he said, indicating that the Deity of Krishna was right behind him. But the man’s mood was confrontational. But can’t I just see Him? Well, you have no eyes to see.? Can I see Him within? Yes. But the man was not satisfied with Prabhupada’s answer. ?Why? Why is it not so easy? Why can’t each one of us ? You have to become qualified.? Why do I have to become qualified? Why? Prabhupada remained patient and grave. Yes. Suppose if there is a big man before you in some meeting, can you talk with him? Why? No, no.First of all answer this. Suppose there is a big meeting going on and some big man is present. Suppose the President is there. Can you talk with him? Why? Why you cannot talk? For talking we think you require some qualification. It is not that He’s so cheap that you can talk with Krishna immediately.

atah sri-krishna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah.

So, if you accept Krishna as the Supreme Lord, then you have to qualify yourself to talk with Him. The man appeared to understand. By His grace, Krishna will show Himself to you Yes. If you read the Krishna book and if you believe, then you see Krishna. He is not different from the book. But the man, irrational and distracted, stumbled on. But we can read books till the cows come home. What good is that going to do? Tushta Krishna offered the man some good advice. You have to accept what you read. You can’t read with an argumentative attitude, or you can’t ask questions in an argumentative attitude. You’ll never learn. Man: I can only accept what I experience. Prabhupada: What is your experience? Man: My experience is that I have seen Krishna with my own eyes. Prabhupada: You have seen? Man: Yes. Prabhupada: That’s very nice. (Laughter) Man: It hasn’t been hard. Prabhupada: That’s nice. Man: I haven’t had to read any words. Prabhupada: Oh, then you are perfect. (More laughter) Tushta Krishna asked if there were any more questions. The unkempt man attempted to speak, but Prabhupada’s expert rejoinder silenced him at last. Sit down, you are perfect. This final riposte drew the loudest laughter from the attentive audience. After the last few questions, Prabhupada remained in the temple room to give a general darsana. By now, the guests overflowed into the hallway and out the front door. Pushta Krishna suggested that if any more people had brought dakshina and gifts they could bring them now. The devotees struck up a melodic kirtana as more devotees came forward to present their offerngs. Soon, heaps of offerings were piled up around the base of the vyasasana boxes of dried and fresh fruit, cellophane-wrapped presents, jars of home-made sweets, wicker baskets of cookies, woollen scarves, hats, socks and various other items. Prabhupada smiled at the assembled devotees, and spoke final words of encouragement. As Srila Prabhupada left the temple room, Pushta Krishna Swami picked up his slippers at the doorway. Here are your slippers, Your divine Grace. Prabhupada brushed the rose petals from his feet and slipped on his shoes. Those fortunate enough grabbed for the petals, a unique opportunity to take the dust of the lotus feet of a pure devotee. Prasadam was served to all the devotees and guests as Prabhupada returned to his room. A number of Indian gentlemen had been invited to meet with Srila Prabhupada, including one favourably-disposed man, Doctor Singh, from Auckland’s Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The evening program had finished so late, however, that Prabhupada regretfully decided that it would not be possible to meet them.

EYES TO SEE GOD

An excerpt from
On the Way to Krishna,
by His divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

“You cannot see Me with your present eyes. Therefore I give you divine eyes, so that you can behold My mystic opulence” (Bhagavad-gita 11.8)

How can we get the eyes to see God? How can we become God conscious, Krishna conscious, in every step of our life? Actually, Krishna makes it very easy for us: “O son of Kunti [Arjuna], I am the taste of water, the light of the sun and the moon, the syllable om in the Vedic mantras; I am the sound in ether and ability in man” (Bg. 7.8).

In this verse Sri Krishna is describing how we can become Krishna conscious fully, in all stages of life. For instance, all living entities must drink water. The taste of water is so nice that when we are thirsty, nothing but water seems to do. No manufacturer can create the pure taste of water. We can thus remember Krishna when we drink water. No one can avoid drinking water every day of his life, so God consciousness is there—how can we forget?

There are nine different processes for associating with God, and the first method of association is sravanam-hearing. By reading Bhagavad-gita we hear the speeches of Sri Krishna, which means that we are actually associating with God. (We should always remember that when we speak of Krishna, we refer to God.) Inasmuch as we associate with God, and as we go on hearing the words of Krishna and His names, the contamination of material nature is reduced. If we understand that Krishna is sound, illumination, water, and so many other things, we cannot avoid Him. If we can remember Krishna in this way, our association with Him is permanent.

Association with Krishna is like association with sunshine. Where there is sunshine, there is no contamination. As long as one is out in the ultraviolet rays of the sun, he will not be diseased. Western medicine recommends sunshine for all kinds of diseases, and the Vedas say a diseased man should worship the sun to be cured. Similarly, if we associate with Krishna, our maladies are cured. By chanting Hare Krishna we can associate with Krishna—and we can see Krishna in the sun and the moon, and we can hear Krishna in sound and taste Him in water.

It is especially useless to speculate about God. Therefore Srimad-Bhagavatam recommends that one give up all sorts of speculation. Instead, one should become submissive, realizing not only that he is an insignificant creature, but also that this earth is only one small point in the great universe. New York City may seem very large, but when one realizes that the earth is such a small spot, and that on the earth the United States is just another small spot, and that in the United States New York City is but a small spot, and that in New York the inpidual is only one out of millions, then one can understand that he is not so very important after all. Realizing our insignificance in the face of the universe and God, we should not be artificially puffed up but should be submissive.

We should be very careful not to fall prey to frog philosophy. Once there was a frog in a well, and upon hearing of the Atlantic Ocean from a friend, he asked, “Oh, what is this Atlantic Ocean?”

“It is a vast body of water,” his friend replied.
“How vast? Is it double the size of this well?”
“Oh no-much, much larger.”

“How much larger? Ten times the size?” In this way the frog went on calculating. But how could he ever understand the depths and far reaches of the great ocean? Our faculties, experience, and powers of speculation are always limited. We can give rise only to such frog philosophy.

After giving up speculation, what should we do? Bhagavatam recommends that we become humble and hear God’s message submissively. We may hear His message also from the Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic literatures. The only qualification is that we receive the transcendental message from a realized soul—a pure devotee of God.

In the Seventh Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, Sri Krishna gives additional ways to perceive Him in every step of life: “I am the original fragrance of the earth, and I am the heat in fire. I am the life of all that lives, and I am the penances of all ascetics” (Bg. 7.9).

Only Krishna can create flavors and fragrances. We may synthetically create some scents or fragrances, but these are not as good as the originals that occur in nature. When we smell a good natural fragrance, we can think, “Oh, here is God. Here is Krishna.” Or when we see some natural beauty, we can think, “Oh, here is Krishna.” Or when we see something uncommon, powerful, or wonderful, we can think, “Here is Krishna.” Or when we see any form of life, whether it be in a tree, in a plant or an animal, or in a human being, we should understand that this life is part and parcel of Krishna, for as soon as the spiritual spark, which is part and parcel of Krishna, is taken away from the body, the body disintegrates. “O son of Prtha, know that I am the original seed of all existences, the intelligence of the intelligent, and the prowess of all powerful men” (Bg. 7.10).

Here again it is obvious that Krishna is the life of all that lives. Thus at every step we can see God. People may ask, “Can you show me God?” Yes, of course. We can see God in so many ways. But if one closes his eyes and says, “I shall not see God,” then how can he be shown?

The easiest way to see God is to chant Hare Krishna always. Never mind whether you are in a factory or in a hell, in a shack or in a skyscraper—it doesn’t matter. Just go on chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. There is no expense, there is no impediment, there is no caste, there is no creed, there is no color—anyone can do it. Just chant and hear. Then, by Krishna’s grace, you will have the eyes to see Him everywhere and always.

SEE WITH SPIRITUAL EYES

Some of the most powerful things in this world – the wind, gravity, love – cannot be seen directly, but anyone would call you crazy if you told them that those things did not exist. It seems strange, then, that the majority of people are quick to dismiss the existence of God simply because they cannot see Him with their eyes.

Srila Prabhupada once said, “God is not invisible. Simply just like a man with cataract or any other eye disease, he cannot see. That does not mean the things are not existing. He cannot see. God is there, but because my eyes are not competent to see God, therefore I deny God. God is there, everywhere.”

The soul, being a spiritual entity, is able to see the Supreme Soul, who is also fully spiritual. However, because we are currently encased in material bodies with material senses, we are prevented from doing so. And if we rely solely on our limited and imperfect senses, we risk being led astray. There are many substances out there that can give us so-called “spiritual” experiences, and even more people out there who claim to be an incarnation of God.

It is not so easy to see the Lord. Just as a microscope is required to see things that are very small, a suitable instrument is required to see the Supreme Soul. In his commentary on verse 3.9.37 of Srimad-Bhagavatam (one of the most important Vedic scriptures), Srila Prabhupada writes, “The Personality of Godhead cannot be seen with the material eyes, but He can be seen from within by spiritual eyes … As long as one’s spiritual eyes are closed due to the dirty covering of matter, one cannot see the Lord.”

In any scientific experiment, the prescribed process has to be followed before any conclusions can be made; to present something as concrete fact without carrying out the experiment is absurd. In the same way, concluding that God does not exist without carrying out the relevant experiment is absurd. So, I hear you ask, what is the experiment to determine God’s existence?

The Krishna consciousness movement was originally established in fifteenth-century India by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who taught that the prescribed process for realising God is to chant His names. Because the Supreme is absolute, there is no difference between Him and His names, and thus all of His power is contained within His names.

It is said that of all purifying things, the names of God are the greatest purifier. Chanting those names regularly is therefore the quickest way to purify our spiritual eyes of all material contamination. Once that contamination has been removed, we will be able to perceive God’s presence within our heart. That is why this movement places so much emphasis on chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, which is made up His names.

It’s important to note that the chanting should be done in the right mood. The Supreme is not something abstract – He is a person, and He has the right to remain hidden from our sight if He so wishes. He is not obliged to appear before anyone who demands to see Him in a challenging and prideful mood.

We should therefore chant the mantra in a humble state of mind, with a sincere desire to connect with Him. If we do this on a daily basis, we will eventually experience the same results that advanced practitioners of Krishna consciousness have been experiencing for centuries. In other words, we will see God.

(compiled by Mohini Devi)