WORKSHOP ON WORK IS WORSHIP
Getting the Eyes to See God
Getting the Eyes to See God
Student. For the last one hundred fifty years, one of the major problems of Western theologians has been the relationship between reason and faith. They have been seeking to understand faith through reason, but they have been unable to find the relationship between the reasoning abilities and faith. Some of them have faith in God, but their reason tells them there is no God. For instance, they would say that when we offer prasada to the Lord, it is only faith to think that He accepts it, because we cannot see Him.
Srila Prabhupada. They cannot see Him, but I can see Him. I see God, and therefore I offer prasada to Him. Because they cannot see Him, they must come to me so I can open their eyes. They are blind -- suffering from cataracts -- so I shall operate, and they will see. That is our program.
Student. Scientists say that their common ground of objectivity is what they can perceive with their senses.
Srila Prabhupada. Yes, they can perceive things with their senses, but very imperfectly. They perceive the sand with their senses, but can they see who has made the sand? Here is the sand, and here is the sea; they can be seen by direct perception. But how can one directly perceive the origin of the sand and the sea?
Student. The scientists say that if the sand and the sea were made by God, we would be able to see Him, just as we can see the sand and the sea themselves.
Srila Prabhupada. Yes, they can see God, but they must get the eyes to see Him. They are blind. Therefore they must first come to me for treatment. The sastras say that one must go to a guru to be treated so that one can understand God. How can they see God with blind eyes?
Student. But seeing God is supramundane. Scientists only consider mundane vision.
Srila Prabhupada. Everything is supramundane. For instance, you may think there is nothing in the clear sky -- that it is vacant -- but your eyes are deficient. In the sky there are innumerable planets you cannot see because your eyes are limited. Therefore, because it is not in your power to perceive, you have to accept my word: "Yes, there are millions of stars out there." Is space vacant because you cannot see the stars? No. Only the deficiency of your senses leads you to think so.
Student. The scientists will admit their ignorance of some things, but they say they cannot accept what they cannot see.
Srila Prabhupada. If they're ignorant, they have to accept knowledge from someone who knows the truth.
Student. But they say, "What if what we are told is wrong?"
Srila Prabhupada. Then that is their misfortune. Because their imperfect senses cannot perceive God, they have to hear it from an authority. That is the process. If they don't approach the authority -- if they approach a cheater -- that is their misfortune. But the process is that wherever your senses cannot act, you must approach an authority to learn the facts.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Getting the Eyes to See God
Student. For the last one hundred fifty years, one of the major problems of Western theologians has been the relationship between reason and faith. They have been seeking to understand faith through reason, but they have been unable to find the relationship between the reasoning abilities and faith. Some of them have faith in God, but their reason tells them there is no God. For instance, they would say that when we offer prasada to the Lord, it is only faith to think that He accepts it, because we cannot see Him.
Srila Prabhupada. They cannot see Him, but I can see Him. I see God, and therefore I offer prasada to Him. Because they cannot see Him, they must come to me so I can open their eyes. They are blind -- suffering from cataracts -- so I shall operate, and they will see. That is our program.
Student. Scientists say that their common ground of objectivity is what they can perceive with their senses.
Srila Prabhupada. Yes, they can perceive things with their senses, but very imperfectly. They perceive the sand with their senses, but can they see who has made the sand? Here is the sand, and here is the sea; they can be seen by direct perception. But how can one directly perceive the origin of the sand and the sea?
Student. The scientists say that if the sand and the sea were made by God, we would be able to see Him, just as we can see the sand and the sea themselves.
Srila Prabhupada. Yes, they can see God, but they must get the eyes to see Him. They are blind. Therefore they must first come to me for treatment. The sastras say that one must go to a guru to be treated so that one can understand God. How can they see God with blind eyes?
Student. But seeing God is supramundane. Scientists only consider mundane vision.
Srila Prabhupada. Everything is supramundane. For instance, you may think there is nothing in the clear sky -- that it is vacant -- but your eyes are deficient. In the sky there are innumerable planets you cannot see because your eyes are limited. Therefore, because it is not in your power to perceive, you have to accept my word: "Yes, there are millions of stars out there." Is space vacant because you cannot see the stars? No. Only the deficiency of your senses leads you to think so.
Student. The scientists will admit their ignorance of some things, but they say they cannot accept what they cannot see.
Srila Prabhupada. If they're ignorant, they have to accept knowledge from someone who knows the truth.
Student. But they say, "What if what we are told is wrong?"
Srila Prabhupada. Then that is their misfortune. Because their imperfect senses cannot perceive God, they have to hear it from an authority. That is the process. If they don't approach the authority -- if they approach a cheater -- that is their misfortune. But the process is that wherever your senses cannot act, you must approach an authority to learn the facts.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Getting the Eyes to See God
Comment
About
THE SPIRITUAL SKY
There is another reality that is more compatible to us than what we experience now, and that reality is the unlimited Spiritual Sky.
The material world is a pale reflection of the Spiritual world, it is NOT heaven which some religions say is the ultimate destination.
Heaven is still in the material world and when you go there after using up all of your good karma you must come back to the earthly planets.
Even though you can stay there for millions of years and all your senses work better and you can have better sex life you cannot get to the Spiritual world easily because there you are more into sense gratification than here on earth.
The Spiritual Sky is 75% of Krishna's creation and the material world is 25%, the Spiritual world is eternal and time does not exist there, The material world is temporary and time destroys everything here.
In the Spiritual Sky there are no stars because everything is self illuminating, in the material world if turn off the lights at night you can't see a thing and most people are afraid of the dark.
In the Spiritual world there is no birth, old age, disease, war, or death, In the material world there is birth, old age, diseases, wars, and death all around us.
The Spiritual Sky is known as Vaikuntha or without anxieties, while the material world is called Kuntha or with anxieties. The living entities are like fish out of water here in material consciousness and some of them don't even realize that this place is a horror show for them.
So the choice is clear you can stay here and be a hero, fighting against material hardships or you can become a surrendered Krishna devotee and go back home, Back to Godhead.
The material world is a pale reflection of the Spiritual world, it is NOT heaven which some religions say is the ultimate destination.
Heaven is still in the material world and when you go there after using up all of your good karma you must come back to the earthly planets.
Even though you can stay there for millions of years and all your senses work better and you can have better sex life you cannot get to the Spiritual world easily because there you are more into sense gratification than here on earth.
The Spiritual Sky is 75% of Krishna's creation and the material world is 25%, the Spiritual world is eternal and time does not exist there, The material world is temporary and time destroys everything here.
In the Spiritual Sky there are no stars because everything is self illuminating, in the material world if turn off the lights at night you can't see a thing and most people are afraid of the dark.
In the Spiritual world there is no birth, old age, disease, war, or death, In the material world there is birth, old age, diseases, wars, and death all around us.
The Spiritual Sky is known as Vaikuntha or without anxieties, while the material world is called Kuntha or with anxieties. The living entities are like fish out of water here in material consciousness and some of them don't even realize that this place is a horror show for them.
So the choice is clear you can stay here and be a hero, fighting against material hardships or you can become a surrendered Krishna devotee and go back home, Back to Godhead.
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JAPA
Japa is the quiet prayer. You say it loud enough so you can hear it, but it’s mostly for yourself. Radha and Krishna can hear you. They’re close by, so you don’t have to shout. But They’re listening carefully, so you pronounce with great care. Put your heart into it. Hear me, Lord. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Over and over, the thirty-two syllables are repeated.
From Bhajana Kutir #78
Empty and calm and devoid of self
Is the nature of all things.
No individual being
In reality exists.
There is no end or beginning,
Nor any middle course.
All is an illusion,
As in a vision or a dream.
All beings in the world
Are beyond the realm of words.
Their ultimate nature, pure and true,
Is like the infinity of space.
-Prajnaparamita
---
It is only when the mind is completely under control that man can grasp his real identity. Then all troubles and travails, doubts and dilemmas, come to an end. Man then overcomes sorrow, delusion and anxiety. He is established in the holy calmness of Shanti (peace). Spiritual life is not a matter of meaningless talk. It is an experience of pure Ananda (bliss).
- Baba
All cravings and impulses rise up with overpowering strength like waves from the sea, roar in fury, and then subside in to calm waters. They do not confer peace. Wisdom lies in forgetting these waves and directing one's attention to the calm depths within. You can attain Shanti (peace) only if you dive in to the deep and undisturbed depths of the sea within, not by swimming around on the surface.
- Baba
From Bhajana Kutir #78
Empty and calm and devoid of self
Is the nature of all things.
No individual being
In reality exists.
There is no end or beginning,
Nor any middle course.
All is an illusion,
As in a vision or a dream.
All beings in the world
Are beyond the realm of words.
Their ultimate nature, pure and true,
Is like the infinity of space.
-Prajnaparamita
---
It is only when the mind is completely under control that man can grasp his real identity. Then all troubles and travails, doubts and dilemmas, come to an end. Man then overcomes sorrow, delusion and anxiety. He is established in the holy calmness of Shanti (peace). Spiritual life is not a matter of meaningless talk. It is an experience of pure Ananda (bliss).
- Baba
All cravings and impulses rise up with overpowering strength like waves from the sea, roar in fury, and then subside in to calm waters. They do not confer peace. Wisdom lies in forgetting these waves and directing one's attention to the calm depths within. You can attain Shanti (peace) only if you dive in to the deep and undisturbed depths of the sea within, not by swimming around on the surface.
- Baba
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