The Vedic literature is unique among all the world’s scriptures because it details a practical process by which anyone can purify his or her consciousness and see God face to face. In this lecture, delivered in Los Angeles on August 15, 1972, Srila Prabhupada explains: “One must actually be very eager to see God…. One must be very serious and think, ‘Yes, I have been informed about God. So if there is a God, I must see Him.’”
“The seriously inquisitive student or sage, well equipped with knowledge and detachment, realises the Absolute Truth by rendering devotional service in terms of what he has heard from the Vedic literature, Vedanta-sruti.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.12)
People sometimes ask, “Have you seen God?” or “Can you show me God?” The answer is “Yes, I am seeing God. You can also see God; everyone can see God. But you must have the qualification.”
Suppose something is wrong with an automobile; it is not running. Everyone is seeing it, but a mechanic sees it differently. He’s qualified to see it with greater understanding. So he replaces some missing parts, and immediately the car runs. Although for seeing a machine, we require so much qualification, we want to see God without any qualification.
Just see the folly! People are such rascals; they are such fools, that they want to see God with their imagined qualifications. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita 7.25: “I am not exposed to everyone. My energy, yogamaya, is covering Me from their vision.”
So how can you see God? Here is the qualification: one must first of all be faithful. One must actually be very much eager to see God. Not that one takes it as a frivolous thing – “Can you show me God?” – or as some magic.
There is a story in this connection. It is very instructive. One professional reciter was publicly reciting the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and he was describing that Krishna is very highly decorated with all kinds of jewels when He goes to tend the cows in the forest. So, there was a thief in that meeting, and he thought, “Why not go to Vrndavana and plunder this boy? He’s in the forest with so many valuable jewels. I can go there and catch the child and take all the jewels. I must find that boy,” he thought. “Then in one night I shall become a millionaire.”
The thief’s qualification was his feeling: “I must see Krishna! I must see Krishna!” That anxiety, that eagerness, made it possible for him to actually see Krishna in Vrndavana. He saw Krishna in just the same way as the Bhagavatam reader had described. Then the thief said, “Oh, You are such a nice boy, Krishna.” He began to flatter Him; he thought that by flattering Him he would easily take all the jewels. Then he proposed his real business: “May I take some of these ornaments? You are so rich.”
“No, no, no,” said Krishna. “My mother will be angry! I cannot give them away.” Krishna was playing just like a child.
So the thief became more and more eager for Krishna to give him the jewels, but by Krishna’s association, he was becoming purified. Then at last Krishna said, “All right, you can take them.” Then the thief became a devotee immediately, because by Krishna’s association, he had been completely purified. So somehow, you should come in contact with Krishna. Then you’ll be purified.
The gopis are another example of great eagerness to see Krishna. The gopis came to Krishna, being captivated by His beautiful features. They were young girls, and Krishna was so handsome. Actually, they were lusty when they came to Krishna, but Krishna is so pure that they became first-class devotees. There is no comparison to the gopis’ devotion, because they loved Krishna with their heart and soul. That is the qualification. They loved Krishna so much that they didn’t care for family or reputation when they went out in the dead of night. Krishna’s flute was sounding, and they were all fleeing their homes. Their fathers, their brothers, their husbands all said, “Where are you going? Where are you going in this dead of night?” But the gopis didn’t care. They neglected everything. Their only thought was: we must go to Krishna.
This eagerness is required. We must be very, very eager to see Krishna. Many gopis who were forcibly stopped from going to Krishna lost their lives because of their great feelings of separation. Whether you are lusty or a thief or a murderer or whatever it may be, somehow you must develop this eagerness, this desire: “I must see Krishna.” Then Krishna will be seen. But you must desire Krishna only.
Krishna always stands in a three-curved way with His flute. That is Krishna’s tri-bhanga form, bending in three places. One gopi once said to the other, “If one thinks that one can enjoy life more in this material world, then do not go to see Krishna. Do not go there.” The idea is that if you once see Krishna, then you’ll forget all this nonsensical materialistic enjoyment. That is seeing Krishna.
When Dhruva Maharaja saw Krishna, he said: “My dear Lord, I don’t want anything else.” He went to see Krishna to get the kingdom of his father, and when he saw Krishna, Krishna offered, “Now, whatever benediction you want, I will give.” Dhruva said, “My dear Lord, I no longer have any desire.” That is seeing Krishna.
So, if you’re eager to see Krishna, regardless of whatever motive you have, somehow, due to your eagerness, you’ll see Krishna. That is the only qualification. Rupa Gosvami advises, “If Krishna consciousness is available, please purchase it immediately. Don’t delay. It is a very nice thing.”
Yes, Krishna consciousness is available. You can purchase it from this Krishna consciousness movement. But what is the price? It is such a nice thing, but you have to pay the price. What is that? Tatra laulyam api mulyam ekalam: Simply your eagerness. That is the price. You have to pay this price. Then you get Krishna, immediately. Krishna is not poor, and the Krishna-seller – the Krishna devotee – is also not poor. He can distribute Krishna free. And he’s doing that. You simply have to purchase Him by your eagerness.