Many a times we come across people who challenge us by asking, If God exists then why can’t we see him? But there are so many things in this world which we can’t see but we believe in its existence. 

We don’t see air. But it exists. There are so many living entities which can’t be seen by our yes. But they exist.  And what about our emotions, the feelings of love and compassion? Can it be seen? No. It can only be experienced.  If a person is infected with a disease in the eyes, he may even fail to recognize his dear friend who may be standing just before him. A blind person will not be able to see anything even in the bright daylight. 

So, seeing is not the only criteria which proves the existence of something. 

Does it imply that God is beyond our reach or he is infinitesimally small, or he is formless so we can’t see him? Definitely not. God has a beautiful form which is supremely pure and is not material but spiritual. 

If God wants us to see him, we can see him. But if our heart is full of impurities then even if God is in front of us, we would not recognize him and will consider him an ordinary person. 

Duryodhana saw Krishna face to face but because of his arrogance and false pride he thought of imprisoning and harming Krishna. Sisupala was Krishna’s cousin brother but instead of rejoicing at his great fortune he would always try to insult him.

So instead of asking “Why can’t we see God?” we should endeavour hard to cleanse our hearts of all the impurities which is coming between us and the Supreme Lord.  The Lord is supremely pure, so he can be seen only by those whose heart is supremely pure. 

To make us utterly pure so that we become eligible to see him and associate with him, Lord Krishna personally appeared as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to teach us how we can purge all the impurities from our hearts. 

Chanting of the holy name of Krishna especially the Hare Krishna Mahamantra is the most effective way by which we can cleanse ourselves.  

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu explains in his Sri Siksastakam prayer, Text 1, “Chanting cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years, increases the ocean of transcendental bliss and enables us to taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.” 

In fact, even during the process of purification we would start experiencing the presence of Lord in our life. The beautiful form and features of the Lord will start manifesting in our life as we get free from the material contamination of lust, greed, pride, anger, envy, illusion and false ego which is currently keeping us away from our beloved Lord.  

Pure heart filled with devotion to Krishna makes us qualified to see the Supreme Lord, Krishna. 

Brahma Samhita 5.38 says that the Supreme Lord, Krishna, who is also known as Syamasundara has inconceivable innumerable attributes and the pure devotees of the Lord see him in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.  

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(Purushottam Nitai Das is a member of congregation at Iskcon Kolkata. He works at IBM as an Advisory Consultant. He writes at https://discoverursupersoul.com/)