How we experience the Lord’s divine will.

By Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

How much we can conceive? What is there? What is not there? How it is possible for us to conceive such things? Newton said, “I am collecting some pebbles on the shore. The ocean of knowledge is spread before me, and I am simply collecting some pebbles on its shore.” What is there? What is not there? What is what? It is all achintya [inconceivable].

Everywhere there is centre. Everything is everything. Anything may turn into everything. Our vulnerable brain may experience such transformations, but we are proud of our brain. Actually, we can only see what we are forced to see. We can only see what He wills us to see.

pasya me yoga aisvaram
(Srimad Bhagavad-gita: 11.8)

“Behold My divine opulence.”

Krishna said this to Arjuna in Srimad Bhagavad-gita as He showed Arjuna His visva-rupa [universal form]. “See what I say,” He declared, and Arjuna had to see that. Arjuna then became perplexed by the Lord’s infinite character. Lastly he asked, “Come to me in the sober figure of my friend as I am accustomed to see You. Come to me in that form. Please withdraw Your majestic form. I cannot tolerate it.”

The atmosphere of Vrndavan is so soothing. It is so sweet and palatable to us. The Lord comes so far down and makes everything sweet. There is no gorgeousness or majesty there. For the time being, we think power and majesty are great, but in daily life they actually have a repulsive nature. The play found in Vrndavan is most suitable for us. It is aprakrta [supramundane]. Above us is the adhoksaja [imperceptible] realm and the highest part of that realm is aprakrta, the plane that is seemingly just like the ordinary phenomenal world [yet enriched with the ultimate sweetness].