View source for God Reveals - The Process of Spiritual Revelation

Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently teaches that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not an object that can be discovered through scientific research or mental gymnastics. Because our material senses are currently contaminated and imperfect, they cannot grasp the unlimited spiritual reality. Therefore, the only way to truly understand the Absolute Truth is to wait for Him to reveal Himself. This divine revelation is not random; it is a scientific process triggered by the pure, unalloyed love of a sincere devotee.

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=== Beyond the Material Senses ===

Many philosophers and scientists attempt to find God using their limited brains and blunt physical instruments. Śrīla Prabhupāda compares this to trying to see the sun at night with a flashlight. God is entirely beyond the jurisdiction of the material senses.

* [[Vaniquotes:These senses, present ten senses, cannot realize. Atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih. Indriya means sense. Then how to realize? Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. When you begin service with your tongue, then gradually God reveals|These senses, present ten senses, cannot realize. Atah sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih. Indriya means sense. Then how to realize? Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. When you begin service with your tongue, then gradually God reveals.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Any amount of scientific method, you cannot see the sun at night. But in the morning you can see the sun automatically, without any torchlight. Similarly, you have to create a situation, you have to put yourself in a situation wherein God will reveal|Any amount of scientific method, you cannot see the sun at night. But in the morning you can see the sun automatically, without any torchlight. Similarly, you have to create a situation, you have to put yourself in a situation wherein God will reveal.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:You cannot understand God by your present senses, kingdom of God. "But if you engage your service, beginning with the tongue, then God reveals." "God reveals" means He reveals His kingdom, He Himself|You cannot understand God by your present senses, kingdom of God. "But if you engage your service, beginning with the tongue, then God reveals." "God reveals" means He reveals His kingdom, He Himself.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:We cannot approach the Absolute by our poor fund of knowledge, but the Absolute becomes revealed out of His own mercy by His own appearance|We cannot approach the Absolute by our poor fund of knowledge, but the Absolute becomes revealed out of His own mercy by His own appearance.]]

=== The Right of Concealment ===

The Supreme Lord is not obliged to prove His existence to atheists or to those who are falsely proud of their academic achievements. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Lord actively covers Himself from the vision of non-devotees, ensuring they remain bewildered by the material energy.

* [[Vaniquotes:The Lord reserves the right not to reveal Himself to anyone and everyone but to show Himself only to those souls who surrender unto Him|The Lord reserves the right not to reveal Himself to anyone and everyone but to show Himself only to those souls who surrender unto Him.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:It is already stated (naham prakasah) that He (God) is not revealed to everyone. BG 1972 purports|It is already stated that He is not revealed to everyone.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The transcendental forms and pastimes of the Lord, as described in Bhagavad-gita, are difficult subject matters for those who are not devotees to understand. The Lord never reveals Himself to persons like the jnanis and yogis|The transcendental forms and pastimes of the Lord, as described in Bhagavad-gita, are difficult subject matters for those who are not devotees to understand. The Lord never reveals Himself to persons like the jnanis and yogis.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Those who have no faith and are always doubtful make no progress at all. Men without faith in God and His revealed word find no good in this world, nor in the next. For them there is no happiness whatsoever. BG 1972 purports|Those who have no faith and are always doubtful make no progress at all. Men without faith in God and His revealed word find no good in this world, nor in the next. For them there is no happiness whatsoever.]]

=== Revealing Through Devotional Service ===

To lift the curtain of illusion, one must adopt a submissive attitude. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the Lord is completely conquered by love. When a soul gives up their rebellious independence and engages in pure devotional service, the Lord gladly reveals Himself.

* [[Vaniquotes:God is always ready to be revealed to you. But how does He reveal? He reveals as soon as you become submissive, you become devotee, you become Krsna conscious, you just follow the path traversed by the great mahajanas, great acaryas|God is always ready to be revealed to you. But how does He reveal? He reveals as soon as you become submissive, you become devotee, you become Krsna conscious, you just follow the path traversed by the great mahajanas, great acaryas.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you take to the devotional service submissively, if you become submissive, surrendered, and you render service to the Lord, then, by His causeless mercy, He becomes revealed|If you take to the devotional service submissively, if you become submissive, surrendered, and you render service to the Lord, then, by His causeless mercy, He becomes revealed.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:He (Krsna) clearly says, bhaktya mam abhijanati: (BG 18.55) "Only by devotional service can I be understood." If we want to know Krsna as He is, we have to accept the process of bhakti. It is this bhakti process that Kapiladeva will reveal to Devahuti|He clearly says, bhaktya mam abhijanati: "Only by devotional service can I be understood." If we want to know Krsna as He is, we have to accept the process of bhakti. It is this bhakti process that Kapiladeva will reveal to Devahuti.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If they offer prayers sincerely, God is there within your heart, He'll gradually reveal. The more you become purified, the more He reveals. Then He'll talk with you. So everything depends on the sincerity and seriousness|If they offer prayers sincerely, God is there within your heart, He will gradually reveal. The more you become purified, the more He reveals. Then He will talk with you. So everything depends on the sincerity and seriousness.]]

=== Beginning with the Tongue ===

The practical application of devotional service starts with the most difficult sense to control: the tongue. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently quotes the Vedic injunction that by properly engaging the tongue in chanting the holy name and tasting spiritual food, the Lord's form is naturally revealed.

* [[Vaniquotes:The present senses cannot appreciate. It has to be purified. That purification begins from the tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. Then God reveals|The present senses cannot appreciate. It has to be purified. That purification begins from the tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. Then God reveals.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:God reveals to you by your service attitude. And that service attitude begins from your tongue, jihva. Jihva means tongue. How? You chant Hare Krsna and taste krsna-prasadam. Then you will realize. Two things. Very simple method|God reveals to you by your service attitude. And that service attitude begins from your tongue, jihva. Jihva means tongue. How? You chant Hare Krsna and taste krsna-prasadam. Then you will realize. Two things. Very simple method.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If you give Him service wholeheartedly, sincerely, then by the mercy of Krsna, you'll make advancement. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah (Brs. 1.2.234). God will reveal|If you give Him service wholeheartedly, sincerely, then by the mercy of Krsna, you will make advancement. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah. God will reveal.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:When one's heart is purified by the association of devotees and by the avoidance of the offenses committed when chanting and worshiping the Lord, the transcendental name, form and activities of the Lord are revealed by the Lord|When one's heart is purified by the association of devotees and by the avoidance of the offenses committed when chanting and worshiping the Lord, the transcendental name, form and activities of the Lord are revealed by the Lord.]]

=== Conclusion ===

The science of understanding God is profoundly different from material sciences. Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that while mundane scientists rely on their own flawed intellect and instruments to conquer nature, a spiritualist relies entirely on the causeless mercy of the Supreme Lord. The Absolute Truth, Lord Kṛṣṇa, cannot be forced to appear before the blunt material senses; He reserves the right to remain hidden from the proud and faithless. However, the Lord is remarkably eager to reveal Himself to anyone who approaches Him with humility and love. The authorized method to invoke this revelation in the modern age is breathtakingly simple: one must engage the tongue in offenseless chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa ''mahā-mantra'' and the tasting of ''kṛṣṇa-prasādam''. As the heart is cleansed of material dirt through this submissive service, the Lord acts as the supreme teacher from within, gradually lifting the veil of illusion. Ultimately, to the perfectly sincere devotee, the Lord reveals His beautiful transcendental form, His names, His pastimes, and the eternal glories of His spiritual kingdom.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:God_Reveals|God Reveals]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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