Don't Try to See God - Revolutionary Sayings of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati

Great teachers are often remembered by their pithy sayings—short, sharp statements that cut through illusion like a knife. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura was a master of the spiritual aphorism. In his lectures and conversations, Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently invoked these sayings, prefacing them with the reverential phrase, "My Guru Maharaja used to say..."

The Reverse Vision

Most people approach spiritual life with a demand: "Show me God." Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta exposed the arrogance of this demand. He taught that God is not a servant who comes at our beck and call.

• My Guru Maharaja used to say, "Do not try to see Krsna. Render your service in such a nice way that you let Krsna see you".
• My Guru Maharaja used to say that saintly persons should be seen not through the eyes, but through the ears.

This shifted the paradigm from experiment (trying to perceive the Truth with imperfect senses) to submission (purifying oneself so the Truth reveals Himself).

"Beat the Mind with Shoes"

For those struggling with the flickering mind, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta offered a vivid, somewhat shocking prescription. He advised that the mind should never be trusted, even by a great devotee.

• Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati used to say that to control the mind one should beat it with shoes many times just after awakening and again before going to sleep.

This metaphor emphasizes that the mind is like a wild animal that must be constantly disciplined by intelligence.

A Society of Cheaters

His social analysis was equally blunt. He viewed material civilization not as progress, but as a mutual conspiracy of deception.

• My Guru Maharaja used to say that "This is a society of cheaters and the cheated." That's all.

He explained that because people want to be cheated—they want false promises of happiness without God—cheaters come to exploit them. He concluded that for a sincere soul, This world is not a fit place for a gentleman.

The Only Scarcity

While the world panicked over food shortages and economic crises, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta identified the root cause.

• My Guru Maharaja used to say that there is no scarcity of anything within the world, the only scarcity is Krsna consciousness.

He taught that nature, by God’s arrangement, provides enough for everyone. The only lack is the lack of spiritual consciousness, which leads to hoarding and mismanagement.

Conclusion

These sayings are not merely clever; they are revolutionary. They challenge us to stop trusting our senses, stop trusting society, and start trusting the vāṇī of the Spiritual Master.

• My Guru Maharaja used to say, "One who has got life - he can preach".

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Srila Prabhupada lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category My Guru Maharaja Used to Say.... We invite you to click the link above to study the complete compilation and experience Srila Prabhupada's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.