"If there is a God, why can we not see him?"
This is one of the standard questions posed to those who believe in God.
Sathguru Venkataraman, the founder of the Agasthiar Ashram located in holy Arunachala, made it a point to address this question in his numerous full length public lectures.
In this media clip, we provide a few short excerpts of the Sathguru's words and follow each excerpt with an English translation.
The first set of excerpts is from 13 July, 1982 when Sathguru Venkataraman spoke at the famous Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore, Chennai.
In this Kaliyuga, people ask, "Is there a God? If there is a God, show him to me. If you can not show him to me, you are a fool!" But to ask this, what qualifications do these people have? That must first be analyzed.
Sathguru Venkataraman raises an important point here. Just wanting to see God does not mean one can see Him. One may want to see the President of the United States, but that does not mean one can see him. One must have some qualifications before one can meet with the President. Likewise, there are certain qualifications one must have before one can hope to see God. The Sathguru continues...
We ourselves can give you the vision of God. But because my Guru and my Guru lineage exist, it is not proper for me to do it. They have shown God to many and there is evidence of that in black and white. My Guru will show God to you. Even now. But you must be totally true and sincere.
Everyone must see God. Both the educated and the uneducated have the same problem - both have not seen God!
But rest assured that God can be shown. How, you may ask.
There is ghee (clarified butter) in milk, but is it visible to the eyes? However, can you say that there is no ghee in milk? If you do, will the rationalists agree? They will contend that if you process the milk properly by curdling, churning and heating, you will get ghee from milk.
Here, Sathguru Venkataraman points out that even though we are not able to see ghee in milk, we can get it from milk if we follow a certain process. Likewise, even though we are not able to see God now, if we follow a certain process, we can indeed see God. And what is this process? The Sathguru continues...
Similarly, if your heart melts for God, if your love for God runneth over, if you dedicate your body, soul and all for God and if you are perfectly sincere, we will show God to you!
Our promise in the name of Shiva.
One more clip from Sathguru Venkataraman speaking this time in the Srinivasa Temple in Chennai in 1984.
Yes, Lord Narayana can be shown! There IS a Lord Narayana. There IS a God. One God. One God for all.
That great charioteer, He who gave us the Gita, that Lord Krishna can be shown!
Just the desire to get a B.A. degree is not enough by itself. To get a B.A. degree, you need to pass exams over a 19 year period.
Similarly, just the desire to see Lord Narayana is not enough by itself. You must do acharya seva - you must serve the Guru, says Nila-kaagidha Siddha. The Siddha says that he rendered such service to his guru and as a result, his guru blessed him with the vision of God.
So rest assured that God can be shown.
One more clip from Sathguru Venkataraman speaking this time at the famous Kalikambal temple in downtown Chennai in 1982.
"Is there a God? Is there no God?" There are many who confuse themselves with these questions.
There IS God. And He can be shown. And we will show Him! When my Guru is with me, the Universal Mother will appear right in front of me. You must have an unshakeable determination to see God and you must not be afraid of anything.
We will show you the Divine Mother!
Seek the help and blessings of the punya atmas, the Siddhas. And persevere.
Sathguru Venkataraman Speaks: "God can be shown"
"If there is a God, why can we not see him?"
This is one of the standard questions posed to those who believe in God.