The Eternal Conundrum: Understanding God in an Infinite Universe
Have you ever wondered if you truly know God? In a vast and complex universe, the concept of understanding God becomes a profound and often debated question. Some religious teachings suggest that God is both infinite and omnipresent, prompting us to ponder whether it is even possible to comprehend such an entity fully.
Unraveling the Complexity: A Thief in the Night
Just as John the Apostle’s words in John 10:10 describe, the thief (satan) comes to steal and destroy. This is echoed in the Old Testament, where scriptures like Deuteronomy 20:17 and God’s command to utterly destroy certain populations reflect a dark and destructive influence in the world. However, these teachings often conflict with the notion of an omnipotent and all-loving deity.
Light and Love: The True Nature of God
On the other hand, modern interpretations and teachings emphasize that God is light and love. The apostle John, in his first letter, affirms that God is light and there is no darkness in Him (1 John 1:5). Additionally, in 1 John 4:8–12, John declares that God is love and that love dwells within us. These teachings suggest a more intimate and accessible relationship with the divine.
Thus, many argue that the true understanding of God lies in recognizing His presence within oneself and in the connection with all things. The infinite nature of God cannot be fully grasped by any individual, yet every human being has the potential to experience God’s love and light.
Self-Knowledge as the First Step
Before we can truly know God, we must first understand ourselves. This is a fundamental principle in both religious and spiritual teachings. In the context of the Bhagavad Gita, the great sage Vyasa offers profound insights into human knowledge and divine understanding.
The Bhagavad Gita Verses Explained
The first verse in our selection from the Bhagavad Gita, 7.24, highlights the misconception among those who do not fully understand the supreme God Krishna. They believe that before Krishna became manifest, He was in a state of impersonality. This misunderstanding arises from their limited knowledge and limited understanding of the divine nature.
7.25 explains that the Supreme Lord remains unseen by the foolish and unintelligent. To those with cloudy knowledge, He remains hidden, thus obscuring the eternal and supreme nature of God. The value of surrender and the guidance of divine revelation is emphasized in the Gita as a means to transcend these limitations.
Further support is given in 7.13 and 7.14, which illustrate how the modes of material nature can blind the human mind from recognizing the true essence of the divine. However, those who surrender to the divine find a path to divine knowledge.
Conclusion: Embracing the Incomprehensibility
The question of knowing God is a complex and enduring one. While it is impossible to know everything about the universe, the divine offers a path of love and understanding. By recognizing our limited knowledge and surrendering our limitations to divine wisdom, we can experience a more profound connection with the Infinite.
So, whether you believe in an infinite and omnipresent God or see God living in your flat above, the essential question remains: do you know Him through a deeper understanding of self and love?