The desire to see God is key to ending the cycle of birth and death. Merely performing religious activities without the genuine desire to see God is not enough. Continuous devotion driven by this desire is what leads to the divine vision of God.
New devotees, known as kaniṣṭha adhikarīs, who perform devotional activities out of fear or under pressure, will not achieve the divine vision of God. True or devotion should be free from fear.True devotion is driven only by a deep and passionate desire to see and be with the divine.
Cultivating the Desire to See God
The desire to see God can be cultivated through the process of hearing. Among all spiritual practices, śravaṇam (listening to spiritual discourses) is considered paramount as it kindles the desire to see God. The speaker should aim to inspire listeners to yearn for liberation from worldly existence and instill in them a longing to see God. A discourse that fails to evoke such urgency is deemed ineffective.
It is recommended that one should seek knowledge from those who ardently wish to escape the cycle of birth and death, aspire to see God, and ultimately attain Him.
Gaining Experience from Śravaṇam and Kīrtanam
When an individual aspires to see God and attain Him, they draw upon their experiences or realizations (anubhava) from śravaṇam and kīrtanam (singing praises of God). This continuous engagement helps augment their desire to see and attain God.
Preparation to see God
Seeing God is not simply a matter of yearning; it necessitates being qualified of such a vision. The singular prerequisite for this is cultivating service attitude. As one’s dedication to serving God intensifies, so does this service attitude. As this service attitude intensified, gradually one gets prepared to see God.
However, as elucidated by Srila Prabhupada, the secret to seeing God is not to try to see Him, but to engage in deeds that would make Him want to see you. This philosophy might lead novices in devotion to lack a genuine desire to see God, serving Him in a passionate and mechanical manner instead. Conversely, those driven by emotion aspire to see God without acquiring the necessary pre qualification.
In contrast, a genuine devotee engages in service to God with a longing to see Him, not to fulfill personal desires but to serve Him better.Rather than demanding to see God, they harbor a hopeful yet patient attitude, serving God diligently while awaiting the moment He chooses to reveal Himself.
Conclusion
In conclusion, seeing God is not a matter of demand but a result of sincere longing for serving and attaining Him . Even though one may yearn for the sight of God, it is ultimately up to Him to reveal Himself.