In the initial stages of our spiritual journey, particularly in formal meditation, we instinctively seek to isolate and concentrate. We often begin by closing our eyes, a deliberate act intended to diminish external sensory distractions and facilitate an inward focus.
We may conceive of God, or the Divine presence, as residing in a specific, sacred location—inside a church, a temple, or perhaps even a designated meditation space. This belief often leads to the feeling that we must go somewhere or perform a particular ritual to experience this sacred reality. The spiritual quest is thus defined by effort and a separation between the seeker and the sought.
However, as the practice deepens and matures, this initial framework dissolves. The seeking gives way to uninterrupted communion. The realization dawns that the Divine is not sequestered but is an ever-present reality.
- Effortless Presence: The need for rigid, formal practices, such as sitting for meditation, begins to fall away, or is undertaken without attachment to a specific outcome. The effort itself ceases.
- Constant Communion: The sense of an external God fades, replaced by the profound awareness of an indwelling and encompassing Divine presence—a constant, effortless communion.
- Transcending Appearances: The world is no longer seen as a distraction. Everywhere the awakened mind looks, it perceives only the Divine. We are no longer deluded by the fleeting nature of gross appearances; we know with certainty that every sight is the direct manifestation of God.
This pinnacle of spiritual vision is beautifully articulated in the wisdom of ancient traditions, as recounted by Swami Sarvapriyananda of the Vedanta Society of New York in his book on the Dakshinamurti Stotram.
The Swami recounts a discussion with a Himalayan monk while sitting in Gangotri, a sublime and remote location nestled 10,000 feet high among towering peaks, whispering forests, and the sacred flow of the River Ganga.
The monk quoted the revered poet Kabir, whose simple words encapsulate this ultimate realization:
“Khule nain dekhun sahab ko” “With open eyes I see my Lord.”
This revolutionary perspective—seeing God with the eyes open—was further illuminated by the monk’s own guru, who offered a profound teaching drawn from the Rig Veda:
“Paśya devasya kāvyaṃ na marāye na jīryati” “Look upon the poetry of the Lord, which neither decays nor dies.”
The guru then elucidated: “What is this poetry of the Lord? Look at these mountains, look at the river Ganga, look at the sky… Let these be your object of meditation. Here itself you will see God with open eyes. You don’t need subtle Vedantic reasoning; you don’t need deep yogic samādhi. With open eyes you will appreciate the Lord.”
While the setting of the Himalayas is undeniably sublime, the text emphasizes that this vision is not dependent on location or circumstance. The ultimate truth is universal and non-dual.The same transcendent vision is accessible in the heart of a teeming city as it is on a mountain peak. The same truth is seen when looking upon a friend as when looking upon an enemy.
This realization is the absolute truth (satya) of existence. It is not an acquired state that can be lost, but the fundamental nature of reality that is discovered. Therefore, once realized, this encompassing vision of the Divine never leaves one, for it is the seamless, ever-present fabric of being itself.
