In the Cold War era, one American schoolgirl was very much worried about the escalating arms race. She wrote to the then Soviet leader about her worries and requested him not to be the first on eto start a new world war. Of course very few people thought any positive result could come from this effort. But surprisingly the Soviet leader responded and even invited that girl to visit his country. To cite a later example, one novice reporter requested the world 's richest man for an interview, and surprisingly she was granted one. When asked as to why she was granted this special gift, the man replied, "Well, she asked for it, didn't she?"
Thus it may actually happen that someone who has almost no chance of meeting a very powerful personality can actually succeed just by trying. How does this apply when one desires to meet God?
The Vedas assert that one can neither see, hear, understand nor perceive the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna. Then how can one even make a beginning?
The answer – Transcendental Devotional Service.
Although it sounds very technical, transcendental devotional service is simple to understand. We have to begin this service with the tongue. We either taste things or vibrate some sound with our tongue. If we discipline ourselves to only taste foodstuff that has been offered lovingly for the pleasure of Sri Krsna and then chant the Hare Krsna mantra – Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare – then we have actually begun the process of devotional service.
We also face a typical problem when facing God. He is great while we are small. He is infinite while we are infinitesimal. In fact this problem has plagued people to such an extent that in despair many so-called philosophers claim that if at all the infinites imal succeeds in understanding the infinite, then the infinite ceases to be infinite.
In other words, God stops being God once you know who He is. In the Bhagavad-gita Arjuna represents a devotee who desires to understand God's position . But he does not depend on his speculative strength; rather, he admits his limitations as a living entity and acknowledges Lord S ri Krsna's inestimable position. Arjuna could understand that for a living entity it is not possible to understand the unlimited infinite.
So if someone says that "When the infinite reveals itself, it ceases to be infinite,'' he is incorrect.
Rather it is accurate to state that "If t he infinite does not possess the power to reveal itself to the infinitesimal, THEN it ceases to be infinite."
Sri Krsna is also known as Hyogesvara" or one who has inconceivable power. If He likes, He can reveal Himself by His grace, although He is unlimited. Therefore Arjuna pleads for the inconceivable grace of Krsna. He does not give Krsna orders. Krsna is not obliged to reveal Himself unless one surrenders fully in Krsna consciousness and engages in devotional service. Therefore, it is not possible for persons who depend simply on the strength of their mental speculations to see Krsna.
(Syamananda Dasa)