I am as near him, as he is near Me. (GV, p. 142)
The Vedas declare: ‘Durat dure antike cha’ (Farther than the farthest and very near too). This statement means that the Lord is as far from you as you consider Him to be and as near as you feel His presence. It is your own feelings, which account for the distance. The remoteness or nearness should not be attributed to the Divine, who is omnipresent. He is present in the subtlest atomic particle and in the vastest object in creation. This truth can be experienced by man if he makes the proper enquiry with diligence and devotion. But few undertake such a quest. All men’s energies are devoted to the pursuit of ephemeral, transient and illusory material gains. Not even a moment is devoted to the search for the eternal and Divine Reality. This is the result of man’s indifference to the eternal verities. Shraddhavan labhathe Jnanam, declares the Gita (the highest wisdom is secured only by the earnest seeker). Without earnestness, one cannot be aware of even what is nearest to him. (SSS Vol.24, p. 94)
Dear Dear Loved One,
You ask, ‘How will you know when I am near you?
When on a sultry night
Everything is hot and still,
The first cool breeze
Brushes your cheeks
I am caressing yon
Think of me
When the pangs of hunger are satisfied.
And loneliness is pierced by happiness
And You hardly speak
Think of me.
When your mouth is parched
And you can hardly speak,
The first sip of cool water
I am soothing you
Think of me.
When I sprinkle your face with cold rain
And wash the earth, the dry brown leaves,
The first smell of clean rain,
I am cleansing you
Think of me.
When pain dissolves
And tears disappear
Think of me.
When steadfast eyes are horrified
By the cruelties of life,
The first glance of the silent settling sun
I am comforting you
Think of me.
Then you ask
‘How will you know when you are near me?’
When the burning sun
Has scorched you and the earth.
The sand and dust fills your eyes
Not a silver of shade about
And you love me.
When loneliness is accompanied by
Hunger and not one can be satisfied
And you love me.
When your lips are cracked
Your tongue feels like clay
Your throat seals up
There is no water about
Not even a mirage in sight
And you love me.
When pain becomes unbearable, you smile
And you love me.
When I take from you
Your most cherished possession,
On the first loss of sight
Darkness envelops you
And you love me.
For everything that you see, hear, smell, taste, or touch belongs to me. So how can you give to me what I already own but your love. And that, I gave to you before time began as your soul’s possession. When you return it to me when I will know you are truly mine and I will dissolve your sorrow and happiness into me - That one being me, I will place you in bliss forever. For I love and think of you constantly.
From your most loving Father. (S&M, pp. 218-219)
I have no special brand of grace for those who are at my door, nor do I neglect the man at the gate. In fact, I have no geographical ‘far’ and ‘near’, My ‘far’ and ‘near’ are not calculated in miles or yards. Nearness to me is not acquired by physical nearness. You may be by my side, yet far! you may be far, far away, yet very near and dear. However far you are, if you but stick to truth, righteousness, peace, and love, you are close to me and I am close to you. (LIC, p. 139)