Once, Lord Krishna appeared before Surdas, the blind saint, and told him: ‘Surdas, if you are keen to see the world, I shall restore your sight to you this very moment.’ The great devotee that he was, Surdas replied: ‘Those who are endowed with eyes are really blind when they do not gaze upon your auspicious, beautiful form. Having ears, they are nevertheless deaf when they do not choose to listen to the music of your melodious song.

Having in their hands the power to attain the Divine, they drown themselves in the ocean of Samsara (worldly life). Although you dwell in their hearts, they are deluded by the false, meretricious and transient attractions of the world. Though they have large eyes, they are not able to see you. Hence, I have no need for such hearts, such eyes or such ears. Give me, O Lord, ears that will listen to your song, eyes that will see your beauteous form and a heart in which you are installed,’ pleaded Surdas.

All religions are unanimous in regarding the heart as the seat of the Divine. The Hindu Shastras (ancient scriptures) have declared that the heart is the temple of God. The sacred Upanishad (Vedic metaphysical treatises) have referred to the heart as a cave in which the Divine dwells. It is stated in the Bible that the man with a pure heart can see God. The Muslims regard the heart as located between the two fingers of God. The Guru of the Sikhs, Nanak declared that only a man with a pure heart can be regarded as a true Sikh. In this way the various faiths have affirmed that the heart is the abode of God. (SSS Vol.17, pp. 95-96)