We have eyes to see, but do we always see? We have ears to hear, but do we always hear? Sometimes, it happens that something is there, right before our eyes and yet we fail to see it. When we say God is Omnipresent, why is it that we are unable to perceive His presence?
We are not sufficiently evolved spiritually for us to be able to see Him. Gnanis perceive Him, for their minds are constantly dwelling on Him, said V.S. Karunkarachariar in a discourse.
Also importantly, gnanis have no pride. The Lord does not make Himself visible to those who have pride. Few love the Lord as the Gopikas loved Krishna. And yet, when they began to be proud, the Lord disappeared from their midst.
Lured by the notes that emanated from Lord Krishna's flute, the Gopikas stopped whatever they were doing and ran to Krishna to delight in His presence. Krishna gave each Gopika the feeling that He specially cared for her. But the Lord cares for everyone who loves Him.
The Gopikas wrongly assumed that the Lord was attracted by their good looks. The moment such pride set in, the Lord decided that they must be taught a lesson. So he disappeared. But did the Lord really disappear, only to appear later on? If the Lord is present everywhere, how could He have disappeared? The answer is that the Lord was very much there, but could not be seen by the Gopikas. When we let our egos rule us, God distances Himself from us.
Hiranyakasipu was enraged that Lord Narayana had killed his brother. So, he swore that he would kill the Lord. With this end in mind, he performed penance, and Brahma granted him boons. Hiranyakasipu went to Vaikuntha, but could not find Narayana there. So he said proudly that Narayana had hidden from him, for He was afraid of his might.
The truth was that Narayana had indeed taken refuge in Hiranyakasipu's heart where he never thought of looking.
The asura did not have the discerning sense to perceive. Thus, it is that we, too, because of our arrogance, miss perceiving the Lord who resides in us.
