Once, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada was standing on the front porch of the Sri Caitanya Math, gazing at the Deities of Sri-Sri Guru Gauranga-Gandharvika-Giridhari. The temple’s doorway was not very wide, and Srila Prabhupada, not wearing his glasses, was looking towards the Deities.
One of his dear disciples, standing next to him, noticed the situation and thought that perhaps Srila Prabhupada was having difficulty seeing the Deities clearly through the narrow doorway. Concerned, the disciple said, “Prabhupada, this doorway is not very wide. So it might not be possible to view the Deities very well from inside.”
Hearing this, Srila Prabhupada smiled gently. He then imparted a profound teaching, not just for his disciple, but for the benefit of all of us. He said, “We should not think of the Supreme Lord as an object of our vision. Instead, we should meditate on how we can acquire the necessary qualifications to become worthy objects of His vision. We should consider whether He wants to see us.”
This teaching highlights a vital aspect of spiritual practice: the focus should not merely be on seeing the Lord but on becoming humble, pure, and devoted enough that the Lord desires to see us. This shift in perspective helps cultivate a deep sense of humility and devotion, aligning our consciousness with the desire to please the Supreme Lord rather than merely seeking His darshan as an object of our own sensory experience.
