Satya is infinite, yet the observation of that Satya is multilayered and multifaceted. One may see or experience Satya generally from a particular angle, and that particular angle then appears as Satya—though it is only one way to perceive it.
When a battle arises among observers of Satya, over whose Satya is superior, one is in fact imposing his own idea of Satya instead of deepening his realization of it. This is the great irony of modern religion. Religion is meant to serve as a tool to connect one to deeper adhyātma, for in its origin, religion and spirituality were never separate but seamlessly integrated. But in the beginning, a novice considers his or her practices themselves as spirituality. Such a person becomes more concerned with establishing how their practices are superior instead of deepening their practice and seeing the potential for integration. Consequently, one begins to perceive conflict in everything outside one’s own path.
One famous lyricist, sharp in his observation, criticized religious people by saying they are often more slanderous than the non-religious. The non-religious may be indifferent, but the religious frequently spend their energy attacking other faiths while remaining superficial in their own. When verbal loyalty to religion is coupled with shallow ritual practice, the outcome is nothing but violent bigotry.
The Bhagavad Gītā (6.30) reveals the path of right vision:
“For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me”.
Prahlāda Mahārāja embodied this same principle of seeing Lord Nārāyaṇa everywhere. When questioned by his father—an exclusivist in atheism who declared that he would not see God anywhere—Prahlāda replied with inclusivity, beholding Śrī Nārāyaṇa even within his demoniac father. Later, as a king, Prahlāda had to govern amidst dualities, yet he continued to see potential in everyone and made no essential distinction even between himself and his father. With a heart overflowing with compassion, he prayed to Śrī Nṛsiṁhadeva for his father’s ultimate upliftment.
Thus, the journey from superficial religion to substantial religion begins when the practitioner dives deeper into his own aspect of Satya. In that depth, his vision clears, his practice blossoms, and he learns to see divinity — Śrī Krishna —everywhere.
– Govind Das (ISKCON MEMBER)
