Why Are We Not Attracted To God?

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Krsna is explaining Himself as He is. Yet we are not attracted to

Him. Why is this? The reason is given by Krsna Himself: "This

divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature,

is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can

easily cross beyond it.” (Bg. 7.14)

 

by His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

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The material world is pervaded by the three qualities of material

nature. All living entities are influenced by these qualities. If they

are primarily influenced by the mode of goodness, they are called

brahmanas, and if they are influenced by the mode of passion, they are

called ksatriyas. If they are influenced by the modes of passion and

ignorance, they are vaisyas, and if they are influenced by ignorance,

they are sudras. This is not an artificial imposition due to birth or

social status but is according to guna, or the mode of nature under

which one is operating.

 

“According to the three modes of material nature and the work

ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by

Me. And, although I am the creator of this system, you should know that

I am yet the non-doer, being unchangeable.” (Bg. 4.13)

 

It is not that this system refers to the perverted caste system in

India. Sri Krsna specifically states: guna-karma-vibhagasah: men are

classified according to the guna or the mode under which they are

operating, and this applies to men all over the universe. When Krsna

speaks, we must understand that whatever He says is not limited but is

universally true. He claims to be the father of all living entities—even

the animals, the aquatics, the trees, plants, worms, birds and bees are

all claimed to be His sons. Sri Krsna asserts that the entire universe

is illusioned by the interactions of the three qualities of material

nature, and we are under the spell of that illusion; therefore we cannot

understand what God is.

 

What is the nature of this illusion, and how can it be overcome? That

is also explained in Bhagavad-gita:

 

“This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of

material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have

surrendered to Me can easily cross beyond it.” (Bg. 7.14)

 

No one can get rid of the entanglement of the three qualities of

material nature by mental speculation. The three gunas are very strong

and hard to overcome. Can’t we feel how we are in the grip of material

nature? The word guna (mode) also means rope. When someone is bound by

three strong ropes, he is certainly very tightly secured. Our hands and

legs are all bound by the strong ropes of goodness, passion and

ignorance. Are we therefore to abandon hope? No, for here Sri Krsna

promises that whoever surrenders unto Him is at once free. When one

becomes Krsna conscious—whether in this way or that way—he becomes free.

 

We are all related to Krsna, for we are all His sons. A son may have a

disagreement with his father, but it is not possible for him to break

that relation. In the course of his life he will be asked who he is, and

he will have to reply, “I am the son of so and so.” That relation cannot

be broken. We are all sons of God, and that relationship with Him is

eternal, but we have simply forgotten. Krsna is all-powerful,

all-famous, all-wealthy, all-beautiful, all-knowledgeable, and He is

full of renunciation as well. Although we are friends of such a great

personality, we have forgotten it. If a rich man’s son forgets his

father, leaves home and becomes mad, he may lie on the street to go to

sleep, or he may beg money for food, but all of this is due to his

forgetfulness. If someone, however, gives him information that he is

simply suffering because he has left his father’s home and that his

father, a very wealthy man and owner of vast property, is anxious to

have him return—the person is a great benefactor.

 

In this material world we are always suffering under threefold

miseries—the miseries arising from the body and the mind, from other

living entities, and from natural catastrophes. Being covered by

illusion, by the modes of material nature, we do not take account of

these miseries. However, we should always know that in the material

world we are undergoing so much suffering. One who has sufficiently

developed consciousness, who is intelligent, inquires why he is

suffering. “I do not want miseries. Why am I suffering?” When this

question arises, there is chance for becoming Krsna conscious.

 

As soon as we surrender ourselves to Krsna, He welcomes us very

cordially. It is just like a lost child who returns to his father and

says, “My dear father, due to some misunderstanding I left your

protection, but I have suffered. Now I return to you.” The father

embraces his son and says, “My dear boy, come on. I was so anxious for

you all the days you were gone, and now I’m so happy you have come

back.” The father is so kind. We are in the same position. We have to

surrender to Krsna, and it is not very difficult. When the son

surrenders to the father, is it a very difficult job? It is very

natural, and the father is always waiting to receive the son. There is

no question of insult. If we bow down before our Supreme Father and

touch His feet, there is no harm for us, nor is it difficult. Indeed, it

is glorious for us. Why should we not? By surrendering unto Krsna we

come immediately under His protection and are relieved of all miseries.

This is validated by all scriptures. At the end of Bhagavad-gita, Sri

Krsna says:

 

“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I

shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.” (Bg. 18.66)