'Drawing' God

[Guest guest]

This happened in the time of Lord Krishna. There once lived an artist who had

traveled far and wide and had built for himself an extensive reputation.

 

But even as he climbed the edifice of fame and renown, achieving success and

impressing one and all with his art, he still hadnt achieved access to Lord

Krishna!

As much as he was anxious to seek approbation from Lord Krishna Himself, who not

only ruled everyones heart but was also the greatest connoisseur of art, success

in this endeavour kept eluding him.

 

But one day, after relentlessly trying to meet Krishna, he got an appointment.

The artist met Krishna and requested Him to stay still, so that he could paint

His picture.

 

On getting Krishnas consent, the artist first prepared the outline and told

Krishna that he would ready the final painting in a weeks time.

You cannot describe God and your attempts will fail. But when you make your mind

clear and clean; fill it with love and devotion; the very same love and devotion

will enable you to have the true vision of God.

 

The all-knowing Krishna also knew about the ego of the painter, but did not say

anything then. After a week, the painter brought a finished portrait, covered

with a white cloth.

 

And when he uncovered the painting in Krishnas presence the painter himself was

shocked at the lack of similarity between the real Krishna and Krishna he had

painted!

 

Completely taken aback by this, the painter asked for another weeks time to get

the job done. This went for many such weeks, but each time he failed to capture

Krishna in his paintings.

 

In complete frustration and total dejection, he decided to leave the city and go

away. But the Lord had other plans. When he was going away, Sage Narada met him.

 

Well aware of the painters plight, Narada confided to him that it was silly to

attempt to paint the picture of Lord Krishna, for the Lord has no fixed form and

can change His face every second!

Narada then advised, If you really want to paint Him, I will tell you a method

which will enable you to do so. Saying so, Narada whispered something into the

ear of the artist. Following the advice given by Narada, the painter returned

yet again to Krishna with a white cloth covering something.

 

But this time, enriched by the wisdom Narada had imparted, the painter told

Krishna that even as He was welcome to change the painting in any manner

whatsoever, the painting would look exactly like him.

 

Saying so, the artist removed the cloth, laying bare the mirror the cloth had

till then hidden. The mirror reproduced an exact replica of Krishna.

 

If therefore, you are imaging that God would be like this or that, it is not

correct. You cannot describe God and your attempts will fail. But when you make

your mind clear and clean; fill it with love and devotion; the very same love

and devotion will enable you to have the true vision of God.

 

~ Baba

 

Ram Chugani

Kobe, Japan