I Am In Search Of God. Where Do I Start?

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We all belong to God, but we have forgotten Him! Now, we have started searching for Him. We lost the key inside the house but kept searching for it outside and never found it. We will have to return home. A person looking for God must withdraw from the world and become quiet. In the spiritual journey, one must come back within.

saṅgaṁ tyajeta mithuna-vratīnāṁ mumukṣuḥ
sarvātmanā na visṛjed bahir-indriyāṇi
ekaś caran rahasi cittam ananta īśe
yuñjīta tad-vratiṣu sādhuṣu cet prasaṅgaḥ

Srimad Bhagavatam 9.6.51

The verse above means that one searching for God or trying to attain Him must give up the association of those engrossed in pleasures and material enjoyment.

Finding God: The Search Within

Internalize the senses. You don’t need to search outside; You will never find God outside. Focus your search within. Don’t let your senses be extroverted. Come back within. You are not the senses, mind, intellect, ego, or nature; you are a part of God. You are currently entangled. Just chant “Radha Radha”. By this, the mind becomes immersed in God.

The Gopis are the greatest devotees; even great saints worship them. The best part about the Gopis was that they did all the household activities externally, but Lord Krishna was always in their remembrance.

Leave the association of those engrossed in enjoyment of the senses and take association of the ones who have taken the vow of God. Surround yourself with those who have freed their lives from vices and immerse themselves in the contemplation of God.

Whoever finds God first finds Him within, and when he opens his eyes, he sees Him everywhere. First, look within. Learn to turn inwards; learn to chant within first. Repeatedly, chant the holy name, look at it, and hear it. We may be walking, cleaning, or cooking, but the name is always going on within. All outward actions are going on, but the meditation has become introverted.

God vs. Pleasures: What Do You Choose?

How does one get God? Through love. How do you fall in love? You collect all the love from the outside and offer it at the feet of God. You remove your love from everywhere and chant, and then God manifests Himself. He is waiting for us; we just need to absorb ourselves in devotion so much that we cannot live without Him. A thirsty person only wants water; other drinks do not satisfy him. The mood of a devotee should be similar.

Janani Janak Bandhu Sut Dara
Tanu Dhanu Bhavan Suhrid Parivaara
Sab kai Mamta Tag Batori
Mam pad manahi bandh bari dori

Sri Ramcharitmanas

God is called Mayapati (The controller of material energy), and He will keep throwing pleasures and material possessions at you. However, if you accept those gifts, you will not attain Him. Here is an example to understand this better: When a child cries, the mother sends some toys to see if they make him happy and peaceful. He throws the toys away. Then, others, like her daughter or sister, take him in their lap, but if the child still isn’t happy, the mother will decide to come herself. Similarly, God first sends pleasurable activities and special powers, but He comes Himself if you still don’t stop crying. Crying means chanting “Radha Radha”, maintaining good conduct, and staying introverted (not engaging in material enjoyment).

If you keep doing this, you will see God in everything, whether animals or birds, conscious or unconscious; you will find Him in everything and see Him everywhere. You will start looking at everyone as if they are a form of your God.

Jad Chetan Jag Jeev Jat Sakal Ram May Jaani
Bandau sabke pad kamal, sada jori jug paani

Sri Ramcharitmanas

Original Question – I am looking for God; how do I find him?

Answered by – Pujya Shri Hit Premanand Ji Maharaj
Answered on 19.02.2024

Original Video Of Shri Hit Premanand Ji Maharaj On How To Find God: