God and Man

II

It is now time to cast aside the trivial differences that exist – the non-essentials. We should just look to the purpose for which they were made, and open our eyes to the Reality that we are all worshipping the same God. These were meant to represent that Reality which exists.

Now you will find, from the standpoint of all religions, that God the absolute is beyond what is known and manifested. That is something even beyond what is supporting and creating all creation. That Reality is at the back of everything. Can we search Him or find Him? No. He cannot be searched. He is unsearchable.

Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty?

The Almighty is inexpressible and cannot be expressed in words.

Names are simply given by the Masters to express that Reality, which is really inexpressible. He is the Changeless One.

You find:

Forevermore, oh Lord, Thy Word existed in Heaven.

Forevermore – that is the lasting Reality and that is the Changeless One. Ultimately, it is unconditioned and undivided. He is the Nameless One.

All names are holy. We have respect for all names, although God is the Nameless One. By whatever name you call Him with devotion and faith, He will make appearance and you will come in contact with Him. But names refer to a Reality that cannot be expressed in words.

All Masters have tried to express that Reality, each defining in His own way. Almost all definitions of God are parallel. They all say that God is the first and the last, from which nothing can be excluded, and to which nothing can be added. God is omniscient, omnipresent, and the primal cause – the causeless cause – the seat of all things; existence in itself. That cannot be created. That is already in existence.

In the Koran, the Prophet Mohammed says:

There is no variability in God, since He is eternal, immortal, infinite.

That is Unchangeable Permanence and Everlasting Reality. These words only seek to express, however imperfectly, the Great Reality that is at the back of all. 

Ever since the Masters first came, They have been trying to express that Reality and chanting praises of the Lord – these have formed the subject of our Holy Scriptures. But still They say He is as unsaid as ever. For thousands of years, the Masters have been explaining in Their own words whatever is possible.

How can the inexpressible be expressed in words? That is the subject of experience you may have, through contact with that Reality. But if even our outer emotions cannot be described in words, how can that Reality be expressed in words? That is why it has always been said that God is inexpressible.

There is the same Reality working throughout all creation. Until we have had some experience of that Reality, we will not know what it is like. What we now know is only what is given in books: we have had no first-hand experience of it. 

All Masters say:

It is the beginning and the end.

In Isaiah it is stated:

I am the first and I am the last, and besides me there is no God.

Again, we find:

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending […] which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

These are definitions given to show that Reality is unchangeable permanence, which has no beginning and no end.

God has no beginning and no end.

But until we have an experience of Reality, we cannot be convinced. Ever since the world began, Masters have been coming and giving explanations to the best of Their ability to the people. But with all that They always said that He is as unsaid as ever.

Guru Nanak has put it very aptly:

He is One, He is the first. He is all that is. His name is Truth. He is the Creator of all, fearing naught striking fear in naught. His form on lands and waters is Eternity; the One Self-existent. Through the Grace of His True Servant, continually repeat His Name. He was in the beginning; He is through all ages, and He shall be the One Who lives forever more.

You see that He says the same thing. All Masters, as They have said, had experience of that Reality. Of course, when They gave Their descriptions, They expressed It in Their own language and in Their own way. But you will find that the salient features of whatever They expressed are the same.

Then further Guru Nanak says:

He is beyond thought. No thinking can conceive Him.

Now the question is: Can we search for Him within the finite pale of our intellect? No, He is beyond thought, no thinking can conceive Him. Not even if the minds of men should think for ages and ages. Then how can we know God? Our bodies, emotions and intellects should first be stilled. Only then the revelation will dawn, you will then know who you are. When you know who you are, you will be able to know and see what God is.

That is why Guru Nanak said if you want to grasp Him within the pale of your finite intellect, He cannot be seen.