Can We Come Close To God?

Regarding God as omnipresent diffuses our thoughts about Him, as there is no clearly defined entity to remember, and as a result we have no clear idea about what God is like or how we can connect with Him and receive anything from Him.

- B.K. SURYA

The Bhagvad Gita describes yoga as the union of the soul with the Supreme through a mental link. Its practice is said to empower the mind, enabling it to overcome weaknesses such as lust, anger, and ego, and acquire divine virtues like truth and compassion.

The Gita dwells on the practices essential for yoga: considering the self an immortal soul and remembering our eternal relationship with the Supreme Soul.

But a variety of prevalent beliefs about God negate the possibility of the soul communing with Him.

One such belief is that God is omnipresent. This means that He is present everywhere at the same time, permeating everything. If that were the case, there would be no need for yoga, as the soul would be constantly in the company of God. We do not sit down and remember someone who is already with us. Nor do we yearn for a glimpse, or the company, of such a person. There would be no need for that if God were omnipresent.

One might argue that even if we do not sit down and remember someone who is already with us, we do communicate with them. But even that possibility is negated by the belief, held by some, that the soul and God are the same. Then who will have yoga with whom, and for what?