The Everything and the Nothing

As I was lying in the sun today I was thinking of how uncomprehensible Spirit seems to be and how infantile my understanding. It’s easy to think of Spirit as Father, Mother, Friend, and think of the essence of Spirit in our selves and creation. But what is Spirit really? Those little “essences”  seem like just a shadow of this Huge Unknown Presence. If not for the experiences of saints and sages, and those with near death experiences, who have confirmed God’s existence and, of course, my own experiences in prayer and meditation, I would wonder.

I can understand why in Judaism they don’t really even give God a name, and remember the stories of when God shows His Everythingness to others and they say essentially, “I can’t handle what you’re showing me. Let’s go back to something I understand.” Interestingly, both examples I can think of deal with Krishna.

First is the time when his foster mother, Yashoda, opened baby Krishna’s mouth as he had stuffed it with cheese and she was afraid he would choke. But instead of seeing a mouth full of food, she saw planets and universes floating within the body of her Divine Son. She begged him, “Krishna, please, let me just see the little boy to whom I love and care.”

And remember in the Bhagavad Gita, when Krishna showed his Divine Form to Arjuna? Could he ever relate to Krishna again in the same way? Krishna, the driver of his chariot. Krishna, the relative and friend. Krishna, the God of the Universe.

How can we relate to a God that is Everything and Nothing? I feel blessed that the Lord understands the littleness of my Self, and let’s me see Him in ways that I can relate. Our life really does mimic the Greater Self. Do we talk rocket science to a two year old? Not usually. But a hug I understand. The light in someone’s eyes I understand. The deep feeling in my heart I understand. The tears in my eyes from a deep meditation, even when I don’t understand, I understand.