28 Raja-vidya: The King of Knowledge

ceivable mystic power. He is everywhere, yet He is
aloof from everything. We can perceive his energy,
but we cannot see Him because He cannot be seen
with material eyes. However, when we develop our
spiritual qualities, we sanctify our senses so that even
within this energy we can see Him. Electricity, for
instance, is everywhere, and an electrician is capable
of utilizing it. Similarly, the energy of the Supreme
Lord is everywhere, and when we become transcen-
dentally situated, we can see God eye to eye every-
where. That spiritualization of the senses is possible
through devotional service and love of God. The Lord
is all-pervading all over the universe and is within the
soul, the heart, water, air—everywhere. Thus if we
make an image of God in anything—clay, stone,
wood or whatever—it should not be considered to be
just a doll. That also is God. If we have sufficient
devotion, the image will also speak to us. God is

every where impersonally (maya tatam idam sarvam),
but if we make His personal form from anything, or

if we create an image of God within ourselves, He will
be present personally for us. In the sdstras, there are
eight kinds of images recommended, and any kind of
image can be worshiped because God is every where.
One may protest and ask, ‘““Why should God be wor-
shiped in images and not in His original spiritual
form?” The answer is that we cannot see God
immediately in His spiritual form. With our material
eyes we can only see stone, earth, wood—something
tangible. Therefore Krsna comes as arca-vigraha, a
form conveniently presented by the Supreme Lord in
order for us to see Him. The result is that if we con-
