Fwd: [Advaita-l] Why the Omnipresent remains hidden - Insights from Sringeri Acharyal

[V Subrahmanian]

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From: Sundar Rajan via Advaita-l <adva...@lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
Date: Sun, Apr 5, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Subject: [Advaita-l] Why the Omnipresent remains hidden - Insights from Sringeri Acharyal
To: <adva...@lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
Cc: Sundar Rajan <godzill...@gmail.com>

Pranams to all,

In a recent installment of the Question-Answer Series (in Tamil) conducted by the Foundation, Jagadguru Sri Vidhushekhara Bharathi (Sringeri Acharyal) addressed a fundamental spiritual paradox: If the Divine is omnipresent, why does He remain hidden from our daily experience?
1.      The Starting Point: Isavasyam Idam Sarvam
The session begins with a questioner citing the famous Upanishadic verse: "Isavasyam idam sarvam" (All this is pervaded by the Lord). The seeker's dilemma is logical: If God is everywhere, He must also be in the mind. Why, then, does the mind struggle to stay on a spiritual path?
2.      The Veil of Pratibandhakas (Obstacles)
His Holiness explains that while God's presence is everywhere, our perception is obscured by Pratibandhakas—spiritual obstructions. These are the "dust" accumulated on the mirror of the mind over Anadi Samsara (beginningless cycles of birth).
• The Root Cause: Our past actions, driven by Kama (desire), Krodha (anger), and Lobha (greed), create a thick layer of Duritam (impurity).
• The Result: This impurity (Papam) acts as a barrier, making us unable to perceive the Divine presence that is closer to us than our own breath.
1.      Simple Ways to Purify Oneself
Acharyal emphasizes that the path to God is essentially a path of purification. He outlines practical methods to clear these mental obstacles:
• Dharmanusthana: Consistent practice of daily duties, Japa (mantra chanting), and Parayana (study of scriptures).
• The Power of Intention (Sankalpa): He highlights the importance of the traditional prayer: "Mama upatta samasta duritakshaya dvara Sri Paramesvara prityartham." This Sankalpa reminds the seeker that every spiritual act is intended to dissolve past sins and please the Divine.
• Continuous Contemplation: By dedicating time to Bhagavat Chintanam and Dhyana (meditation), the "Pavam" is systematically reduced.
1.      Achieving Yogyata (Worthiness)
The goal of these steps is to attain Yogyata—the inner fitness required for Bhagavat Sakshatkara (God-realization). As the Acharyal concludes, once the mind is purified of the "Arishadvargas," the God who is already pervading everything becomes clearly visible.
The full video of this discourse (March 10, 2026) can be found here:

https://youtu.be/5FDFwZxK_NM

Regards,
Sundar Rajan

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