Desire to attain God

What we think of or the knowledge we receive from the outside world through our efferent nerves is called chintya. We are unable to think anything original: we can only think about those objects that we have previously seen in the external world. Therefore, as we cannot see or recognise Param Purush in the external world with our sense organs, we are unable to think of Him. He cannot be attained through thought as there is no opportunity to see Him in the external world. So, we can only say to Him, ‘I don’t know what you look like but I send my salutations to you in whatever form you may be.’

Bhaktas, devotees, though, are very intelligent. They know what is worth knowing. They say, ‘Don’t you know why Param Purush remains beyond the intellect? Yes, it’s true that He’s achinta, but don’t forget He has given us so much wisdom, intellect and intelligence out of His deep love for us.’

So why should He remain achintya? According to devotees, had He come within the scope of thought, all of us would have got Him within our reach and that would have been the end of our love – there would be no further desire to attain Him. The advantage of His remaining achintya is that there is an incessant desire to attain Him. This very desire to attain Him will make us greater and greater. That’s why a poet says, ‘You have become infinite, the right decision, indeed, as you will remain infinite for ever. Had you come within our reach, no one would have further sought to embrace you.’