God Is Seeing Me-Part III

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When remembering 'God is seeing me' becomes habitual with the devotee, he finds that God provides the supreme security. He realizes that God is never a detached witness. It is He who is really doing everything, using us as His instruments.

The awareness of 'God is seeing me' is also a shield that protects the devotee. No elephant becomes unruly when his mahout is sitting atop with the goad in hand. When the God-mahout is nearby, the mind-elephant does not easily go off-track. It is easy to be 'good and disciplined' in the company of critics and watchdogs, or friends and admirers. The fear of censure or ridicule, or the desire to appear at one's best to elicit appreciation or praise, takes care of the devotee even if his own inner restraints are not sufficiently strong.

What then about the time when the devotee is alone? Or when he feels 'no one would know"? It is during such times that most transgressions harmful to spiritual progress occur. There is nothing then to stop the untrained mind from going down by the drag of old habits. Here comes the importance of remembering 'God is seeing me.' This protects the devotee from doing what he should never do, irrespective of whether or not he would be found out. One thing is clear as daylight: It is not at all difficult to fool human beings, but it is impossible to fool God.

Spiritual life is a disciplined life. One' of the easiest ways of disciplining one's life is to remember at all times, 'God is seeing me.' Swami Akhandananda, another great disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, once described how early rising became a rule with him. He usually was up early but on one occasion he heard the bell ringing at the Mangalarati when he was still in bed. He hurriedly rose with the thought, 'Shame on me! The Lord is up and I am asleep.' Never again did he miss the Arati.

Every act of the devotee acquires sanctity and a new meaning when he remembers 'God is seeing me.' Eating, for instance, ceases to be a physical act and becomes worship. If God is seeing me, can I eat anything without offering it first to Him? So the devotee mentally offers to God every morsel and then eats it as His prasada. The devotee keeps both his home and his heart clean and tidy for God, his inseparable companion. 'God is seeing me' prevents the devotee from thinking, speaking and doing what he should not and encourages him to regulate his life on the lines he must.