What is reality? Neither reasoning nor arguments can unravel the mystery of reality. Perhaps as human beings we are unable to grasp reality on account of our limited intellect and understanding. Anything determined by intellect is an intellectually concocted thing.

That is not reality. Absolute reality cannot be manufactured by a conditioned soul suffering from limitations of birth, death and disease.

Supreme reality always exists; it cannot be manufactured by mind. Krishna says mind is material; that it is apara parakriti, not para. Para prakriti is superior energy, while apara is not.

Apara is composed of eight elements — earth, water, air, space, heat, mind, intelligence, perverted ego. Because of being the outcome of material energy of the Supreme, we have material mind. We are unable to know transcendental reality which is beyond comprehension. We need to find ways to see transcendental truth without having to manufacture it. Hence the need for darshan shastra.

This means we don’t have to create God for God is already present. Absolute reality is existing eternally and is self effulgent, the cause of all causes. When the Supreme Lord with self effulgence of transcendental knowledge is experienced, everything falls into perspective.

Brahma is said to have performed penance of one hundred years and more and then the knowledge was revealed to him. Without the grace of the Supreme, we may get the apparent but not actual meaning.

Externally, no one can know. The only way is to submit to spiritual channel. That is why my gurudeva Srila Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Goswami Thakura said that I pay my obeisances to preceptorial channel. Transcendental knowledge descends. Who am I? What is ultimate reality? What is this world? What relation we have with world and the Supreme? All will be imparted. Any time one can get knowledge and immediately all problems will be solved.

We have got misconception of our self. We are averse to the Supreme Lord, hence are suffering. The best way of getting grace is to chant the Supreme’s name. Krishna and Gita are not different.

Name of God, Vedas and the Supreme are not different. Transcendental name and form of the Supreme are not different. Chanting the names of God is something you can do anytime, anywhere.

Suppose you wish to draw water from a deep well but the rope snaps and the bucket falls into the water. How to pull it back from the well? We will have to try all means – fling another rope with hook to snag the bucket in the hope that at least one of the attempts will be successful.

Similarly when fall into the ‘well’ of the material world, the Supreme comes to us in the form of various avatars with different name in the hope of ‘hooking’ us to bail us out. Hence chanting the names of God is beneficial. One sure way of ensuring we keep remembering the names of God is to give those names to your children.

Ajamil has named his younger son Narayan. At the time of death, the messengers came to take him to the land of death, out of sheer fear he called out the name of his son. Immediately Lord Narayana ensured that Yamaraj’s messenger did not take him away. We should have firm belief. If we have belief we will get everything; else we cannot get it. Have faith. This is darshan shastra.