Consciousness Beyond Time and Space

Continuing, Vyasadeva says that the Supreme is abhijnaḥ, fully cognizant. It is said that God is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, and these words are very significant. "Omni" indicates that He has no limit. His energy extends everywhere to infinity. Infinity extends not only within 180 degrees or a certain distance but everywhere. I have some potency, and I may be able to push you over with my potency, but certainly I cannot push over a large building. Therefore my potency is limited. But the word "omnipotent" refers to one who has no limit to his potency. Similarly, "omnipresent" indicates that He is present everywhere between the atoms, in the fire, in the sky and everywhere else.

Again, there is a very clear contrast on this point between the Supreme and ourselves. We are not omnipresent. Our presence is limited by time and space. If I am present in one room, I cannot be present in another room at the same time. This is a clear example of how we are not omnipresent. Our consciousness is not everywhere; it is limited. But God is abhijnaḥ, cognizant everywhere. I can pinch my body, and I can feel it, but you cannot feel that pinch. But God, Krsna, is everywhere and can feel everything. It is in this way that Vyasadeva is meditating. Whether we accept or reject his meditations is another matter, but Vyasadeva is thinking, "I meditate upon Him who is present everywhere."

Furthermore, the Lord is sva-rat, or fully independent. However independent one thinks he is, we can actually prove to him that everyone is dependent. We are dependent on the light of the sun, upon our paychecks, and upon the conditions of material nature. If lightning came and struck us, we would be finished. Where is the question of independence? We are fully dependent upon material conditions. But Vasudeva, Krsna, the Supreme Lord, is independent. He doesn't need anything for His maintenance and sustenance. He exists to maintain everything else. This is the import of sva-rat, which is the next aspect in which to contemplate the Supreme Lord.