By: BK Sheilu 
Source: The Daily Guardian https://epaper.thedailyguardian.com/view/2046/the-daily-guardian%09/15
Dated: February 15th, 2025

Omnipresence is one of the qualities attributed to God in many religious traditions. It is described as the property of being present everywhere. According to eastern theism, God is present everywhere, in everything, whereas in western theism, omnipresence refers to an unbounded or universal presence. 

Hinduism and other religions that derive from it incorporate the theory of transcendent and immanent omnipresence. It is argued that omnipresence is a derived characteristic, as an omniscient and omnipotent being knows everything, and can be and act everywhere simultaneously. Judaism and Christianity too hold that God is omnipresent. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?”, God declares in the Old Testament.

These religious beliefs raise the question, can anyone be present everywhere at the same time? A being or a person has a form and a distinct identity based on inherent qualities that are manifest in their actions. A being that has a form cannot be present in each and every particle in the world, as then the being would have no form.

If it is argued that God is a supreme energy that is present everywhere, then another question arises: if God, the ocean of peace, love, and mercy, is omnipresent, why are His qualities not apparent everywhere? Any substance or person manifests their qualities wherever they are present. For example, where there is fire, there is heat, and where there is snow, it is cold. Similarly, a jovial person makes the atmosphere of a place light, whereas a brooding man carries a heavy air with him everywhere. So, how is it that omnipresent God’s qualities are hardly in evidence in the world? On the contrary, people pray to God for even a moment’s experience of His love and compassion.

Another paradox is that God is considered omnipresent, but He is worshipped in particular forms, and the devout beg to have a glimpse of Him. An omnipresent God should be present in the devotees too, in which case no one should need to pray. When we think on these lines, we realise that the current state of the world, with its conflicts, crime, corruption, and untold human misery, is ample proof of God not being present everywhere.

Belief in an omnipresent God flies in the face of devotion and spiritual knowledge, because if God did not have a form or distinct identity, it would be impossible for us to have any meaningful relationship with Him.

God is the father of all human souls, and thus He is distinct from us. It is for this reason that God is said to send messengers or angels to this world to guide and help people. If He were omnipresent, He could have done everything Himself.

The prophets are said to have received messages from God and conveyed them to the world. In Hinduism, God is said to have incarnated in different forms to destroy evil and salvage the world. These beliefs lend no credence to the idea of an omnipresent Almighty.

In the Bhagavad Gita, God is quoted as saying that He incarnates Himself in this world whenever unrighteousness reaches extreme proportions, to destroy evil and re-establish a righteous order. The fact that He has to come to this world makes it clear that He is not always present here.

Many faithful believe that they are doing God a great honour by attributing the extraordinary quality of omnipresence to Him. On the contrary, this has led to people developing a casual attitude towards the Supreme Soul. They think that since God is omnipresent, He sees and knows everything, and they do not have the inclination to relate to Him personally. They also wonder what is the point of God’s existence if all the bad things are occurring despite His presence. Some others argue that if even God is not bothered by the miseries of the world, why should they care, and it is best to focus on enjoying one’s life.

The idea of an omnipresent God most likely developed as an expression of love by the deeply devout, who saw God as a constant companion, always there to help them whenever needed. Over time, that idea evolved into its present form. Those who have deep, heartfelt love for God experience Him as a kind, all-powerful being who, while being beyond this world, manifests His power in such a way that everyone who remembers Him with deep love can feel His presence.

BK Sheilu is a Rajyoga teacher 
at the Brahma Kumaris headquarters in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.