How can one see God

Once, Birbal's daughter saw her father pacing up and down his mansion, looking very worried indeed. Hoping to lift his spirits, she asked, "Father, what could be worrying the great minister of emperor Akbar so much that he is unable to eat and sleep tonight?" Hoping to simply share his thoughts, he caressed  her with a fatherly smile and said, "Daughter, the puzzle before me has no logical answer and it is a question that has been around since time immemorial." "What question can there be that my father's wit can not crack?"

Emperor Akbar was an exceptionally curious man. He was forever grappling with the nature of God and divinity. Desirous of knowing more, he asked his most favoured minister, Birbal, "How can one get to see God?" Birbal asked everyone he could think of. He spent a lot of time searching out the most well-known pundits and holy men of the era to find a logical, understandable reason that was beyond sectarian philosophy. Even after a comprehensive search, Birbal was unable to find a satisfying answer. 

Birbal's daughter thought about it a while and than said, "I am unable to answer the question, but know a man who can. My guruji, Shri Gosaiji of Gokul, is an exceptional man and he will be able to help." 

Having absolute faith in his daughter's judgement, when next day in court the emperor asked Birbal for an answer to his investigations, Birbal bowed low and answered, "The only way to answer this question is to go and speak in person to the great Gosaiji of Gokul."

Akbar was a great man and his desire for knowledge was sincere. He immediately organised a visit to Gokul and dressed in the guise of an ordinary person to avoid unnecessary fuss. Akbar and his retinue came to Gokul at a time when Shri Gosaiji was performing his snan-sandhya (ritual bath and prayers, performed 3 times a day) and they waited patiently for him to finish. After finishing his rituals, Shri Gosaiji saw Akbar was waiting for him, disguised though he was, Shri Gosaiji smiled, called him over and asked him "What brings the emperor of Agra to Gokul?"

Surprised, but unphased, Akbar approached Shri Gosaiji and with folded hands, said, "Dear sir, I would like to find out how I can meet the Lord."

"It is as simple as this visit of yours to Gokul." Seeing the emperor a little puzzled, Shri Gosaiji elaborated on the answer. "Just think how complicated the procedure is to arrange a meeting with the emperor! I would have to speak to so many people and write many letters to arrange a single date. And, even after having arranged it all, if for what ever reason you cancel the date, I would have to go through the process afresh. Yet, if the emperor wishes to see a person, can anyone stand in his way?" Pausing to let his first point sink in, Shri Gosaiji carried on, "Similarly, a soul can struggle to see God for several lifetimes, and yet may or may not achieve this goal. But, if the Lord God wishes to bestow His grace upon a soul, can anyone stop Him? Lord's grace is infinite and is totally at His disposal. If the Lord wishes to see a soul, He will Himself grace the soul and arrive as you have!" 

Impressed by this very simple and practical answer to his question, Akbar made gift of a magnificent diamond to mark the occasion. The two men met again on a number of occasions and at one point, Shri Gosaiji made a special arrangement for the non-hindu emperor to have a darshan of the Lord Shri Nathji during Sharad Purnima.