(G.V. - p. 40)
There is nothing so grand and so sublime as the Lord in whom you find refuge. Call on Him by any Name or speak of Him as the Nameless One. He is both Sakara and Nirakara, with Form and Formless. (SSS Vol.2, p. 9)
The ocean takes the form of the vessel, which contains a part of it. When that is done, the Formless takes Form; the Absolute is reduced to the Particular. You will find out, however, that all the joy is derived from the Form aspect of God; the Formless causes no joy or grief; it is beyond all duality. (SSS Vol.2, p. 9)
You cannot go on basing your experience only on the divine principle manifested in name and form. The form and the formless, are both essential for a devotee. The goal can be reached with two legs of form and formless, putting one in front of the other, the one leg representing form taking its support from the other which is the formless. It is important to realize that the manifestation of the Lord with form, is only transient, whereas the formless aspect of divinity is permanent, ever present and unchanging. (DBG, p. 15)
It is when we forget our form that we can merge in the Formless. The Divine cannot be experienced through Dhyana (meditation) or Japa (reciting the Lord’s name). This is a delusion. These practices may give momentary peace of mind. To experience permanent joy and the knowledge of the Spirit you have to develop your Divine Nature. For this, the environment also must be congenial. Such an environment can be secured only in a place with pure and Divine vibrations. This was the reason why the ancient sages sought the solitude of the forests for the penance in divinity charged atmosphere. They be-took themselves to the forests because they felt that the happenings in the villages were not conducive to mental purity. This was a sign of weakness. It is not necessary to go to a forest if you can concentrate on the Divine Atma dwelling in the heart. The forest is remote. Here you have ‘For real’ your heart. The key to inner peace is within you and not outside. In the atmosphere of a sacred Divine Presence, you can promote more effectively your quest for peace. (SSS Vol.23, p. 104)
I do not encourage this adoration of just One Name and One Form, and that too, My present Name and My present Form. I have no wish to draw people towards Me, away from the worship of My other Names and Forms. (Uniq, p. 71)
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa used to perform several methods/ modes of worship to Mother Kali throughout the day. One day the Divine Mother appeared before him and enquired, ‘Ramakrishna! You are getting mad day by day. You worshipped Me in a particular form. Why you confine Me to this form and that form. In fact, all forms are Mine. Whomsoever you come across, consider them as the embodiment of divinity.’
God is pure and attributeless. Such an attributeless and unsullied divinity is present in every human being. All human beings are, in fact, the reflections of such an omnipresent divinity. Hence, every human being has to be considered as the embodiment of divinity and respected. Though God is omnipresent, He assumes a particular form and serves the human beings in many ways. Right from now, realise this truth that all names and forms are His. Anybody you come across, consider him/her as the embodiment of Divinity. When you develop such an attitude, you can see God anywhere and everywhere.
People often ascribe distinctions between different form of divinity, for example Rama, Krishna, etc. Since they try to identify themselves with a particular form, they entertain feelings of difference. By doing so, they move away from God and remain as Jivas only. All such differences exist in the individuals only. God is only one. In fact, He is not different from you. He is inyou, you are verily God! If it is not so, why should the Vedas declare tat tvam asi? You should develop the firm conviction that you and God are only one. When you attain such a firm conviction, you become one with God. For example, you keep a number photos of Sai Baba inyour Puja room. But, in all the photos, you will find that the same God is photographed in different poses. When you realise the underlying unity of divinity, there can be no room for any confusion. You will be able to realise the truth. Whatever I speak is only Truh. Since you are not aware of this truth, you are unable to develop faith in it. There are several people nowadays claiming to be godmen, who lecture upon the concept endlessly. Believe Me, they are all meant to confuse the devotees. In fact, when you develop firm faith in the declaration that God is only one, you will be able to realise the truth. One who is able to realise this truth will have no confusion and doubt. (DD on 9.10.05 , p. 6)