However backward the world was a 100 years back. And however modern the world is today, there is one driving force that navigates most of our thoughts--Religion! What is your religion?
I frequently keep hearing of arguments on religious faiths and beliefs. I never choose to be a party to it until I am unexpectedly caught in a discussion by a very close friend. As he speaks to me about his grief repentance on not following one of the strict rules of his religion, I make intense efforts of trying to understand what my heart feels about it. I ask myself if I follow God or indirectly my religion, as He is what every religion seeks.
My friend tells me how he regrets breaking a traditional rule that everybody in his family has followed since decades. He says that he’s lost his identity. I realise he’s speaking big words; I try harder to find answers inside me. Shortly after he finishes talking, I retire to bed, still searching answers. I ponder, my mind focused on what God is to me.
I start with the leaves through the twigs and the branches, I reach the roots. ‘What is religion?’ I think. Who made it, when and how? I feel terribly puzzled. I think deeper into it. God. I think about the people, the forests, the deserts and the waters. I think of the planet, of the Universe. I think of flowers, of butterflies. Where did they all come from? Somebody, very supreme, very powerful, very rich exists. Somebody who owns all this. Who also owns me. That somebody, without whose wish the wind can’t blow and the eye can’t blink. He’s the Creator. He’s the Lord; he’s the one we all look up to. We name him God. He is one, though the intelligent human race has innumerable names to give him.
I wonder what I would address Him as. How I would pray to him? My heart speaks to me in a bold, sure voice this time. It says, He can’t be found. He beats in my heart, He lives in the stars, He blooms in the flowers, and He spreads his beauty from every little thing. He is everywhere. I don’t need to follow rules that I made. My heart tells me, He is not so complex. He doesn’t expect me to keep myself hungry or fast to please Him. He expects me to do justice with what He has given me. He wants me to be the best version of myself and help others do the same. He doesn’t want me to make up complex ways of life for myself, fail to follow them and feel guilty. He wants me to use the wisdom He’s blessed me with the capability to make things truer and simpler. He created me to love with all my heart and to erase all burdens from the world with the power of love. He never wanted me to live burdened with unjust guilt that I created for myself.
And once again, I realise that the greatness of God always shines in the simplest of things. God is simple, but if only everyone could understand Him.
I frequently keep hearing of arguments on religious faiths and beliefs. I never choose to be a party to it until I am unexpectedly caught in a discussion by a very close friend. As he speaks to me about his grief repentance on not following one of the strict rules of his religion, I make intense efforts of trying to understand what my heart feels about it. I ask myself if I follow God or indirectly my religion, as He is what every religion seeks.
My friend tells me how he regrets breaking a traditional rule that everybody in his family has followed since decades. He says that he’s lost his identity. I realise he’s speaking big words; I try harder to find answers inside me. Shortly after he finishes talking, I retire to bed, still searching answers. I ponder, my mind focused on what God is to me.
I start with the leaves through the twigs and the branches, I reach the roots. ‘What is religion?’ I think. Who made it, when and how? I feel terribly puzzled. I think deeper into it. God. I think about the people, the forests, the deserts and the waters. I think of the planet, of the Universe. I think of flowers, of butterflies. Where did they all come from? Somebody, very supreme, very powerful, very rich exists. Somebody who owns all this. Who also owns me. That somebody, without whose wish the wind can’t blow and the eye can’t blink. He’s the Creator. He’s the Lord; he’s the one we all look up to. We name him God. He is one, though the intelligent human race has innumerable names to give him.
I wonder what I would address Him as. How I would pray to him? My heart speaks to me in a bold, sure voice this time. It says, He can’t be found. He beats in my heart, He lives in the stars, He blooms in the flowers, and He spreads his beauty from every little thing. He is everywhere. I don’t need to follow rules that I made. My heart tells me, He is not so complex. He doesn’t expect me to keep myself hungry or fast to please Him. He expects me to do justice with what He has given me. He wants me to be the best version of myself and help others do the same. He doesn’t want me to make up complex ways of life for myself, fail to follow them and feel guilty. He wants me to use the wisdom He’s blessed me with the capability to make things truer and simpler. He created me to love with all my heart and to erase all burdens from the world with the power of love. He never wanted me to live burdened with unjust guilt that I created for myself.
And once again, I realise that the greatness of God always shines in the simplest of things. God is simple, but if only everyone could understand Him.
Being religious and following rituals are as different as being educated and being literate. While the later begins the process in a way, the former does not need any such thing.
ReplyDeleteHowever, in our deep rooted feelings of insecurity in being alone / being different, we start following what the crowd does.