Now that I got your attention, let me tell you that I am not going to define the undefinable. But, this is merely to ask you to contemplate on your definition of God. Everytime somebody asks me, “Do you believe or have faith in God?” I pause and ask a question in return, “What is your definition of God? Unless I know that I cannot honestly answer that question.” This is because behind every question, whether spiritual or otherwise, there are some underlying assumptions. Unless those assumptions are brought out, one cannot answer a question truly and honestly.
As I stared at my computer screen typing random strings and erasing them trying to articulate my underlying assumptions about God, the text editor I was using was emitting typewriter like sounds. I had enabled those sounds to entertain my five month old daughter, Gayatri, who was in the bouncing chair next to me. My eleven year old son, Sudarshan, got curious at the sounds and he approached me asking if he could play with those “cool” sounds. I gave him my laptop with the title of this article intact in the text editor. He took a look at the title and said, “I want write something here,” and he went on to type what I quoted below without any soft of editing. After reading that I said to myself, “Well, he just wrote what I wanted to express, though not in the same terms. But, it expresses Oneness of all.” With his permission I am reproducing it here.
I am God
You are God
Beasts are God
Money is God
Poverty is God
Life is God
Everything is within God
It is all a daydream of God
God is the Universe
The Universe’s will is God’s will
Universe has a collective consciousness carrying all thoughts in God’s daydream— Sudarshan
What is your defintion of God? What are your underlying assumptions when you ask, “Does God exist? Do you believe in God?” and so on.
Read Nasadeeya Suktam. Rishis have attempted a song on creation during the Rig Vedic period.
Good question! Who is God??? Is there a God???
A lot of people are answering these questions with books, lectures, retreats, paid private readings, blogs etc. All proclaiming to put you on the path to infinite intelligence. It seems the leaders, authors etc have found financial gain by taking us on journeys and holding us in some kind of trance while they exclaim to us how easy all of this is and just stick with them and God will appear within. Something is just off…….! Are we just beings from another unknow universe left here to take care of this planet…. maybe it is just that simple! Tolle, Dyer, Abraham-Hicks, Seth, Budda, Ramantha, Chopra and thousands more try to instill their beliefs into our minds and all with different directions. It’s obvious we as humans are starved for something more and this is quite evident in our pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.
Sorry for the vent…….just really over enlightenment through mankind
Who is God……..hmmmmmmmm, beats the heck out of me!! But, I don’t think it cost money to find out 🙂
I enjoyed your son’s cozy answers 🙂
I had to laugh at my response a few months ago. Can you tell I was frustrated with enlightenment and all the people who were “getting it” except me??? Yes, I know exactly who God is. God is me, God is you !
What a beautiful school room our Planet gives us for learning and growth.
Thank you Desika for sharing your insights and knowledge with us. You are so appreciated!!
Bev
Hi Bev,
No problem. 🙂 I went through that phase of frustration and denial as well. But I came out of that just as you did.
Just to answer your earlier comment regarding money: money is just energy and currently money is the standard of transaction for gifts and services. In older times, the teachers in India were given cows, land, fruits, vegetables, grains, as gifts/tuition fee/donation (guru dakshiNa) depending on the financial status of the disciples. So, money itself is not bad, but how we perceive, use and get attached to it. In short, “Greed” for money is the problem and not money itself. Note that the teacher is transmitting his energy (teaching) and the disciple exchanges that energy with a gift — this keeps the balance.
It is unfortunate that spirituality became identified with poverty. In Buddha’s and even Mahatma Gandhi’s time, majority of the people were poor and uneducated. So, to get their attention they renounced their own wealth. It is not that they hated wealth. It is just that they felt satisfied within themselves that they just did not need it. If their audience was rich, they may not have renounced their wealth. Will a rich man be followed by all the poor, starving people, if he tells them how great it is to be enlightened? I wouldn’t. I would say, “It is easy for you to talk, because your belly is full.” 🙂 These days especially in western nations, it is not a problem since most people who embark on spirituality or those who are disillusioned by material wealth, anyway. 🙂
I am currently working on an article, depending on my free time, of course. I hope that it sees the light of the day soon. 🙂
Thanks,
Desika
Hi Desika,
Thanks so much for the great comment. I do understand so much more now and I am most grateful to individuals like you who shed “light” where there were clouds. I enjoy all your articles and look forward to more.
Bev