Nowadays people are very confused about the entire concept of God. Some think God does not exist and all there is is nothingness, some think God does exist but is unreachable to ever truly know, and some think God does exist and is with us always.
Whatever your belief about God may be, the truth is that God is both a concept in our minds and also a reality.
Whatever we think God is, that is how God appears to us. If we think God is Jesus Christ, God appears to us as Jesus. If we think God is Lord Ganesh, the elephant God, then God appears to us as Ganesh. If we think God is Krishna, God appears to us as Krishna. If we think God is nothing, God appears to us as nothing. If we think God does not exist at all, God will not appear to us, as He does not want to disrespect our belief systems. It is up to us to discover him.
Therefore, in order to see God, feel God, talk to God, experience God, we must first give up our concept about Him. And I use the word "Him" not to suggest God is male or female, but just for convenience. Everything we think we know about God could be false, so we have to give it up first. It may not be false, but nevertheless we must give it up in order to be sure that all falsity has been dropped.
After we have given up our concept about God, which is usually tied to a particular religious tradition, then we must explore God in a new fresh way: innocently like a child. Just like on Earth we have friends that we love innocently, similarly God should become another one of our friends that we love innocently. We should be able to feel God's prescene, hear God's words, negotiate with God, ask him for advice, give him advice, and know that God is always there as our friend: all the normal things people do with ordinary friends, why should our relationship to God be any different? You never go begging to a friend, so why go begging to God?
Friends are different to family, because although we know family is always there too, family is sometimes there out of compulsion because one is related by blood. With friends however, friends have chosen to be with each other, to love each other. Choosing love makes it more truthful, more intense, more real, more innocent, more beautiful. Similarly, we have to choose God to be our friend, be open to him, take his advice now and again, shout at him sometimes, be playful with him. And even if we are angry with him because of the affairs of the world and even if we reject him, still he will not reject us, he will always be there when we are ready to be friends again with him. He is sweet and innocent. He is 50% of our being, the other 50% is out own personality and ego.
Every other relationship in this world is temporary, but a relationship to our Source, our God within is permanent and lasts even when we pass over into the other world. If we can aim to see God within all people, and love that God within all people, then this is the ultimate state of 'being in the world yet beyond it'. Read this hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib:
Let us remember death always, let us befriend God who is 50% of us, and let us befriend ourselves.
Sat Naam.
Whatever your belief about God may be, the truth is that God is both a concept in our minds and also a reality.
Whatever we think God is, that is how God appears to us. If we think God is Jesus Christ, God appears to us as Jesus. If we think God is Lord Ganesh, the elephant God, then God appears to us as Ganesh. If we think God is Krishna, God appears to us as Krishna. If we think God is nothing, God appears to us as nothing. If we think God does not exist at all, God will not appear to us, as He does not want to disrespect our belief systems. It is up to us to discover him.
Therefore, in order to see God, feel God, talk to God, experience God, we must first give up our concept about Him. And I use the word "Him" not to suggest God is male or female, but just for convenience. Everything we think we know about God could be false, so we have to give it up first. It may not be false, but nevertheless we must give it up in order to be sure that all falsity has been dropped.
After we have given up our concept about God, which is usually tied to a particular religious tradition, then we must explore God in a new fresh way: innocently like a child. Just like on Earth we have friends that we love innocently, similarly God should become another one of our friends that we love innocently. We should be able to feel God's prescene, hear God's words, negotiate with God, ask him for advice, give him advice, and know that God is always there as our friend: all the normal things people do with ordinary friends, why should our relationship to God be any different? You never go begging to a friend, so why go begging to God?
Friends are different to family, because although we know family is always there too, family is sometimes there out of compulsion because one is related by blood. With friends however, friends have chosen to be with each other, to love each other. Choosing love makes it more truthful, more intense, more real, more innocent, more beautiful. Similarly, we have to choose God to be our friend, be open to him, take his advice now and again, shout at him sometimes, be playful with him. And even if we are angry with him because of the affairs of the world and even if we reject him, still he will not reject us, he will always be there when we are ready to be friends again with him. He is sweet and innocent. He is 50% of our being, the other 50% is out own personality and ego.
Every other relationship in this world is temporary, but a relationship to our Source, our God within is permanent and lasts even when we pass over into the other world. If we can aim to see God within all people, and love that God within all people, then this is the ultimate state of 'being in the world yet beyond it'. Read this hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib:
Aasaa, Fifth Mehl: The mortal revels in joy, in the vigor of youth; but without the Name, he mingles with dust. ||1|| He may wear ear-rings and fine clothes, and have a comfortable bed, and his mind may be so proud. ||1||Pause|| He may have elephants to ride, and golden umbrellas over his head; but without devotional worship to the Lord, he is buried beneath the dirt. ||2|| He may enjoy many women, of exquisite beauty; but without the sublime essence of the Lord, all tastes are tasteless. ||3|| Deluded by Maya, the mortal is led into sin and corruption. Nanak seeks the Sanctuary of God, the All-powerful, Compassionate Lord. ||4||4||55||
Let us remember death always, let us befriend God who is 50% of us, and let us befriend ourselves.
Sat Naam.
Nice post. Thank you!
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