The God- my understanding

Many young people question the relevance of God in life, believing that one should simply focus on work and enjoy life. Even the older generation, while not as extreme in their views, also struggle to see the practicality of God's presence beyond visiting temples, fasting occasionally, performing worship rituals, and then considering their duty towards God fulfilled.

However, do the broader connotations exist for the concept of God? What was the reason behind the significant emphasis placed on God by ancient sages and saints? Is it genuine? Does it have a practical significance? Is it still applicable? How can we comprehend the concept of God?

Let's attempt to examine all of this. Note: the concept of "God" is not analyzable, as it is beyond our understanding. Senses, mind, and intellect belong to the material realm and are incapable of grasping the spiritual realm. It transcends language as well. Therefore, this is simply my interpretation.

The belief in God is present worldwide among humanity. Although knowledge of other regions and territories came later (with Columbus and Vasco de Gama discovering new territories in 1492-98), ancient civilizations had already acknowledged the existence of a higher power in every community and region, which later developed into different faiths and religions. Despite living on different continents with limited contact, they all arrived at the same conclusion that God exists. The characteristics and attributes they attributed to God were consistent, such as being omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, eternal, loving, and kind.

Looking at it from a utilitarian point of view...

We humans are inadequate, insufficient, lacking in some respects and all our efforts throughout life are to fill that gap, whether it is in terms of goodness, knowledge, wealth, health, beauty, love, peace or whatever. We are trying to fill that gap. If we were to ask ourselves, what is the level to which we want to raise ourselves? Naturally, it is the God who is PERFECT and the WHOLE. And that is the level we want to rise to- hence the concept of self-realisation. Despite our efforts, we can never fully reach that level of perfection.

Let us understand it by some examples.

I aim to narrow the wealth gap. What is the maximum limit I can reach? I may continue to amass wealth, but I can only be considered the wealthiest when no one else remains to surpass. Even if there is just one other person on Earth (making us two to share), we would share the wealth, leaving me with only 50%. Is this achievable? No, so we will always remain lacking or insufficient.

It's not just about wealth, but also about other aspects of life, such as knowledge, health, beauty, love, peace, or other qualities. No matter how hard we try to reach perfection, we can never truly reach it; that emptiness inside us can never be filled. To take another example,

for instance, if I aspire to become the most knowledgeable person on Earth, and I decide to start by studying engineering, I will encounter a vast array of branches and sub-branches such as electrical, electronics, computer science, mechanical, communication, metallurgical, aeronautics, civil engineering, and many more. Then, there are fields like medical sciences, accounting, architecture, humanities (including history, geography, political science), arts (such as literature, painting, music, dance), and languages. Even dedicating a lifetime to learning, it is impossible for anyone to achieve the status of the most knowledgeable person, as the breadth of knowledge is simply too vast. We will always fall short and remain inadequate compared to the vast expanse of knowledge available in various fields.

We all find comfort in the protection of someone who is powerful and resourceful. In moments of crisis, when all our efforts have been in vain, when hope seems lost, and when there is no glimmer of light, our hearts long for a miracle, our hearts reach out to an unknown force, and our hands are raised in prayer. Despite never having seen Him, never having believed in Him, spending our lives denying His existence and mocking the idea, now, almost involuntarily, our hearts start to have faith in an unseen and unknown power - that power is God.

The source of our inspiration- strength like God; innocence like God; beauty like God; solitude like God; piety like God. We perceive Him as embodying all virtues at the highest level.

As time goes by, you may lose interest in your favorite food, stylish clothes, beautiful homes, valuable possessions, and even people you once admired or were attracted to. Eventually, these things start to feel like traps or snares rather than sources of joy. However, if you have a love for God, your devotion will only grow stronger each day. You will come to realize that nothing in this entire universe can compare to God, making your life truly fulfilling and meaningful.

When facing challenges, adversity, or illness, even when you are exerting all your efforts, turning to prayer and recognizing the need for divine mercy and grace can provide the strength to persevere. Likewise, in times of intense desire or aspiration, seeking inner prayer and divine intervention become essential. Thus, in both favorable and unfavorable circumstances, God plays a crucial role.

He is the most genuine democrat. He shows no favoritism. His sun shines just as brightly for those who despise Him; his air, water, and earth do not differentiate between those who believe in Him and those who do not. The Gita says that even the greatest sinner is cleansed in His presence and transformed into a virtuous and wise individual by Lord Krishna.

There are many representations of God through different things, names, forms, and attributes. These are merely our futile efforts to explain the inexplicable. However, people widely acknowledge that love and truth are the ways to connect with Him. While there are different paths - knowledge (ज्ञान), Devotion (भक्ति), Action (कर्म), yoga or Dhyan (ध्यान) - Love and Truth are essential regardless of the path chosen.

Therefore, let us approach His divine presence, surrender wholeheartedly, and earnestly seek His blessings.