'I kept a fast yesterday for my loved one so that he remains happy and cheerful wherever he goes. I know that God will listen to my prayers and make him happy', these are the words of one of my friends who is too much of a religious person for one to believe. She thinks that God is there, high up in the sky, in the frames, in the idols, in the photos and praying to them will fulfill her dreams and that God will listen to her prayers. On the other hand, I’ve another friend who hardly believes in God and approaches the concept of God in a different way. He has respect for all religions but he refuse to believe in the concept of idol worshipping. He even refused to touch the holy vessels and ‘God’s’ frame which was kept at the Vastu Shanti Ceremony of our new residence. While people were coming and praying at the sight of the holy pots, this friend of mine tells me, ‘Kalpak, is it fine if I don’t pray?’ My answer was an emphatic yes for I know that it was his way of thinking and to perceive things. I can’t, in any ways, interfere with it.
All these things make me ponder. Both of my above mentioned friends have different ways of thinking about God. It’s their approach and their perspective. Good for them. But if any one asks me to put forward my views, I find myself without an answer.
Yes, I find it difficult to answer when some one asks me that whether I believe in God or not. I keep pondering, thinking as what to answer. Every one around us is entitled to have an opinion about various things in the world. Each of such opinions is influenced by several such factors like family and upbringing, relatives, friends, teachers, books we read, newspapers and life experiences. I come from a religious family where God is given utmost importance as in any other Maharashtrian family. But in spite of such religious background, I am unable to relate myself either with those of my friends who believe in God or with those who are atheists.
The most I can think is a general answer…may be…or may be not! And that’s true for me. I don’t feel that I need to find a perfect exemplary definition of God and the need to find about His existence. For methinks that God is the power with which I work day and night. I am of the opinion that God lies in my conscience and in my inner self. He dwells in my optimistic approach towards life. He is my soul, my mind and my body. In that way, I believe that each one of us is small parts of the big entity called as God. That’s it. I can’t think of any other definition other than this one. Lokmanya Tilak started Ganeshotsav with the belief that people will unite together at the moments of festivals like this one. And I appreciate this feeling. I would always like to then keep my faith in a supreme power if it unites us altogether forever. And this is the way I perceive this concept of God. Furthermore, I believe that it’s individual choice to think about God. Then you may say anything about my views, call me idiot for my definition or anything of that sorts, I don’t find the reason to care.
Other than this, I don’t know anything about God. Whether he is their in those rock marbles or idols is not my topic of research. Having said so, tomorrow if my parents ask me to accompany them to a temple or pilgrimage, I won’t mind to go. I respect my parents’ love for myself and it will not make me any small if I obey their wishes. I’m not adamant in my principles. I, no doubt, follow them but if in any ways, they prove to be affecting my state of mind then I don’t care of disobeying them. I love my closed ones and respect their views. What I said above, are my views. I don’t want them to enforce on somebody else. I’ve respect for all religions but still I opine that humanity is greatest of all of them. That’s all for it.
This is the way I perceive God. May be you’re right…may be God is there…a supreme power…encapsulating mankind and universe…may be He isn’t there…just a fake belief which humans tend to have for making their life more easier…I don’t know…I don’t want to know…so far as I’ve faith in myself…in my inner God…I don’t find the need to search for an external one…and I know that I would never find the need to do so…this is my way of thinking…good for me…what you perceive is your way of approach…good for you!
