Shape of GOD
We belong to
different religious faiths, and call ourselves as Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Buddhists
etc. The Hindus believe in 30 million GODS AND GODDESSES. Many non-HINDUS wonder why HINDUISM got so many GODS AND GODDESSES. The past history has shown that the rulers belonging to
different faiths conducted Crusades, Jihads, etc., believing that their conquests will unite the different faiths into their faith and please their GOD/LORD/DAIVAM. But none was able to unite all the faiths.
The fact of the matter is that it is the shape that differs and not the substance. It is the faiths and paths that are different
But GOD is one. What Christ
taught, Allah taught, Rama, Krishna and all other GODS taught is the same thing. They are all the avatars or manifestations of THE ALMIGHTY to teach the right path. All the GODS/GODDESSES of various faiths have the following common denominators.
GOD DEMANDS NOTHING. GOD GIVES EVERY THING. GOD LOVES EVERY BODY AND HATES NO BODY. GOD IS BOUND BY YOUR DEVOTION AND NOTHING ELSE. GOD CREATED EVERY THING.
GOD IS OMNI POTENT, OMNI PRESENT, AGELESS, ENDLESS. GOD HAS NO SELFISHNESS BUT SELFLESSNESS.
If we realize this simple truth, people of different faiths can live peacefully. People can stop judging a person on the basis of faith that he belongs. We should believe in the principle unity in diversity. We should realize that we have no conflicting interests based on religion but only convergence and that roads may be different but the destination is same. So let us not fight over the religion, let us unite over GOD. GOD UNITES US AND NOT DIVIDE US. If he divides us he is no GOD.
JESUS CHRIST taught us to love the neighbor as you love yourself. HE taught us that we should follow the right path and harm none even if the other person harms. He taught us principles of love, sacrifice and selflessness. Allah taught the same. The epic Ramayana sacred to the HINDUS teaches us how to conduct our relations with wife, husband, brother, sister, father, mother, teacher, friend, foe and every body. Lord Krishna in Mahabharata gave the guiding principles for rightful path in the form of divine discourse BHAGAVAT GITA to Arjun. He made it clear to DHARMARAJA that praise, criticism; abuse will not affect him in any way. He said that they reach his body only but will not effect his atma. Lord Krishna teaches us the art of diplomacy, how to conduct relations with family, friends and foes. So all of them be it CHRIST, ALLAHA, RAMA, KRISNA are but manifestations of the ALMIGHTY that taught us the way to live and conduct so that we can ensure a place in HEAVEN. They all descended on the earth to guide and teach us by way of their own example. Hence I believe that paths are different but the goals are the same for all the religious faiths.
Do you know that BHAGAWAN SATYA SAI BABA fondly called by HIS devotees as SWAMY has set an example of religious convergence. HIS devotees belong to different faiths- Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and all other conceivable religions. In his ashram at Puttaparthi in India, all the religious festivals, CHRISTMAS, RAMZAN, RAM NAVAMI, SIVA RATRI etc are celebrated by HIS devotees with equal fervor and devotion. SWAMY asks his devotees not to change their faith but follow their respective faiths in true sense. HE says that there is no divergence but only convergence among the different faiths. HE SAYS ‘HELP EVER HURT NEVER’ should be the guiding principle of his followers. He says that GOD IS OMNIPOTENT, OMNI PRESENT, AGELESS, FORMLESS SHAPE LESS. HE says that only if you realize that GOD resides in you and every body, then your behavior will be love for all. He says that this realization will bring you near to GOD. HE is teaching the same that was taught by Christ,
Allah, Rama, Krishna, and all other forms of ALMIGHTY that the people of different regions/religions believe in.
So let us too live by the examples set by the manifestations or avatars of the ALMIGHTY past, present and future so that we can live in peace in this world as well as secure a place in HEAVEN where death, disease and desire will not haunt us. So faith alone should not be an end in itself. It should lead you to the ULTIMATE AND THE ETERNAL.