Different people have different approach towards God. Some believe God as the reason for their existence and others doubt the existence of God itself. Iam not a prophet to give a conclusion on this controversial issue, but rather wish to share some insights through my personal experiences.
"It was a day of my practical examinations in Intermediate. The record was not yet corrected. The lecturer asked to bring an hour before the exam and he would do the correction. I started from home and boarded the bus. After reaching half way, I realised that I didn't bring the certification page and some other stuff. I had to go back home and take those things. Neither I was before the exam for correction nor at the right time for the exam atleast. I thought that was the worst day of my life. I was an ardent believer of God from my school days and always appreciated his existence. I was not particular about poojas or other formalities, but I had a deep faith in God. I prayed to him all the way requestsing to save me from this catastrophe. It was my policy not to bother God for small things. I never asked him to make me pass or give some materialistic things. I only requested when something was beyond my control. So, I had faith that he would surely consider my sincere request. But there seems to be no solution to this problem or scope to help me as it was already late for exam.
I went inside the college. My heart was throbbing as I came near the laboratory. When I went inside I was surprised to see that my friends were doing practicals in a relaxed manner. I came to know from them that the actual person who was supposed to come for inspecting the practicals decided to send another person in his place for some reason and this another person coincidentally was a good friend of my lecturer. So, both of them went to canteen to share their wonderful memories of their college days. I had plenty of time to get my record corrected and did my practicals successfully. for everyone else in the world, it might be a "coincidence" or a "matter of luck", but for me it's purely the blessings and mercy of the God.
This is just one example. I had some similar experiences some more times in life. Whenever I pleaded wholeheartedly and surrendered myself sincerely to God, I was helped or saved by the God. I had a belief system I developed by reading some books right from my childhood and my trust in that belief system always strengthened with every test. Therefore, I became a strong devotee to God, not religious though but spiritually I feel close to God. Iam saved some times from road accidents miraculously, many financial troubles just swept away at the last moment, I receieved co-operation and support almost from everywhere I needed. I don't think that I could do all that just by myself. As a saying goes" dharmo rakshathi rakshithaha". I simply believe in God and good deeds and found them much more powerful than any influence of a politician or officials or any other mortals. I niether had to use my friends or my influence in any case nor I had to fight with anyone for something, except request God in some difficult times to give the courage and strength to handle them."
Recently, I was surprised to find that some of my friends, who were very good people at heart and with lot of humanity and helping nature, did not believe in the existence of God. I was almost shocked. When I asked the reason, they had to say that if God exists why so many poor people are suffering? why there are orphans? why crimes, injustice and inequality prevail? genuine questions of course ! I couldn't take out time to share some awareness with them. However, Iam sure they would realise the truth oneday. God has given us a life and many things. He gave us opportunity to experiment, learn, take challenges and grow. I wonder, if we commit mistakes, if we choose a wrong path, if we hurt, trouble each other ... what part does the God has to play? Say we give a canvas and lots of color to some children. Either they can help each other and paint beautiful pictures or spoil their picture by misusing their colors, sometimes even spoil the others canvas or even damage the canvas of those who didn'tcome yet. Is it the mistake of the supplier if the canvas are spoiled and the colors are wasted? It is upto us how we utilise the given resources. We create our own problems and do the same for each other. Even if ur parents buy u some play items such as cricket bats and you beat each other or hurt each other badly, are ur parents responsible for that? You were supposed to use them for playing rather than fighting.
One more thing, many people oppose God on the pretext that why some people donate so much money or gold to God? Why do they spend so much money for poojas but help no one. It is the personal interest and biased thinking of those people. God never asked them to do that. Their offerings or rituals have nothing to do with the credibility of God. He never expects anyone to give him anything. Infact, he provided us all these things, who are we and what is our position in front of him to give him something? Its just for one's own satisfaction that they do it. Further God never advocated to pray him or praise him in so and so way, do certain poojas, aarthis or perform yagas or other rituals. People have invented them for their own satisfaction either materialistic or spiritual. God is just the supreme power who created everything and he still guides those who believes in him and needs his help or support.
Its no use to perform poojas or rituals to God and be selfish, cunning or involve in crimes outside. The essence of every religion is Humanity and peace. every religion started teaching men to help each other, be kind and considerate and maintain peace. No God asked people to kill each other. Its only some narrow minded people or some with vested interests that use the name of God for their own benefit. Let us not blame God for the mistakes WE do. Let us not criticize for the problems WE create. It doesn't matter even if we do not pray a single day in a temple or church or mosque ... it would be enough, if we are a human with kind and passionate hearts and help the people around us and do our duty towards humanity in this world. Those who couldn't realise the existence of God unfortunately are like those who are travelling away from light and blame the shadow getting bigger if they go towards light and rather go away as it becomes small. But when we turn around, only then one can understand that a shadow comes only when there is light and as we approach light shadow becomes bigger, but we come into the brightness of light. In that light we can see the many positive things in this life.
My Idea of True Spirit of Devotion :
1. Our belief in God should not depend on the situation or circumstances.
Whether we are in a good position or bad, we should always believe him in the same way. Remembering in difficult times and forgetting after that is a selfish nature found in many. Let's avoid that.
2. Rituals, offerings, ceremonies are not important, but believing 100% in God at all times is of fore most value in the eyes of God.Having Faith at all times brings you close to the supreme power. I believe even the prayers and other rituals have been started for some reason, but lost the soul down the way. I find lot of solcace and peace when I participate in the prayer on thurdays, but doesn't mean God will only bless us if we pray that way. Its for our self satisfaction. Instead of offering material, its more important to offer our heart and soul to the supreme power.
3. One may not perform the procedures of the religion, but grasp the essence of religion. Live a life with good values and treat others as a good human being. That would be of more value in the eyes of God.
4. Our faith in God should not make us dependent or passive. We can't expect God to do everything for us. We should do our every duty and request God to be with us in our efforts.
5. Our belief shouldn't make us weak
Many people pray to God to remove all the problems from their life. One cannot escape problems, they are everywhere. We need to pray to God to gives us the courage to face the problems and the strength to solve them. After all, problems are the opportunities for us to take up new challenges and realise the true potential within us.
6. Our faith shouldn't make us hate some other's faith.
This is a major problem today. Many people believe in their religion so blindly and upto such an extreme that they become intolerant of other religions. They fail to recognise that all these religions are various ways to reach the same God. There is no use fighting over which path or road we are travelling, so long as our destination is same. Every religion teachers Humanity and tolerance. Hurting or killing others is againts any religion and inhuman.
7. Names are not important but the essence of religion and the values we cultivate are more important.
I find my God in the name of "Shirdi Sai baba". Everyone is free to choose any form for God or even no form but just as a spirit. It doesn't matter so long as we do not give place to blind faith and meaningless practises on the name of religion. Religion is only a user manual to use the varoius resources of our life properly or a route map to reach the destination safely.
8. God is omnipresent. God is everwhere. If we truly believe in him, we can talk to him not matter where we are. We do not necessarily go to a temple, church or mosque. Infact, he is also within our heart. Every individual has a spark of the divine soul. We just need to recognise it, light it and keep the flame of faith glowing inside us, such that it shows us the right direction in every situation and leads us ahead.
To put in simple words, believing always in God and his abundance, thanking him for everything, making good use of the available resources and accepting every situation in life without regret, helping fellow human beings within our limits and leading a peaceful and responsible life are the true tenents of any religion and the real commandements of God !