Thought 90: Who is god? How does he look?

The question, “Who is God?” has been engaging the human mind right from the beginning. Every religion has a god. Every God is supposed to have supernatural powers. People worship this god with the hope that he would fulfill their desires. Someone remarked cynically once that even if there were no god, people would have invented one.

We all need a god - desperately. I will narrate here an incident which happened several years ago. I happened to be in our village when I was 13 or 14 for the summer. This village was a very backward village in the Kaikalur Taluk, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. There were no medical facilities or doctors in a radius of 10 miles. My aunt, who was living in a city several miles away, came there for the summer with her two kids. She was an atheist; she never believed in god. She used to argue that there was no such thing as god and that god is an invention of vested interests who manage temples. Suddenly her eldest son, who was 7 years or so, took ill. She was very concerned and the local native medical advice, which is usually sought by the residents on such occasions, did not help much. We are all surprised to see her suddenly vowing to go to Tirupathi and seek the Darshan of Lord Venkateswara, if the child gets well soon!

Every religion has a god who is apparently different from gods of other religions – which means that there are several gods. Hinduism itself recognizes several gods. When you accept that there are several gods, it is but natural for each religion and religious sect to claim that their own god is superior to all other gods.

When you are in the religious plane, of course, you cannot help believing that there is a different god looking after people of different religious denominations. In the spiritual plane, however, you deal with one god alone – because, in this plane, you are only interested in discovering and developing a relationship between you and your god. Therefore, you want to understand “who is god”. Vedaanta gives you clarity and the depth of understanding on this issue.
For most Hindus, god comes in various shapes and forms. There is Vighnesvara, Shiva, Subramanya, Rama, Krishna, etc. The goddesses also come in various shapes and forms, such as Durga, Lakshmi, Parvati, etc.

Every Ruupa (form) has a Naama (Name). Every Naama (Name) is associated with a Ruupa (Form). Every being in this world is described by a Nama-Ruupa. This has nothing to do with religion. It is a universal rule. Even gods have Naamas and therefore Ruupas. If a god has a Naama, then, he must be associated with a particular form.

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Thought 89: This world is a grand scheme devised by God

This world is a Grand Scheme; everything in it is created for a purpose. There is a good reason for everything that exists in this world. Even the cockroach has reason for its existence (although I do not know precisely what this reason is but I do believe sincerely that god would not have created it without a reason). Dharma is designed to preserve this world as desired by the God. Dharma is an Order, the Universal Ecological and Moral order created by God – which if followed by all living beings in Creation, ensures harmony, Ecological and Moral Standards (for the human beings), which in turn ensures the well being of all life on this planet.

The animal kingdom and the plant world come and go without attempting to alter the Order. They are not endowed with choice and discrimination. But Man, who is endowed with Buddhi, is endowed with choice and discrimination. People who perform wrong actions violate the Dharma. Behind every wrong action, there is a human being, who is either frightened or greedy.

No element in any system can function independently - all elements function together, supporting each other and following the regulations governing the system. Prakriti, Nature, is no exception to this. Prakriti is a huge system - a huge eco-system Thus, there is a mutual dependence all over the cosmos.

The principal components of the eco-system of Prakriti are the forces of Nature (Devataas), earth and its oceans, the plant life, the animal kingdom and the human species. The functioning of each of these components is affected by the way the rest of the components function - since all components in a system are intimately related to one another. If all of them play their respective roles correctly, the system will function like a clock work. Otherwise, we can expect a lot of glitches – and even calamities like a Tsunami.

Of all the earthly creatures, man alone has the capability to actively and consciously support this eco system – for he alone has the intellect (Buddhi) with which he can think and take conscious decisions and actions. If he fails to support the system, of which he is a part, it is inimical to his own interests. No one can neglect the interests of the system in which he lives and at the same time, expect to promote his or her own interests - selfishly. If any one thinks he can look after his own interests while neglecting the interests of the system, he lives in a fool’s paradise. A family is also a system in this sense and this rule applies to the family and its members as well.

When man gets overly concerned with his own interests and neglects the interests of the system, he takes from the system, but does not return anything back to the system. He feeds on the system like a parasite, depleting it constantly, with a callous disregard for the needs of other components of the system. In the long term, he becomes the victim of his own callousness.

Therefore, no one should do anything to weaken the system. On the other hand, one should do everything possible to strengthen the system. When the system becomes strong, you also become strong. This is the only way one can become strong – the positive and synergic route to strength.

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Thought 88: Harmony and balance in Creation

Our world is not created just for the human beings alone. The Lord created the Devataas (gods), the Manes (the Pitru Devataas or the ancestors, who live in a different world than ours but which is part of this universe), the animal kingdom and the plant kingdom also along with the creation of the human beings – and therefore, all these five groups of beings have an equal right to exist happily in this world (universe).

Prakriti (Nature) or the world (universe) is infinitely huge; it is mind bogglingly huge. Managing such a colossal and mammoth entity is not going to be easy. Therefore, Creation does not end with the creation of life and objects alone. More importantly, it should also include the creation of the laws and other administrative setup, which is capable of governing this infinitely huge world. Or else there would be unimaginable chaos – which at once renders this Creation meaningless.

Therefore, the omniscient and omnipotent Lord, while creating this world, also created at the same time, carefully crafted laws and regulations by which this creation could govern itself automatically - without the need for his intervention and micromanagement at every stage. These laws relate principally to Dharma and Karma.

Dharma is Isvara’s Universal Ecological and Moral Order – which, if followed by all the five groups of beings in Creation, ensures harmony, ecological balance and moral and ethical behavior of the human kind, which, in turn, ensure the well being of all life in creation. Violations of Dharma are detected automatically in His system and the culprits are also punished automatically. No one, no one at all, can violate his Dharma and escape detection and punishment. Violation of Dharma is Adharma - and Adharma is a sin. The sin itself punishes the sinner.

The animal kingdom and plant kingdom automatically follow their Dharma; the Lord had not given them any choice here. The Devataas and the Manes also follow their Dharma; they know that if they follow their Dharma, it results in good to the world – and they always want to do good to the world. The problem lies with the human kind only; they have choice - unfortunately. When man becomes selfish, the ecological balance is upset – and he gets punished. A tsunami, for instance, is a punishment for the mankind.

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Thought 87: The orderliness in this universe

There is an incredible orderliness in the universe. For instance, the earth rotates round the sun accurately – to give us the seasons and the measure of time in terms of years. The earth rotates accurately on its own axis to give us night and day – and also a measure of time in terms of days. We can calculate the movements of many cosmic bodies such as planets, meteors, etc, to the second.

Everything is consistent and logical in this universe – if you have the mind to observe and accept this. I can never imagine this universe running on illogic. If you plant a mango seed, for instance, you get a mango tree only – not any other tree. This has been happening for millions of years - and there is no reason to believe that it will not happen in future.

We see an unfailing discipline and a mind boggling consistency in this universe. We may call it an Order or a command structure created by Isvara. It is the Ecological and Moral Order of Isvara, which all of us are able to sense in our minds, even if vaguely. This order comprises of a hierarchy - and also several laws and regulations that govern the working of this universe.

The hierarchy consists of several functionaries, whose job it is to oversee and ensure that the various laws, rules and regulations governing this amazingly complex and infinite universe, which are all catalogued in the various Srutis and Smrities, are in fact being followed in accordance with the “Isvareccha” (desire of Isvara). It is the job of the various functionaries overseeing the functioning of the universe to enforce discipline, maintain an ecological balance and harmony in the universe and punish the violators as needed.

For instance, we see climate changes taking place on account of global warming caused by violations of Isvaraa’s laws. We breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon-dioxide. This carbon-dioxide is taken in by the trees and they breathe out oxygen and thus, recycling the oxygen for our use again. If we indiscriminately cut trees and forests and do not replant them, there would be excessive carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere. Add to that, the hot exhaust gases emitted by millions of automobiles in the civilized nations – you have a very highly conducive conditions for global warming to take place. As a result, the glaciers in the arctic region melt, causing further geographical disasters. If we disturb the Isvara’s Order, this is how we get punished.

Similarly, we see increased prevalence of skin cancer on account of the hole in the ozone layer of the atmosphere caused by the indiscriminate use of fluorocarbons in the refrigerators by the human beings. We are also witnessing a big escalation in the sufferings of the human beings on account of various ailments, such as strokes, cancer, heart diseases, kidney failures, etc. These dangerous ailments are caused by the indiscriminate and unsafe eating and drinking habits of persons unmindful of the laws of Isvara with respect to the human physiology and psychology - combined by senseless pollution caused by human beings everywhere in our living environment.

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Thought 86: Governance of the universe

God has not created this universe only for the human beings. He created it for the animal world as well as the plant kingdom also. Therefore, they also have as much right to exist in this world as the human beings. Animals and plants do not have choice in action – they are fully programmed and sent down. The human beings, however, are given Buddhi – and therefore, they have a choice in action. Because of this choice, there will be frequent abuses – and the laws and regulations governing the universe, therefore, must be able to provide the necessary corrections as needed, automatically, without the need for constant micromanagement.

Creation is not complete until the administrative set up such as the laws, regulations and the overseeing agencies are also in place - simultaneously with the creation of the objects and beings of this universe. Otherwise, there would be utter chaos and the Creation would become purposeless and meaningless. Do you see and accept the logic here?

According to Vedaanta, this administrative set up consists of the various laws of Dharma and Karma – which are the rules and regulations governing the functions of the this immensely large and complex universe.

In general, we may say that this world governs itself automatically without requiring micro-management at every stage by the Isvara (the supreme rule of this universe) or his assistants. In this sense, this world is the greatest automated system. The underlying principle governing this automation is the Cause and Effect Principle.

Hinduism calls the forces of nature as Devataas and gods. These Devataas and gods, who are several thousands in number, have the primary responsibility to ensure that everything in the universe is running as envisaged by Isvara – although everything is supposed to be self-correcting and self-directing. This is like the need for the human beings supervising all the automatic processes in a huge factory or in a large organization like a nuclear power plant. Thus, in spite of computerization/automation, we see a need for human intervention when necessary. This human (god or presiding deity) intervention is part of God’s administrative setup also.

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Thought 85: Faith begins where logic ends

Science looks for logic behind everything - especially in respect of the natural phenomena of this universe. It tries to unravel the causes (which it calls logic) behind clouds, rain, lightning, tornados, storms, cyclones, planets, stars, milky way, black holes and so on and so forth.

The method of science is to observe all phenomena accurately and objectively – and try to see patterns of repetitions or replications in the observed data. Anything that conforms to these patterns is considered logic - and any thing that differs from these patterns is considered illogic. We may say that logic means belief based on reasoning - basis of which is explained above.

This logic or pattern is not invented by scientists. They cannot even modify them, let alone inventing them. They can never modify these patterns or logic or laws because they are not made by any one here; they are authored by God. Science merely discovered these patterns or logic or laws through observation.

What science has discovered so far, such as the principle of gravity, law of conservation of energy, laws of Thermodynamics, many other phenomena of physics, chemistry, biology, medical sciences, etc are very few in number; there are many, many other undiscovered laws and phenomena. In conclusion, we can say that science has only scratched the surface of Nature so far, if that.

For instance, science has not yet discovered anything about rebirth of living beings, about god and his laws, etc. In these areas, we have to rely on our faith.

Faith is an intense belief in something. Voltaire, the well known French thinker and philosopher, said that “Faith consists in believing when it is the beyond the power of reason to believe”. When there is faith, there is an intense commitment too – like for instance, commitment to principles and values, commitment to friendships, commitment to the well being of parents, wife and children, commitment to charity, commitment to cleanliness, commitment to religion and religious beliefs, commitment to Puuja (worship), commitment to god, etc.

Faith is in your mind. It is in your thinking. It is in your attitude. It is in your value structure. It is in your priorities. You give priority for those subjects in which you have faith. Prioritizing is indicative of your faith and commitment.

When there is faith, you do not look for logic. Logic is the science of reasoning based on actual observations. In today's context, it means to explain everything on a scientific basis. Faith means to accept something without seeking proof or explanation; faith means accepting everything without questioning. For instance, when you have faith in the love and affection for your parents, you do not question whatever they do, even when sometimes, what they do with all their good intentions, leads to some harm to you. Similarly, whatever the devoted children do to their parents, is always accepted with great faith by the parents, even when some harm results to the parents from it; the parents do not question the intentions of the children because they have faith that the children will never do willfully anything bad to them.

Logic should be based on facts and on proven or scientifically accepted laws. Objective facts or assessments of a situation without any subjective element creeping into it, is essential for logical deductions. This is possible only if you are not prejudiced or biased. Frequently, people believe in what they like to believe in - and pass it off as logic for the consumption of others. We are not discussing this kind of logic here.

True faith reflects a compelling urge internally to remain devoted sincerely to what ever object or being or concept in which one has faith. True faith does not look for logic or scientific explanations. True faith allows no doubts also. It accepts without any reservation everything in which there is faith. If you have faith in God, for instance, you accept without any reservation that there is a higher power ruling over the destinies of all mortals and this power source is called God. True faith in God accepts without any reservation that God created this world and governs this world through the laws and regulations authored by Him. It also accepts that god rules over his kingdom with an unparalleled and absolute equity and justice. It accepts that there is an orderliness, harmony and balance in the world, which is visible to an unprejudiced mind. These topics, however, are not easily amenable to logic. They are not also intended for the doubting minds. They are fit subjects for faith; they are fit subjects for a learning mind.

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Thought 84: Mind can expand infinitely or shrink infinitesimally as needed

One person known to me, who is 55 years in age, one day complained to me that his boss had asked him to do a three day software course. He lamented, “I am 55 years old and I do not think that I can learn these new and sophisticated technologies at this age”. Then I talked to him that he can do any thing he wished to at any age; what is needed is a strong will reinforced by positive enthusiasm. Then, I told him the following - to boost up his low morale and carry conviction to his despairing mind.

You are now in San Jose, California. Where is California? Clifornia is in USA. Where is USA? USA is on the North American continent. Where is this North American continent? The North American continent is on earth. Where is this earth? Earth is in the space – which is infinite. Where is this infinite space? This infinite space is in your awareness (whatever you are aware of - is in your awareness). This means that your Awareness is also infinite. Where is your infinite Awareness, which contains the infinite space? Your Awareness, which contains the infinite space, is in your mind only!

Mind can expand or shrink to take the outline or the form of the objects perceived by it; it can spread infinitely or shrink infinitesimally as needed. Here, it expands infinitely to take the outline of the infinite space! Thus this space and the awareness, which contains this space, are both in your mind only. Is it not amazing? Is it not mind boggling?

When God has created you with such an amazing capability, how can you think that you are a limited person with limited capabilities? Of course, you are not a limited person with limited capabilities. Not being aware of what mind boggling capability God has created in you, you falsely think that you are a limited being – which is totally unnecessary. When you think that you are a limited being, you will act like one. But, remember, you are not a limited being.

You can now appreciate what infinite and divine Sakti God has created within you. The entire universe is within you! What can you not achieve with the help of this kind of infinite and divine Sakti? What is this mere software course for you, my friend? You can do whatever you wish to. But you must first believe in yourself and in your God to be able to achieve whatever you wish to achieve. Here is what Napoleon Hill says on this topic (Think and Grow Rich).

If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't;
If you like to win but if you think you can't
It is almost certain you won't;
If you think you will lose, you are lost;
If you think you are outclassed, you are;
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or the faster man,
But soon or late, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.

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