What I write here maybe in contrast to what lots of other people think, but what I have written here is just an expression of my mind. I do not intend to make any statements, or challenge anyone's beliefs.
I firmly believe in God, but God, to me, is a power, an Aura, a phenomenal energy. Not a person - not Ganesha, not Shiva. I am not challenging the beliefs of anybody. But all I am saying is that I associate the lords with religion not spirit. Religion is something that gives a protocol to abide by. Although I am not a believer in this, but, religion comes across to many people as a way to be in touch with or reach God. People who follow their religions feel assured that they are on the right path, and are on their way to god, or atleast make god happy. Religion is what makes them get through everyday in life. So if someday they are told that their religion is not true to them, or if they are made to see flaws in their religion, or if someone points a finger at their religion, they get aggressive or they feel shattered. How otherwise do you explain the fuss over The Da Vinci Code? Religion makes so many unjust things (and at times crimes) justified.
Yesterday i read about a practice in Jainism called "sallekhana". In this, old people who do not have to shoulder any responsibilities voluntarily go in for fasting to death. They don't even drink a sip of water and patiently wait for death to arrive.With all due respect to Jainis, I don't see how it is different from suicide! They believe it is a means to attain Nirvana!! They believe it will free them from the vicious circle of life and death. When the person dies there is a grand funeral procession which is called "Mrityu Mahotsav" (translates tocelebration of death!). The person who dies this way is placed in a seated position in a special seat, and is in the middle of the procession!! I cannot seem to put my feelings in words here.
Religion puts everything in black and white. Everything is either Satanic or Godly. It assigns boundaries, borders and classifications. If you do this you go to heaven, if not you go to hell. It tries to define everything that you do in life. Life is too big, to be written about in a little (or however large) script. Life is not just black and white, there are loads of shades of greys in between, and also reds, yellows, greens and blues for that matter!
People go through life searching for the purpose that the lords have assigned them. Or just the purpose of their life. The purpose of your life has nothing to do with your religion. Infact, you have to define the purpose of your life, you are not born with it. The purpose of your life is what you want to achieve, what to you aspire to be, where you see yourself. Maslow's need theory is more reasonable than religion! Self Actualisation is at the top. After you acheive all your needs... that is, the worldly needs....not Godly(!); you know what you are as a person, what is that which is most important to you.
Forget wondering what your life is about, and why have you been sent to the earth. There isn't any heavenly task that you are expected to acheive. Or if there is, the purpose of your life is to experience life!!! That's it!!!! You have been born into a certain place, to certain parents, have a set of friends and aquaintances, and all you have to do is experience life with all of them.
Materialism is not a sin!! What's important is not where you go after you die... but what happens while you are alive.
I have a friend who's email signature has always appealed to me. It says "Life's too short and life's too long to be somewhere you don't belong". You belong where you as a person want to be, not heaven or hell!!!
I am spiritual as a person, and i meditate. But I meditate because it brings me peace, meditation is also something spiritual to me. God - the power is what gets me through life, not religion. God is someone I can confide in, someone I can be myself with. I don't associate God with religion.
Regards,
Me
7 comments:
i have a friend who states that 'life is arbitrary, brutal and short' a little pessimistic perhaps but you get the idea. there are people who spend their lives looking to others for rules, for directions. for intructions on how to live. the sheep as i refer to them. i prefer to think of religion as a set of guidelines, there are no rules. everyone and their situation is different. but really- if you are a decent human being it should be common sense how to act towards your freinds and neighbors. why do people have to be so extreme when it comes to religion? whether it be sallekhana or jihad or well you get the idea.... think grey, think purple, think ochre, lime green, just live and live proudly and try not to hurt too many people along the way....
hi intrignant.
I m glad that u showed interest in my blog. Yes, and there arent just a few people... more than half of the people are sheep. It is obviously wiser to look at religion as guideline... not rules. Ofcourse... if you are living in a society, you have to be decent enough to know how to act. but you are the person who has to ultimately decide where you want yr life to go, not overlooking the others.
Thanks for yr time and interest.
regards.
Materialism is not a sin!! What's important is not where you go after you die... but what happens while you are alive.
amazing lines these are...i agree with most of what u have written. As a matter of fact, i was planning to blog something on the issue too. Well, i too believe that there exists some power - but i prefer not to name the power!!! :)
Keep up the good work!!!
The problem occurs not because of all the 'sheep'; it's more because of the black sheep that exist in society. Or shall we call them 'wolves in sheep-skin'? Whatever the term, it is they who instigate the not-so-black sheep against each other in the name of religion.
Just the same way one cannot traverse and reach a destination without following a certain path, the same way, religion is merely a path that might lead to God. Of course, the path is meant as a mere guideline. One might follow the path at all times, or stray off the path, yet, reach the destination. To paraphrase Neo, it's all about choice. What say, Devil's own?
Hey gal, I dont mean to interrupt and be rude...juz hope u’ll continue to hav an open mind abt tis issue…if u believe in God, y not believing the purpose he sets for u to live by? Well, it’s never easy since humans fall short from His standards. If u finds self actualization more realistic, y not checkout those who hav achieved yet gave up coz it never satisfies them? Bcoz they may have missed what they actually needed. Well, either way can be argued. Materialistic is just another temptation that will never satisfy oneself. Yup,there's no wrong for patronize branded stuff. God does creates us with senses to enjoy life too. But,it can harm oneself unknowingly with lost of self-control in budget spending (unless ure super rich, tt’s another matter). Don’t be hindered by what man says in books like Da Vinci Code. Seek for urself to know the answer. Great to know someone lk u who thinks further abt life. God Bless!
hey faith
nope.. you aren't interrupting. anyone is welcome to express his or her views... and i don't find this rude. just that we have different opinions on the issue. I believe in the power called god, and if there is a purpose that he has set for me, i haven't yet realised it. and ofcourse human would fall short of his standards, else we'd all be gods right? hmm.. yeah i find self actualisation more realistic, and honestly, haven't come across anyone who has achieved it. if the people reach the stage of self actualisation and think that is not where they belong, then i don't believe they have achieved self actualisation. and please don't be offended faith, i was glad that you took time to go through the post and tell me what you think, it is just that we believe in different things.
I agree, materialism never ends, and it will never satisfy you. we are humans after all and always asking for more. all i wanted to say was that i don't think there's anything wrong in worldly desires.. there's nothing wrong in wanting new dresses, wanting a new car, or wanting to earn more that you want to. I am not trying to say that material possessions are the ultimate aim of our lives.
haha.. yeah i completely agree, the budget's gotta be in control... or else, god, self actualisation or anything else... you're doomed!! haha.
about da vinci code... i was just quoting an example.. nothing in my life changed coz of that.
nice to know you too faith. hope to hear from you again. i'd like to know more about your beliefs.. as we seem to have different point of views.
God bless you too.
Regards
hey well written but u just forot one thing most religions were made to respect the power of god....or just aura power...whatever u call it...the problem is that the black and white lines started being drawn in them later...goddess in paganism or the yahweh in christianity are all just same..power...and well u write well
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