Oh God!

Spirituality is not religion. Religion divides people. Belief in something unites them.

I was watching 'Flight of phoenix' and these lines are spoken by Rady, one of the characters in the movie and it set me thinking.

When you think of it, spirituality and relgion are actually different. I see Sprituality as believing in the existance of a power that controls us(and sets us free at the same time) and guides our existence. Religion is the idea of spirituality narrowed down by phyicalities and unnecessary detailings. In my view, Religion is Sprituality in cage. When you let yourself free from religion or start thinking beyond religion, you find spirtuality. Religion is like a window which gives you a limited view of what lies outside. Spirituality is looking beyond that rectangular piece of view.

So am I spritual? Do I believe in God?

Well, I am not knowledgeable enough to talk about spirituality or even think about God. I am no philosopher and have no intentions to even try to become one. In fact I am just one of the layman who can not (under)stand more than a few minutes of pure philosophy. It flies high above my level.

When I was kid and was told about God, like any other young and curious child, I used to have tons of questions- If God created the universe, then who created the God. If someone created God, then why is he not God as he is more powerful than God... If God was not created by anyone, then where did He come from??

It is said that the God has no face, no name, no voice and no physical form. I remember reading about concept of substance. Every substance is defined by its properties. If you remove the properties of a thing, that thing no longer exists. I read about this philosophical 'thought experiment'- imagine a red ball. You do? Now imagine that red ball without its color being red nor it being round. So its not red and its not a ball. Now what are you imagining? nothing! So if God does not have a physical form, then what is it? Nothing?

Those who believe in God say that God does not need any properties. He does not need a face, a name or a voice. it is said that God is causa sui, a cause of his own existence. Instead of focussing on the physical attributes of the God, one should focus on the idea, concept and the positive energy that can be gained from believing in the idea of God. So God is an idea that can transpire people to turn positive and do good things(atleast theoritically). But then there is also the energy which is bad or negative.

God is also seen sometimes as a source of negative energy. Sufferings. People ask that if God is powerful, then why do cyclones happen? Why do Earthquakes happen? Some people say that there is a constant war between God and Devil or Positive and Negative energy. Sometimes Evil wins and mostly God wins. But if God can't win all the time, then He is not all that powerful. is he? And then it can cause lot of negative energy. But nobody would call that negative energy as God.. that would be the Devil or Evil. So are God and Satan two alter-egos of just one force??

Imagine, there is a fire in a building and your house does not suffer too much damage, but your neighbour's house is gutted. You would console him that its not God's fault but at the same time, you would thank God that your house did not go down. Same place, same time but two forces in action?? Is this where Karmas come into the picture?

I personally believe in a supreme Power, which is nature. Almighty nature! It can create and it can destroy. It can create circumstances where anything can happen. It can change your life or ruin it. It gives so much and it can take so much back.

I can always feel the God around me. When I walk out in the open, I feel connected with that Power. When I see a mountain, I feel I have seen God. When I feel raindrops on my palm, I feel touched by God. When I see a leaf or a flower, I see God smiling. When I see thunderstorm or lightening, I imagine Him in a violent mood. Maybe I am crazy, but i get spiritual when I walk through a narrow lane among mountains and trees. When I breath, I smell God. Then there are also other things. Music. Is it not a part of nature? Sound travelling through air. Good music can really make you spiritual. A classical raga, a ghazal, a haunting floating tune from a distant, a shabad, a piano note, the sound of the laughter of my kids. Oh, thats God!

Lot of people believe in an anonymous supreme power. Lot of people call that power The God. Then lot of people give The God different names. Then lot of people assign different faces to the different names of the God. Then lot of people believe their God has a better face and is better than others. And then lot of people kill those who do not believe in their God. I think it gets complicated when God is assigned names and given faces. So why not believe in the most basic form of God? Why not believe in nature?

Also its more logicial and scientific to believe in nature. Elements can be explained, denoted chemically and biologically proven. H2O is water. there is O2, there is the earth, atmosphere, space. And When all of these combine, life is born. Everything has a life. Life evolves over time. Things die when their life is over.

Ultimately, there is no way to prove that there is a God and also there is no way to prove that there is no God; so believe in what you may. But do believe in something, for Gods sake! :-)