Where to Find?

Where can I find the real Him? Is it Jesus? Lord Krishna? Or someone else? – SS

Even if you are certain about God being someone of your choosing, keep the search alive. For one who finds satisfaction in their search and understanding of God and spirituality is a stagnant person. The day one thinks they are satisfied, they begin to dig their own grave. One saint [Thomas Kempis], reflecting on his spiritual journey, once told God, “I am unsure if I truly know the truth of You. I still harbor doubts about You and my experiences.” In response, God said to him, “What would you know if you were certain? Act now.” This is my conviction: regarding God and spirituality, we must live “one day at a time.” Yet, even for this, we need a firm foundation that only a guru can provide. Once we find that guru and have faith in him or her, we should begin to live “one day at a time” while continuing to search for God and grow spiritually.

Religion and God

It has also led me to ask myself: are God and religion distinct? Could it be that religion might overlook certain aspects of God, and there could be more about God that we may never comprehend? Must we adhere to a religion to understand God? – SS

The word “religion” originates from the Latin “relegare,” meaning “that which binds together.” Religion is a construct we created to establish boundaries for our rituals and beliefs. It is akin to traffic regulations or laws. Before laws are enacted, there is freedom to debate and formulate them. Once established, we are bound to follow them, with occasional amendments as they become outdated. However, religious boundaries often do not merely provide security but instead seek to exclude others to avoid feeling threatened by differing viewpoints. Religion has consistently created an “Other,” against whom we compare ourselves for comfort or feel challenged or threatened. Religion is also the birthplace of fundamentalism.

There is never a question of whether “religion might miss out on some aspect of God,” as no religion possesses a monopoly on understanding all truths about God. As I mentioned earlier, we will never fully comprehend God, and there will always be more about God that remains unknown to us. To claim comprehensive knowledge of God would be to elevate ourselves above God. While religion may offer guidance, it cannot provide a complete understanding of God. Nevertheless, we cannot escape its influence and service in various forms. Often, like a necessary evil, it becomes an integral part of our lives, akin to AI in contemporary comparisons.

Revised: 3-7-2024