Religion a big debate

Unique is every one and his religion.
Unique is every human, tiger or pigeon.
All exist and thrive because of his will.
We are different product of the same mill.

Why fall into debate on whose is better
Every one feels his God is greater
God is nothing but a massive Ocean
Several rivers merge with their devotion.

If you can’t appreciate, don’t condemn
Focus on the good words, and the wisdom
Walk the path that you feel is right
Path that has the name of God is lit bright.

To prove the superiority of religion
In endless battles, blood has been shed
Earth was green with love and reason
With revenge and hatred it looks red.

Walk your path with silence and poise
That even others will like to follow
Men who seek God don’t make noise
Rivers that makes noise is always shallow.

Thanks to Dr. Vasant Khisty for this wonderful contribution
You can follow Dr. Khisty on his blog at http://vasantkhistyinspiration.blogspot.com

All roads lead to God

Sikh founder Guru Nanak ji says "Jagat Jalandha Rakh Lain, apni kirpa dhar, Jith dwarey ubarey uthay layoh Ubar."

Translated this means
Oh! protector of the universe keep me in your grace.
I care not about the roads, just guide me on the path to reach you.

Guru Nanak implies is that, the road is unimportant, for all true religious roads lead to Him, and salvation. He seeks to find and to merge with God and cares not for the choice of the road.

If we look around, it appears that, we have forgotten the destination and are merely squatting on our various chosen or inherited roads. Harming each other, and squabbling over which religion and which sect is the right road, we have lost sight of the destination, that is God.

What the world needs is;

• More spirituality and less religion.
• More faith and fewer words.
• More prayer and less crusades.
• More brothers /sisters and less enemies.
• More joy than anger.
• More compassion than greed
• More contentment than excitement
• More love than lust.

I say this with conviction, born out of the blessings of my Guru, for it is true.

How can we achieve a richer and fuller personal life?
At the outset it is to be made clear that it is not necessary to convert ones religion or beliefs. One should only be true to them.

God has sent many messengers with His message. After the messengers the Guru left the world in their human form their followers started various religions to spread the Messiah's or Guru's message as they believed or understood it.
Humans are fallible and over time these messages have been distorted and manipulated. So much of the message is lost in the din of rituals and power struggles
What we have now is exploitation in the name of religion catering to social needs rather than spiritual needs.

No one needs to convert to any other religion. All religions in their true and unadulterated form give the same message.

1. First one needs to understand that we are here because of the gift of human life from God. For only Humans can pray, laugh, cry and experience the complete range of feelings and emotions.
2. Second when we realise and come to accept God, we realise how insignificant we are, as compared to Him. This teaches us humility. Humility is not a weakness, it is to realise that all we are and all that we achieve is because of our efforts, actions and the good grace of our Lord.

Once we walk on the spiritual path we come to know ourselves and accept humility;

• We come to respect ourselves and become possessed of a higher self worth.
• We come to respect all people and our environment and all God's creation.
• We forget our fragile egos and become more tolerant.
• We are slow to anger if at all , and even if we do get angry it passes quickly. By and by we stop getting angry. We respond rather than react.
• We seek richness in our relationships not exploitation.
• We obtain joy from simple things from life.
  

Some of my friends and associates have confided in me that they have tried to walk on the spiritual path but are invariably disappointed. I say this to you, it can work if you find a true Guru /genuine teacher.
So many people live in fear and frustration that they get attracted and cling to anyone who sounds or speaks differently or offers insta-salvation, true physical love, mega material riches or great career success. They always inevitably meet with disappointment.

It is said that God has chosen a Guru for each of us. The Guru will appear before us only when we are ready for the spiritual journey. Islam calls the teacher /guide 'Mursheed'

Due to the times in which we live most of us have become logical creatures. We are dominated by our thoughts and our mind. If we are not convinced in our minds we do not dare feel.

Here are some logical tests that help you to choose a noble Guru /teacher well.

The Guru or teacher should pass the test of freedom of anger, greed and lust.

• Provoke your prospective Guru but respectfully. If he has no patience or gets angry then he is not fit to be a Guru.
• If the Guru demands that you pay money of bring gifts or surrender your wealth then also the person is not fit to be a spiritual teacher. A true Guru does not want or need your material wealth. He has a divine mission to serve, to accompany his disciples on the spiritual journey.

We have to love God and the Guru. In love there is no intelligence, no mind, only the soul. When the soul surrenders, it can be filled with divine love of God. Jesus says "love conquers all"

It is difficult but necessary for only when we surrender and empty ourselves that the Guru can fill our souls with divine blessings, pure feelings and noble thoughts. Only then can we walk on the spiritual path.
Just like God provides blind faith to little children to believe their parents we have to place blind faith in our Guru.

In spite of this and within a year you do not feel any positive change in your life, physical health, in your peace of mind and enriched relationships, you should give up on that Guru and look for someone else to be your spiritual guide.