Choosing the righteous path
If God is everywhere, then why does suffering, agony, hatred, enmity and violence exist? When we do not get logical answers, our faith gets limited; we start fearing God rather than loving Him.
This following conversation which took place between me and Swamiji, my Guru, may help dispel confusion. Me: Swamiji, Where is God? Swamiji: God is everywhere. Me: In what form does he exist? Swamiji: He is formless. Me: And formless as what?
Swamiji: As pure consciousness.
Me: If he exists everywhere, why is there so much suffering, hatred and violence?
Swamiji: God as consciousness provides energy to the body, mind, brain, senses etc and these instruments misuse the power of consciousness. As a result, hatred, jealousy, violence and suffering manifest.
God’s consciousness is like the battery of a mobile phone, or electricity supply to a television. If the mobile phone or television is misused, can we blame the battery or the electricity supply?
These instruments ( body, mind, senses etc) are misusing God’s consciousness to spread hatred, jealousy, enmity and violence. The source of energy i. e. God’s consciousness cannot be blamed for that.
For example, soil can reap a rose plant as well as a poisonous plant. Now it is up to the person sowing the seed as to which seed s/ he wants to plant. Will it be right to blame or question the soil for allowing the poisonous plant to grow and spread poison?
Me: Then how can these negativities and destructive attitudes change and allow peace and happiness to prevail in the world?
Swamiji: When we focus on our individual existence then negativity crops in, but when we start focusing on our source of existence, that is God’s consciousness, then equality, patience, tolerance, love etc will prevail.
Me: Does focusing on consciousness lead us to realisation of God?
Swamiji: Yes, it leads to realisation of God and enlightenment.
Once we see consciousness as our source and perceive it everywhere and in every being, then our life becomes a joyful experience, peace will prevail everywhere in the world and hatred, enmity, violence etc will cease to exist.