Found on
www.reinventingmyself.com/god.html
"God and Love are probably the two words that have more meanings or at least
more diverse reactions or perceptions than any other.
Most of us have been
brought up with strong beliefs about both and in most cases, we have learned
that God and Love are the same or at least closely related.
For many people, God has been explained within the realms of religion and
although there are many different religions, most of them have the same basic
belief: that God is a superhuman being or source, which created the universe
and everything within it. God symbolizes, embodies and possesses divine
powers. God has control over nature, human experience, life and death.
Of course, this is an over-simplification but for now if we can just think of God
as the creator and controlling force of the Universe and consider that God and
Love are one and the same, then we may all accept some common ground.
To imagine God, we may have to put aside religious beliefs for just a moment
and focus on what we feel deep inside. Feeling or sensing God might be what
we consider to be the experience of spirituality. Spirituality is also one of those
words with many explanations but again if we keep it simple, we might think of
it as: experiencing God as a source within us.
Some may feel this as a higher state of consciousness, a sense of renewal, inner
peace, healing or inspiration. Perhaps, a state of euphoria or a sense of self, as a
soul.
I’m trying to avoid religious dogma here and simply find some common ground.
I do not wish to try and explain or preach any particular doctrine or theosophy;
I simply wish to use the name God. Who or what God is has been argued,
studied, pondered and discussed throughout the ages.
God has many names and just as many meanings.
Usually when God is
mentioned we automatically fall into whatever faith we were raised with and
start discussing religion.
Many people find it difficult or almost impossible to separate religion and God.
Again, I will try and simplify this and suggest that
religion is man’s knowledge,
study or analysis of who and what God is. Religion almost always dictates an
allegiance to a church or denomination. One joins a church much like a member
of any organization and tries to live in accordance with the codes of conduct
and philosophy of that organization. Very few people explore all religions and
yet most will argue that only theirs is right.
Most of the time we simply adopt the
belief system of our family, culture or location.
For many people, their religion is their pathway to spirituality. For others, it is a
venue or simply a place for like-minded people to gather and explore that
particular avenue. In effect, most churches (or temples) represent themselves
as agents of God.
Some people experience a deep sense of spirituality and are led to a religion
and others are bought up within a religion and are led to spirituality.
The reason I am being so careful here is that
I want to explore spirituality and
love as a natural state of being. I am not talking about religion but
I want to use
the word God in the context of exploring life as a spiritual experience.
Some people are lucky enough to live each day as a spiritual being within a
physical reality. These people are filled with joy and a sense of serenity. Life
makes sense at this level and there is an acknowledgement of gratitude. These
people do not fear death and have a very deep sense of security.
They feel
connected to their environment and the people around them. There is a healing
force within them and this energy often radiate from them. There is a wisdom
that they can access and a purpose in which they live. They do not experience
God as a separate entity. God is love and God is light and God is within them.
___
On the other hand in the Gita Krishna tells Arjuna who feared all kinds of sinful
reactions when he would engage in warfare at the holy site of Kurukshetra:
sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
"Abandon all varieties of religion [dharma, occupational duty] and just surrender unto Me. I shall
deliver you form all sinful reactions, do not fear." (
18.66)
Its interesting in this regard that although Krishna assured only Arjuna that when he would surrender unto him or in other words do what he ordered him to do, (BG 18.60: "Under illusion you are now declining to act according to My direction. But, compelled by the work born of your own nature, you will act all the same, O son of Kunti.") that he would free him of all sinful reactions, which would result by engaging in the war of Kurukshetra, many think that he meant me and all of us also. But I may not be inclined to engage myself in a warfare of any-kind nor for the sake of anyone or any purpose - I may be a pacifist - and since the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna have past more that 5000 years. A lot of time where the circumstances changed a lot also. So such an opinion could be for me personally indeed a statement empty of any meaning.