Not name, but a mystic power defines God for me

I remember when I was eight or nine years old, I received a scolding from my elders for not folding my hand during Diwali pooja. Back then, I didn’t understand the logic behind folding hands and bowing down in front of an idol. But, over the years, I have developed my own philosophy.  

One thing I realised is that whenever we think of God, we are supposed to think in only two modes. The ‘thankful mode’, where we thank him for anything and everything, and second, the ‘asking mode’, where we ask him for something important.     

In a sense, we were told that God is not our friend but someone very powerful, that we should fear and respect him (God).

Firstly, I do believe in some mysterious power, it is everywhere. But I refuse to fear it or respect it or expect anything from it. I don’t give it any names like Jesus, Ram, Rahim. It’s just there, and it will help us in times of trouble.   

Secondly, I believe that instead of visiting a religious place or going for some pilgrimage to earn ‘Punya’, we should do deeds that actually make a difference. Like visiting an old age home or doing something constructive rather than standing in front of a statue and chanting and believing we are doing something great.  

I have also realised that the basic function of temples, mosques or churches. It is not that God lives there, their basic function is that of a psychiatrist.

People go there to pray, pour their heart out, which gives them some measure of peace. Or else, they will run towards things giving them hope that their every wish will be fulfilled.

So, all these places are basically helpful in calming people, giving them peace. For them, they are sharing their troubles with there respective Gods who will make their life better.

For me, I simply believe there is no God, just a power from which one should not expect anything. You be in your own zone, do good and for god’s sake don’t fight over it.

In simple terms, think of religion as clothes for your soul. Someone may like a pajama, jeans or trousers. Let people wear what they want.

Despite the pressure that is put on a person in India to follow a certain path (read religion), I have always refused to follow any. All this towing in front of various figurines, small/big statues of God has just not been my cup of tea.

(The writer, Anshul Govil is an educator of Maths and Spellbee from Ahmedabad. If you want to share your connect, affection with the God, send it to dnafaithpage@gmail.com)