There are various causes of human sufferings, the source of happiness and the teachings of Saints, we will now proceed further to tackle a most common but difficult question, Where to Find God? There are hundreds of religions, each one professing to have first hand knowledge about the object of our search- GOD. Those who contend themselves with the external forms of worship, observing fasts, performing rituals and rites, setting out pilgrims, bathing in holy rivers and tanks, smearing the body with ash etc. and putting certain marks on it. Generally these characteristics are common with slight variations to almost all the religions. Each one professes to be the only true and perfect religion. Naturally, where hundreds of religions and philosophies exist, it becomes a problem for the seeker to select one as the only true guide to the path of spirituality. In their sincere search for God, innocent devotees subject themselves to innumerable hardships. They torture their bodies by standing in cold water for hour and days together, expose themselves to the scorching heat during summers and biting chill of the winter and starve themselves for the months together. They do all this to propitiate God. If they succeed in achieving some super- natural powers, it is likely to enhance their ego and vanity. They generally manifest those powers, become centers of worship and are thus led astray from their real aim. Of course, one has to provide for the essential needs of life. To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise one shall not be able to trim the lamp of wisdom and keep the mind strong and clear. God is neither to be found by torturing the body, nor by pampering it by excessive indulgences. In either way it drains the vanity of man. Therefore we come to the conclusion that this human body has been declared as temple of God by God-men. It is a house in which the soul lives. It has, therefore, to be preserved not defiled. The seekers, therefore, should feel contended that God is within us. |