Hinduism is one of the least understood, but the most ancient and living religions in the world. The very strength of Hinduism lies in the fact that it survived thousands of years of intense prejudice, neglect, criticism, and misinterpretation from other parts of the world, especially the west.
A Hindu is not an infidel, but a true believer of God, not a mere iconoclast but a true worshipper of the Universal Self in every conceivable form. Those who contradict this fundamental truth have to better examine their knowledge or their minds or both.
nlike
most countries, India never consigned its past to be read in history books
alone. India lives with its history, which remains both unbroken and
progressive. Indians have shown a remarkable ability to adapt to the changing
times and adopt people from all over the world. Invaders attracted to this
fabled land gave up their wartime practices and settled here forever in search
of peace and solitude. It is this traditional practice of living and let living,
influencing and being influenced, which has made India the abode of spiritual
learning.
Throughout its glorious past, India has produced philosophers and spiritual
gurus - Swami Vivekananda, Guru Aurobindo, Sai Baba and Maharishi Mahesh yogi to
name a few. Visitors from far and wide frequent ashrams to gain solace from the
unique power of Indian spiritualism. Gurus and Sadhus hold special significance
in the lives of Indians - they are revered and taken care of.
The plethora of Indian epics - from Vedas to Upnishads, and Shastras to
Puranas - were not written at the same time. Indian philosophy has aged and
matured with passing time. Just when it seemed that everything had become
defined and explained, there used to be a fresh spiritual revival that never
superceded the older philosophy, but added yet another layer to the existing
theories and practices. It is this complex and revivalist nature of Indian
philosophy which makes India the TRUE spiritual destination.
Yes, it is possible to develop God consciousness, which means to be aware of God all the time, to think of Him all the time and to remain Divine centered continuously amidst busy life.
We do not think of God continuously because we are totally preoccupied with ourselves and our problems. We have little time for others, especially God.
A mind that is filled with the thoughts of God is a divine mind. It radiates His glory and declares His greatness. A mind that is saturated with the thoughts of God, speaks the language of God. It expresses His thoughts all the time.
To think of God continuously is to invite God into your mind. To invite God into your mind is to make your life divine centered, blessed and uplifted.
God is the best companion we can have in our lives. He can be the invisible, ever loving, ever forgiving companion, to whom we can express our true feelings and fears without any reservation.
In Him we can confide our inmost secrets and thoughts and from Him we can seek guidance and direction whenever we need.
Wherever you go and whatever you do, make God your invisible partner and facilitator. Even to perform ordinary tasks seek His approval and permission.
A mind that is filled with the thoughts of God is the doorway to salvation. By repeating His name, thinking of Him, concentrating on Him, visualizing Him , looking for Him every where and in every thing, making Him your partner in all your deeds, attributing to Him all your successes and failures, you can bring God into your consciousness and feel His dynamic presence in yourself and in every aspect of your life.
So fill your mind with the thoughts of God. Use every opportunity to think of Him only. Remember Him on every possible occasion. Attribute all your successes and failures to Him and express your gratitude and admiration to Him.
In the beginning your thoughts of God may be mere thoughts, but in course of time you will feel His dynamic presence in your consciousness and realize the true value of His grace and friendship. Remember, the easiest way to realize God is to become His true devotee in thought and deed.
Where there is light, there is God. Where there is darkness, there also is the hidden presence of God. Where there is love, there is God; where there is hatred and resentment there also is the Hand of God.
In the beauty of a flower, in the innocence of a child, in the radiance of the sun, in the generosity of the earth, in the harmony of the universe, in the beauty of the heavens, in the waters of the rivers and oceans, in the intelligence of man and the vastness of the universe if you can see the sacred and dynamic presence of God, your relationship with the world in which you live and deal with would change for ever.
For a man of that vision and understanding, the entire universe becomes a huge temple of God and he becomes His devotee, with countless opportunities to worship Him, feeling His presence and being blessed.
So look for the signs of God every where and in every thing you come across. Accept His living presence whole heartedly. Change the way you view the world around you. When your senses fall asleep, when your mind rests in its own void, you will wake up to see and experience a new world of Divine Truth.
When you develop this vision of oneness, you become filled with love, with a new vision and awareness that is not ordinary to earthly plane. You lose your sense of insecurity and mortal fear that plagues every ordinary being in this world as he struggles and trudges along all alone in the world.
You are not afraid because you have this feeling of certainty that God is with you all the time and that He has become your partner in every thing you do. You will not incur any sin because you are guided by Him all the time.
The seers and saints have this vision. They feel the oneness of the Universe and through that feeling they become closer to the divine both within and without.
For them every thing in the universe is sacred. For them nothing is abominable or hateful because even the negative aspect of the universe is permeated by Him.
They do not suffer from any inner conflict, because of their inviolable belief that all that goes on here is a part of His play. All conflicts and division of awareness resolve themselves into a harmonious whole.
The holistic vision of life becomes an integral part of their awareness. They become compassionate and harmless, filled with unconditional love that accepts and absorbs everything without any resistance or preference. They develop an all seeing awareness in their consciousness that help them resolve their inner conflicts and doubts.
Through this vision they finally experience the omniscience and omnipresence of God and become one with Him. Theirs is the path of the radiant masters, of the souls that are permanently freed from the bondage of mortality and earthly life and have gained the right to enter the abode of Supreme Bliss, never to return again.
So look for God everywhere. He is there right in front of you and all around you. He is there in every thing that is with in the field of your vision and perception. You only need the right approach and the right attitude to develop this vision. They are the means to your salvation and the means where by you realize the true purpose and meaning of your life.
There is no failure on this path. Only temporary setbacks which come in order to strengthen your resolve and prepare you for the goal. It is not difficult to practice this simple exercise. You need to develop aspiration, faith, conviction and willingness. They are your companions on your road to salvation. If you trust them and stick to them, they would lead you to the doors of light and pure delight.
So prepare yourselves for this great journey and look for the wondrous vision and feelings that overtake you as start on your path.