The God within

There is nothing but God that exists in the world. If you don’t want to use the word God, you can say energy or intelligence. The basis of creation is found throughout all existence. And it is only one; one sun, but you can see it through any window.

Many prophets, saints and avatars have come to this world and have gone. They have all been like the windows. Through any window you can see the same sun, the same sky. The one sky that is behind the wall is behind the window also. God is in everyone, even in dogs, cats, trees, leaves and ants- in everything in creation. Through the window, you cannot miss it because the window is so transparent. That love and that silence cannot be missed. It’s all one.

To Know God, you must first answer this-who are you? Have you ever pondered over this? Do you know about yourself? If you think you are just the body, it is not possible, because body has its limitations; if you think you are the mind that also is not possible because mind has limitation, it’s another layer. Are you your intellect, or ego or memory? Or are you the Self?

Lord Rama himself asked a similar question once. He was curious to see so much love, devotion and dedication in Hanuman that he wondered and asked Hanuman what it felt like being Hanuman? Hanuman told Rama, “When I am in body Consciousness, I am your servant; when I think I am an individual - I am in Soul Consciousness, I am a part of you; and when I am in my being Consciousness, when I am in my Self then I am you; there is no difference between me and you.”

It’s the same when somebody blames your child; you take the blame don’t you? There is so much oneness; in fact, there is really nothing other than God. God is not someone outside you, far away from you in some place, somewhere in heaven. Then he is not omnipresent, he is no God. God is what? That which is present everywhere, all the time.

Okay, let’s forget about God and observe this moment; see this moment has a mind of its own. The whole existence has a mind of its own. Like you have a mind and it has such intelligence, that’s why it keeps everything in order. Similarly, this moment is seen by this big mind.

This moment knows exactly what to do. There are so many activities happening in the whole creation right now-some are sleeping, others are just waking up- some activity or the other happening in the whole world. So, right now enormous activity is happening in the mind, in the present. This mind you can call it Atma or God and that is what you are.

Yesterday has passed, tomorrow is not here but the present is here, now! Respect this moment, adore this moment. See, this moment is not flat; it’s very deep. When you accept from the head, you can have the horizontal idea; from the heart you experience the depth; and both together only bring true wisdom and knowledge.

What is God and what is Self? The difference between Self and God is just like the Wave and the Ocean. Can there be a wave without ocean?

When we start listening to our heart then we know that all is one; and one God is in all. See, in our body we have so many cells and each cell has got its own life. Many cells are being born every day, many cells are dying but they do not know you. You know if something is wrong with one particular cell; you can feel it. Similarly, though we all have small lives, there is one life that covers and governs all the other lives.

We are all floating in an ocean of life. It is not just empty space all around us; it is lively. And in the big sea of life there, all shells are floating and each shell has got a little water in it which is not the water separate from the water in the sea. So, we need to come out of our shells and experience, “I am not just in the body, but I am expanded all over; everywhere. I see myself in everybody”.

God is the Generator, Operator and Destroyer (Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh). The present moment has been generated; the present moment is operating; and the present moment destroyed the past. So you are in God and, God is in you.

What is the definition of God? God means all-pervading, the one who is omnipresent. Present everywhere, in me, in you, in other people. But God cannot be perceived if the mind is stressed. The sun cannot be seen if the glass is not transparent, if the windows are not open. Being grateful helps you to clean your windows. Doing some practices, meditation, breathing, pranayama, also helps you to clean the windows, remove all the stresses and feel wonderful from inside and very grateful.

(Writer is a is a globally renowned spiritual leader, humanitarian, and peacebuilder. He is also the founder of The Art of Living foundation, according to the Art of Living)