My understanding about human religions as taught by humans is that none of them are complete or perfect. Each religion has many strong points as well as weak links. Following the weak links blindly is likely to retard one’s spiritual progress. One may ask as to what a keen seeker should do. You might do what I have done. Just accept one single primary truth that is common in all religion and leave the rest of the religious beliefs and practices as subject to enquiry and revision. This primary belief is that there is one single God in the universe who is in full control of every process in the universe and that he cares for the welfare of all life in His universe.
When one tries to approach the Almighty through silent prayer after believing and trusting in him, He would surely unfold in time, whatever other knowledge is required by any individual.
Eastern religions stress that it is the prevalence of thoughts and desires that prevent an unfolding of true spiritual knowledge. They prescribe many practices for banishing these. However, I do not fully prescribe to this view. If the Lord wished humans not to have any desire or thought then why would he have created these capacities in the first place?
I believe that like all other capacities possessed by humans both desire and thinking can be used or misused. Therefore to me the best daily prayer to the Lord is a request to him to give me the right desire and thinking that is pleasing to Him. It is not quite necessary to pray to God for anything specific. As an all-knowing God who loves us he will undoubtedly take care of our necessary needs if we place our trust in Him.
It is true that there is suffering in the world. Some persons become religious after confronting suffering. Others stop believe in God with an attitude that if God really existed why would he allow suffering. However, I believe that the latter view is not a mature one. Imagine what would happen if humans could commit things like violence, rape and robbery and go unpunished. We can regard human suffering as a sort of correctional punishment. The correction must be regarded as a loving one just as the punishment of a loving parent for a child rather than a revengeful one.
Everyday the mere act of continuing to live may cause harm to others. Humans add carbon dioxide to the world through cooking, use of electricity etc. Many believe that this is leading to climatic changes that harm human population in some part of the world or other. Some amount of carbon dioxide gas is needed as the life giving gas for plants. However, scientists believe that modern life and greed generates far more than is required. Others believe that the world is over populated at the present time and this is leading to shortages of essential commodities such as food for some. Indeed the very fact that we exist may be leading to problems for others. The use of modern chemicals, fertilizers, plastics etc. is polluting the world in a manner that is harmful to all life on the planet not just human one. Thus even if a human leads a good life free from any sins, his mere existence leads to building up a substantial bad account of deeds. It is surprising then that human suffering is not more rather than less. Many humans on our planet are leading reasonably happy lives. This is because the eternal Almighty is a loving and merciful God. Placing our trust in Him and making a sincere attempt to act according to His will surely lead to removing any difficulties we may be facing and thus to an increase in our Happiness.
I know the question that arises in the mind of atheists after reading such an article. What if he does not exist? Are you not then wasting your time? My answer to that is – how else are you using your time? Do you not grow older and more fragile by the day? What will happen after that? How long will you Live? If He exists will you not cut a sorry face in the afterlife, just as you might be cutting one right now. Why not place your trust in Him just as so many other successful and happy humans have done since the beginning of creation. Human life is indeed fragile. It is nothing in comparison to the innumerable events that are taking place right now in the world and the universe. Any of these can impact a human life adversely at any moment. Human life is best of under the guidance and protection of a Supreme Almighty
