Seeing Divinity in all things is the Hindu alternative to self-destruction

Seeing Divinity in all things is the Hindu alternative to self-destruction

To the Hindu, one spiritual power flows in and through all things in this universe, animate and inanimate, conferring existence by its presence. The Lord teaches us that: “There is nothing else besides Me. Like beads held together by the one thread, all this (creation) is threaded on Me.” (Gita. 7.7)

Worship is a means by which we learn to see God within all and everything. To the Hindu, the ground is sacred. The rivers are sacred. The sky is sacred. The sun is sacred. His wife is a Goddess. Her husband is a God. Their children are devas. Their home is a shrine. Life is a pilgrimage to liberation from rebirth. If we see that the Divine exists in trees, in rivers and in the earth, we will show reverence to them instead of destroying our environment.

Hindus, who are one-sixth of the human race, believe in the existence of God everywhere, as an all-pervasive, self-effulgent energy and consciousness. This basic belief creates the attitude of sublime tolerance and acceptance towards others. Even ‘tolerance’ is insufficient to describe the compassion and reverence the Hindu holds for the intrinsic sacredness within all things. One would not want to hurt something that one reveres.

With the growth of science, the scientists realize that such an attitude towards life is, today, very much needed if man wants to save himself from self-destruction. As a result of the technological development with its vast potential for destruction, with man’s greedy and aggressive nature, the alternative to self-destruction is to learn to see sacredness in everything. With the advancement of material science, there has not been a corresponding religious or moral development.

This kind of thinking, this realization changes our attitude. A sense of respect develops. We bow to our mother and father, to our teachers, and to the saints. We will worship them like the Lord. They are our first god. “Maatri Devo bhava; Pitri Devo bhava, Aachaarya Devo bhava.” Mutual respect is the only way to create a congenial atmosphere free from distrust and anxiety.

In other beliefs, you cannot bow before anything. It is considered a sacrilege. As a result, people slaughter animals as well as fellow human beings. Because respect for the sacredness of all life has not been taught, and the slaughtering of animals for food has become an accepted tradition, a violent attitude becomes inhered in human nature. This causes man to behave abnormally.

Our ancient Rishis and Munis were wise. They developed a way of life, and if we follow its pattern, the world in which we live – our Mother Earth – will be heaven. They gave us righteousness and if we follow its path, our mind will become clear and purified. When our mind becomes clear and our nature balanced, we shall be able to experience the unity of life. Until then we cannot find peace in spite of how many treaties we sign.

The biggest problem of today’s world is stress. That is why people are turning to meditation. They know the value of silence. Through meditation and introspection, the mind becomes calm – at peace. We have to learn to be silent. Being silent is not easy. Four student-friends of meditation decided to observe seven days of silence. On the first day, all were silent. Their meditation had begun auspiciously. But when night came and the oil-lamps were getting dim, one of the students could not help exclaiming to a servant: ‘Fix those lamps.’ The second student was surprised to hear the first one talk. ‘We were not supposed to say a word,’ he remarked.  The third one said: ‘you two are stupid.’ The fourth student felt that he was the wisest of them. He said, ‘Why did you all talk? I am the only one who has not talked.’

(Pandit Ramdial Balbadar is a prominent Aachaarya (Teacher) of Hinduism in Guyana. He is the compiler and author of many titles and has over 30 years experience in Pandits’ Training across Guyana. He is currently the President of the Sanatan Vaidic Dharma Pandits’ Sabha, Region 3).