Does God only help those who praise him? Does he help only those who think of him? Does he help those who keep asking him for favours? Does God listen to our prayers?
Is God so vain as to help only those who praise him or not help those who dont think about him or are not thankful?
Suppose I want to to become the President of India and I pray to God for it. Suppose one more guy also wants to become the President and he too prays to God. Who will God favor? The one who prays more? Does he keep count? Does he have time to care?
If I make more sacrifices and put myself through struggles, will God help me more? (Sabarimala is a prime example). Doesnt that make God a sadist?
If I make more donations and chant his name more, will God help me more? (Tirupathi or Iskcon) Doesnt that make God vain and money-hungry?
Why have we created such an impression about the Almighty? Why have we attached human characteristics like pride vanity desire-for-money and comparison to God? Why do we assume God expects these things from us in order for him to help us?
We all think that the more vehemently we ask God for something, the more sacrifices we make, the more prayers and the more times we utter "God is great", the more the chances of our wishes being fulfilled. Isnt God supposed to love everyone equally?
Reminds me of a poem by Vikram Seth
God loves us all, I'm pleased to say
Or those who love him anyway
Or those who love him and are good
Or so they say. Or so he should
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Friday, May 13, 2005
Butterfly
Today, as I drove to office, a butterfly hit my helmet and died. I felt damn sad for it and was hating myself for what I had done.
But why did i feel sad for the butterfly? Why did I feel like a murderer? I am still wondering.
I have killed hundreds of mosquitoes and dozens of cockroaches and many more insects. But I was feeling bad for this butterfly.
Was it because it is beautiful?
Or was it because it didnt "harm" me? But what harm does a mosquito do to me? It bites but I dont lose much. Is it fear of malaria that makes me kill a mosquito? Come to think of it, I dont think about malaria when i see a mosquito hissing and I smash it. A cockroach for that matter doesnt do anything except run around aimlessly. Why do I kill them and not feel an ounce of remorse? Even if it is the fact that it is the "harm" they cause that made me kill mosquitoes and cockroaches, then why have I killed so many of them that didnt do a thing to me? Prevention? Or did I condemn them guilty for their ancestors' sins?
What made me feel that killing the butterfly was wrong? If it was the beauty of the butterfly, something must be wrong in my heart coz it seems like only a beauty in pain leads to sympathy in my heart. Wont I have sympathy for something ugly? Am I sick?
But why did i feel sad for the butterfly? Why did I feel like a murderer? I am still wondering.
I have killed hundreds of mosquitoes and dozens of cockroaches and many more insects. But I was feeling bad for this butterfly.
Was it because it is beautiful?
Or was it because it didnt "harm" me? But what harm does a mosquito do to me? It bites but I dont lose much. Is it fear of malaria that makes me kill a mosquito? Come to think of it, I dont think about malaria when i see a mosquito hissing and I smash it. A cockroach for that matter doesnt do anything except run around aimlessly. Why do I kill them and not feel an ounce of remorse? Even if it is the fact that it is the "harm" they cause that made me kill mosquitoes and cockroaches, then why have I killed so many of them that didnt do a thing to me? Prevention? Or did I condemn them guilty for their ancestors' sins?
What made me feel that killing the butterfly was wrong? If it was the beauty of the butterfly, something must be wrong in my heart coz it seems like only a beauty in pain leads to sympathy in my heart. Wont I have sympathy for something ugly? Am I sick?
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