Kishore

Lot of times we question where is God? and ask for proof. It is due to our ignorance that we ask these questions. 

Our mind wants to focus only on some things and hence we are blinded to other things. 

Have you ever noticed how your mind functions? You can notice this behavior children very easily than our own behavior. A child wants to have a candy or ice cream. Then they only notice only that thing and everything goes out of their focus. They become obsessed with that. If you are walking on the road with the child they will show you all place where candy or ice cream is for sale and they don't pay attention to any thing else.

Even we do it many times. I remember reading in one 'Psychology' related book that our minds becomes focused on things we are most interested in. I have noticed the same in my experience also. 

Suppose you wanted to buy a car, then suddenly start taking notice of all brands of cars around you. You start noticing cars on the road. You start evaluating which car looks good. You start making enquiries. Every time you meet another person you are eager to ask questions about their car, where they bought it and how much they paid for it. We start noticing things we have not noticed before. You start noticing that there are magazines dedicated to cars. You start noticing Ads in your daily newspaper though they were appearing every day before you started paying attention. You are obsessed with cars and every thing else becomes less important. 

It may not be about a car. It may be anything: a computer, latest TV, electronic gadget or even a book. 

The same thing happened for me in spiritual world also. Once I started focusing on Lord Hanuman and started worshipping him, I started noticing him every where. As I described in my other experience, suddenly I was aware of his presence. When I go to temple, I started looking for his idol first. When I travel on roads, I am aware of either photos or temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman much faster. I started noticing books written on Him. I started noticing websites dedicated to Him. I even started noticing his presence in the movies I watch. Even if his photo appears for a brief period in a movie, I started noticing the same. When I was watching movies I watched before, I was more aware of His presence. And every time I found his presence it made me glad. It made me feel that He is everywhere. I realized that He was everywhere even before I noticed Him. I started feeling glad and happy. It was as if He started revealing himself to me. 

This understanding has helped me focus on God. Doubt was replaced by faith. I started treating my friends, relatives, colleagues as personification of Lord Hanuman. I started being more considerate of their opinions. I watched their words and suggestions carefully. I thought we never know when God is sending a signal or sending a message to me. I decided to take everything that others suggest to me as a suggestion or word from God. Instead of being egoistic and ignoring their opinion, I started more careful in forming my opinions. I started acting on others suggestions and implementing them. Over a period of time I found that it is indeed a word from God. 

Now I feel his presence through others and also in my heart. His name is on my lips as many times as possible and by taking up activities related to Lord Hanuman I try to show my gratitude to the grace he has showered on me. I am sure lot of others have experienced similar incidents related to their chosen deity. It can be anyone. God is one. He is formless and has form. He comes to us in the way we want to see him. 

Like Sri Ramakrishna said: We cannot see God unless we yearn for him as a person who is under water yearns for breath. Only when our desire to see God is strong we will see him. 

I wanted to share my feelings in this aspect with everyone.  

Jai Sriram, Jai Hanuman

May 2003