WE ARE REALLY ONE

     In the Holy Gita, the Supreme Lord says :

                              I am the Father of the Universe,

                              The Mother, The Supporter, the Grandsire,

                              The Holy One to be known etc.

                                                                           Chapter.........17

     Yes, all of us really belong to the One Supreme Divine Family, our common parent being Lord God, Himself. When this is the Truth, what is it that we are witnessing all the World over ? There is terrible strife everywhere. The very atmosphere appears to be saturated with hatred and violence. We have all to think dispassionately to find out the root cause of all this turmoil, strife and hatred.

     The Prophets and Seers founded their respective religions, Creeds etc, with a view to uplifting humanity, by spreading pure Divine Love. No one can question the sincerity or purity of their motives. Yet, what is the net result of all religious teachings and preaching ? For some unknown reason, instead of man's mental outlook being broadened and ennobled, has, on the other hand, gradually narrowed down to the limits of that particular religion or sect. In practise, every new religion or sect has only widened the differences and aggravated the separatist tendencies already existing. In the name of God and Religion, bitter wars have been fought and religious hatred generated against one another. All this is due to the wrong emphasis placed upon the non-essential elements of religion. By paying too much attention to the superficial formalities of religion. we have forgotten the Essential Nature of God.

     In the Holy Gita, we have a comprehensive and all-inclusive description of God as the Supreme Spirit :

                            He, the highest Spirit, O'Partha,

                            may be reached by Unswerving Devotion

                            to Him alone, In Whom all beings abide,

                            by Whom all This is pervaded.

                                                                        Chapter...........22

     There cannot be a more practical and intimate conception of God. The devotion must be unswerving and to Him alone and to none else. It is the forgetfulness of the One-ness of God that is at the root of all strife, hatred and bigotry that we witness in this world. It, therefore, behoves every one of us, to whichever religious denomination we may belong, to instal this Universal God in the temple of our hearts, worship Him, surrender to Him and dedicate our all to His Service. Mere intellectual acceptance is not enough. This feeling of One-ness, this feeling that we all belong to the One Supreme Divine family- that we are all Created, sustained and guided by the same Supreme Divine - this must go into the very essence of our being. Everyday if we devote some time, both in the morning and evening, for pure meditation on God, the One Supreme All-pervasive Existence, our consciousness which is ordinarily running in narrow ruts, gradually expands and finally engulfs the entire humanity, nay the very Creation itself, in its Embrace.

     This Infinite All-pervasive God should be our Dhyanamurthy; Our allegiance, totally, absolutely, and in all parts of our being, should be to this Supreme God and God alone and to none else. It is the Creation of separate forms, names, and rituals for spiritual practices and ceremonies, however well intentioned, that has imperceptibly brought about the separating veil of narrow and bigoted outlook between man and man. I am conscious that it would be a very difficult thing for one to give up the allegiance to these forms, names, and rituals to which the human mind has long been accustomed. But, Beloved Friends, when the entire welfare of humanity is at stake, and when the human civilization has reached the breaking point, it is the bounden duty of all those who believe in the Existence of God, to rise above their respective narrow loyalties and to pay their homage and allegiance to the "One Supreme Divine" , our Common Parent.

     By meditating on the Supreme All-pervasive Divine, we have all to generate an infinite blood of pure Divine Love, powerful enough to melt the hearts of even the most confirmed unbelievers and make them genuine votaries of the Supreme Truth. Nothing is impossible when the All-merciful Lord wills it. Let us not say, I belong to this or that religion, Caste or race, but let us all say that we are all of the same God and that we really belong to the same Divine Family, One in our essence. So, everyday if we tutor our hearts and minds into believing the Supreme Truth of our essential One-ness, as emanations from the same Supreme Divine, we would be rendering real and lasting service to all humanity. It is the forgetfulness of our common Divine heritage that is at the root of all strife and hatred in the world. Instead of man fearing man, instead of one hating another, we should all vie with one another in spreading pure Divine Love, thereby making the Earth itself Heavenly, a very happy place to live in. May the Supreme Lord be pleased to enable all humanity to live up to this high ideal as His worthy instruments. May real Peace, Justice and Truth reign Supreme on Earth by His Saving Grace. Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!

JAI SRI RAM