Published in India Opines: http://indiaopines.com/nepal-earthquake-faith-god/
According to a report in Times of India, one of the victims of the Nepal’s earthquake now no longer believes in God because many of his family members died in the earthquake. While another person is extremely grateful to the almighty because in the building where he was living all died but he and his family members miraculously survived.
According to a report in Times of India, one of the victims of the Nepal’s earthquake now no longer believes in God because many of his family members died in the earthquake. While another person is extremely grateful to the almighty because in the building where he was living all died but he and his family members miraculously survived.
The affected people are reacting differently to the natural disaster – some are thankful to the Lord, some are complaining, some are declaring God to be unkind and some started believing that God does not exist. Based on our personal experiences we define and redefine our relationship with the Lord. In most of the cases – we demand & expect God to supply.
We ask many things from the superior Lord – house, health, wealth, protection & pleasure. When our wishes are fulfilled we move ahead in life occasionally expressing our gratitude to God because we believe that it is his duty to give us what we want. Butwhen our demands are not met and we get some unfavourable results then we fret and complain and accuse God of being unjust.
Before being judgemental about the Lord why don’t we ponder over the plethora of information which he has made available in the vedic literature about this world and its nature. God has never said that this world is a bed of roses. Nor does he promise imparting immortality to anyone here. Let us just glance over few such information:
* In Bhagavad Gita 8.15, Krishna calls this world as duḥkhalayam asasvatam, an abode of misery.
* In Gita 8.16, Krishna says, “From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place.”
* In Gita 8.19, Krishna says, “Again and again, when Brahma’s day arrives, all living entities come into being, and with the arrival of Brahma’s night they are helplessly annihilated.” * King Prahlad says, padam padam yad vipadam (Srimad Bhagavatam10.14.58), there is danger at every step in this world.
God has made it very clear that – this world is temporary, our existence is temporary, in this world there are miseries and here death in inevitable.
Sometimes government puts a sign on the road – Danger ahead or accident prone zone. But in spite of these warnings if someone become careless or driven with an adventurous spirit venture into that area then he is surely risking his life and he cannot blame the authority for it because he was informed beforehand about it. Similarly, Lord has foretold about the dangers of this world so we can’t be upset with him upon experiencing distressful situations.
However, it is not that all is lost for us and we have to be mired in misery forever. God not just tell about the funereal nature of this world but he also informs us about a world where no one dies and no one cries.
* Yet there is another unmanifest nature, which is eternal and is transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested matter. It is supreme and is never annihilated. When all in this world is annihilated, that part remains as it is: Bhagavad Gita 8.20
* After attaining Me, the great souls, who are yogis in devotion, never return to this temporary world, which is full of miseries, because they have attained the highest perfection: Bhagavad Gita 8.15
* But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again: Bhagavad Gita 8.16
* That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world: Bhagavad Gita 15.6
We need to understand that in this world all who are born are sure to die. And death can come in any form, at any time, at any age. So the Nepal earthquake should not shake our faith in God’s divinity. In fact, we should neither get angry with the Lord and nor we should turn our back towards him but we should instead intelligently seek a solution to migrate from this mortal world to the eternal spiritual world. We can attain that kingdom of God by practicing pure devotion and by constantly meditating upon him: Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me. (Bhagavad Gita 9.34). If we do not adhere to this path then we will
If we do not adhere to this path then we will continue to fit in fear and anxiety in this deadly world.
