Someone asked Jesus, ‘What is your God’s task like?’ He replied that it’s like a fisherman catching fish by throwing the net into the sea. Many fish are caught, but only the ones that are ready to be eaten are chosen while the others that are too small are thrown back into the sea.
How many times have people performed rituals or gone into the wilderness to live a life of solitude to find God? How many times have different prayers been said, calling His name? Each time this happens people are caught in God’s net, but, lacking in sincere devotion they are not ready and find themselves thrown back into the world.
Living a worldly life with only passing investment in devotional worship, people may well attain secular goals. However, to attain God, changes must occur within a person, if they are to receive God’s grace. One must have ‘God-like’ qualities. When the process of making yogurt from milk is initiated, one needs at least one spoonful of actual yogurt to mix with the whole batch of prepared milk in order to arrive at the unadulterated yogurt. In the same way, some God-like qualities are necessary in order to start the journey towards changing one’s thinking and behavior, enabling one to become one with God.
Lot of prayers and rituals occur at various places of worship to portray one’s devotion, but unfortunately that show of devotion outside is not getting translated into compassionate and kind-hearted thinking inside. It amounts to the temple within being completely empty. No matter how beautiful a poem is, it cannot be larger than the poet. No matter how impressive a piece of art, it cannot be acclaimed to be greater than the artist. No matter how beautifully we build and decorate our place of worship, it can never be more peaceful than the feelings of piety and goodwill within our hearts. If people praise God and sing hymns with their lips, but harbor feelings of hatred, ill-will, and intolerance inside, that worship transmits an aura of negativity to anyone watching or listening. Temples, mosques, and churches are like mirrors – they can only reflect the feelings and beliefs of their members, no matter how beautiful and awe-inspiring the building looks from the outside.
Intolerance and ignorance prevails whenever human beings fail to critically analyze their origin. It is easy to be labeled with a certain nationality, social status, and religious background, but only a very few ponder over their essential identity. How can they get closer to God and be imbibed with God-like qualities when they do not even know their real, authentic self?
Those who do not know themselves often rely upon people around them to characterize their identity. If we stand amongst friends who praise our way of speaking or way of dressing, then we imagine ourselves as a very diligent human being. On the other hand, if we stand around people who ignore us, criticize us, or refuse to mingle with us, then we may well visualize ourselves as somehow socially inept or incompetent. This is why God-realization is said to go hand-in-hand with self-realization. When we realize God, we comprehend our true origin and believe that all other labels given to us are of lesser relevance. We then apprehend that the main aim of life is to help the soul recognize its eternal home – the supersoul (God). Whether we are healthy or sick, whether we are rich or poor, or whether we are Indian or American, we realize who we really are through our connection with God. Wherever and however we are, we are in a state of bliss regardless of the changing conditions on the outside.
Everyone wants this state of bliss, but only a few are able to experience it. Why doesn’t everyone taste this bliss? Where is the hurdle or obstruction to doing so? Saint Kabir Ji says that “Kam, Krodh, Lobh” is the reason why. These three things are what obscures our judgment and why we cannot visualize the path towards eternal bliss.
Kam refers to ‘greed’ or desiring more than what we have. We are unsatisfied with what we already possess to the point that we are not even getting happiness from what we own. The bigger the desire, the larger is the deficiency. The more we want, the bigger beggars we become. One can be satiated with a $1,000 bonus for finishing a project. Another can be disappointed with the same $1,000 when the expectations or desires were for $5,000. The amount is the same, but the perception is contrasting. Too many times one is caught being jealous by counting the possessions of another man and forgetting what he himself is blessed with. Dreams are never fulfilled because as some dreams become true, bigger ones are being fabricated at the same time.
Lobh refers to our attachments. It means holding on tightly to whatever one possesses. Lobh refers to one’s hands tightly holding on to the past while Kam refers to the eyes being glued to the future. Lobh causes man to fear the loss of whatever he has accomplished and accumulated so far in his life (fame, fortune, and knowledge), even though they may not have given him complete happiness. Between these two conditions of Lobh and Kam is the small door that opens to the path of enlightenment and true bliss. Jesus told his devotees, “straight is the way, but narrow is my gate.” He further said that “through the eye of a needle, a camel may pass, but a wealthy man will not be able to enter through the gate of heaven.” The wealthy man here refers to someone who obsessively holds on to his past accolades and recognitions. Kabir Ji similarly reiterated this concept when he spoke of spirituality as a street so narrow, that there’s not enough room for two to pass at the same time. The two he referred to was the authentic self, and the deluded self. Past glories and achievements cloak over the real self, manifesting as ego. What one has collected in the past is of very little use for eternal salvation because none of it is going with us after death. Living in the present is the only way to enter that “narrow gate” leading to God. Everything should feel complete and this in turn makes us feel complete. This sense of elation and satisfaction negates the feeling of Kam. Similarly, one transcends Lobh if, without regret or clinging, he can give away his possessions. In truth, only an enlightened master can give away his possessions with joy. All others fear to share or give away what they own. God is gracious in giving human beings whatever they need. Why can’t people pass on to others what God gave them without any hesitation? Giving of what we own can be as simple as watering a deprived plant or giving an ailing patient some flowers. Even love-filled words can brighten a depressed person’s day. It need not be material giving.
Krodh refers to anger. It rightfully fits between Kam and Lobh says Saint Kabir. When do we get angry? It is when someone interferes with our desires or dreams (Kam). The other times we experience anger is when someone threatens to take away our possessions (Lobh). Many people seek therapy or advice from great saints as to how they can get rid of their anger. The most direct way to eradicate anger is to dissipate the sense of attachment (Lobh) and greed (Kam). When one is not busy defending their possessions and dreams then there is no reason for anger to arise. Kabir Ji states that the fortunate soul who overcomes Kam, Krodh and Lobh is then able to start on the simple and straight journey towards being one with God.
As already stated, God-realization leads to self-realization. Self-realization allows one to rise above attachment, anger, and greed. Once these obstacles are cleared, the path towards enlightenment, bliss, and eternal salvation is clear and easy to walk. God-realization is attained in the presence of a Realised Master, or Satguru. Such Messengers of God can teach us the ways of attaining God-like qualities such as love, compassion and unwavering balance. If one is fortunate enough to seek until they arrive in the benign presence of a Realised Master, then they can be assured that they are one of the fish that is ready to be carried home by the Great Fisherman.
Dr. Kanwal Chawla, Fort Myers, Florida, USA
