I can’t seem to stop wondering about something that happened a few days back.With the endsems on , I, like most students , was a nervous wreck. I was with my friend trying to figure out gear designs , when (I’ve tried and tried but I can’t seem to remember how!) we stumbled upon the topic of God.
Now, I consider myself as an incomplete atheist. I’ve always found the idea of visiting decorated buildings and praying to stone idols for your success and happiness kind of absurd. However, I do feel that there is a certain pattern that controls the working of the Universe; I believe in things like beginner’s luck (“Alchemist” Paulo Coelho); and I’m also victim to those stupid Indian superstitions that we’ve received as a part of our DNA from our parents (Any squirming atheist out there who thinks he/she is not superstitious, just remember the last time Sachin was batting on 97 and you were careful not to wriggle your toes lest a wicket falls……)
So,back to the topic. My friend ( not a “priest” type yet quite a believer) asked “Tu pura naastik hai na?(Aren’t you a complete atheist)” . And I said no and said the pattern thing I mentioned earlier . He replied by saying that what is this “pattern” was I was talking about but fate? And fate and destiny are attributed to a higher power . I did not have an answer for this.The reason was the realization that in a way no one could be an atheist.
I’ve been playing the guitar for a while now and over the years I’ve seen that music does not discriminate. You might be a genius of sorts with a high IQ and an athletic body, but if you lack motivation, you can never learn an instrument. On the other hand, a below average kind of guy can play like a master if practices day in day out even for a year .Now, what does “God” ask of you (in the scriptures atleast) if not total and complete dedication? And this “God” rewards his true believers or “bhakts”.So how is the aforesaid example any different?Rather , how is any example different :An atheist scientist- dedicating his life to physics- and winning the nobel etc etc. Did rishi munis write those holy scriptures with this idea in mind? Was Ram(or Jesus or God in general) just a figurative character to tell mankind what an ideal person should be like? Has mankind been mistaken into thinking that donating your hair at an old building will give you a successful career?
This is the epiphany I had ( Unfortunately for me it came during my exams). I completely understand if what I’ve written seem useless,absurd and/or ridiculous to you , most epiphanies are meant to be this way. They appeal to the intellect of only those who wrote them.