Debate Over Belief And Disbelief

Debate Over Belief And Disbelief

The entire debate over belief and disbelief boils down to one question: Does logic prevail? Those who feel that creation and its functioning involve a significant random component, and lack a substantive logical explanation, get more inclined to disbelieve. On the other hand, when we are able to rationalise our observations, we start believing ­ a grand design that encompasses the whole of the universe. In the words of Browning, “God's in His Heaven All's right with the world.“
In our day-to-day life we do not get to see a logical coherence always, within a limited sphere of time and space. The dishonest and the disloyal appear to be in luxury while the honest and truthful ones fall prey to the cunning and corrupt. All this naturally creates confusion and delusion in the mind, particularly of those who are seekers. One is perturbed because one is not able to perceive logicality in his seeking. One who is not a seeker is not disturbed of course. It is wrong to say that an atheist is not a seeker. Rather, he is one of the greatest seekers of logicality.

On the whole, when the systematic component is substantial, we feel complacent and when randomness is heavily present, we become disbelievers. So the challenge is to remain composed even when we have not been able to witness the systematic component.

By remaining cool we can pursue our seeking more intensely and we may find an explanation of what appears to be haphaz ard. Even for misery and suffering which we usually dislike, Tagore found a substantive answer: “In sorrow after sorrow it is His steps that press upon my heart.“ For a devotee everything is manifestation of God. There is no `maya' in the dictionary of a devotee, as Ramakrishna explains.Brahmn or Consciousness is real and everything else which is its manifestation in different forms is equally real. `Arup' or Nothingness enters the world of form takes on a tangible manifestation. So the `sakar' (with form) is as real as the `nirakar' (formless).Idol worship is in no way inferior to the belief of the nirakar-badi. As per one's temperament one may decide which route to take.

Once the route is settled, the next step is `sadhana' or constant practice through which we can discover the purpose behind every occurrence. When the mind is agitated or is too excited, subtle connections can never be felt. Through contemplation, we can reach a state in which every thing appears resolved and explained.

Thus, the proportion of unexplained part disappears and life emerges with full clarity from the matrices of all observations and experiences like an econometric equation with highest explanatory power. So it is `dhruti' or patience with which sadhana has to be pursued which can then slowly take us from the world of randomness to a systematic world.

What drives us away from this pursuance? It is greed. Greed leads to grabbing which then creates a constant turmoil in the mind and in our lives and then we remain only at the periphery , not being able to dive into the ocean to reach the depth.

So if you are cheated in life you are rather lucky because your suffering takes you to the depth whereas the cheat remains superficial forever. From your losses you have created eternal treasures for yourself while his gains have greased the wheels of his downfall.

Om Namah Shivay