Every day, millions of people, animals, trees, insects, and countless other entities come and go. We enter this world with zero knowledge, and slowly, we humans start crafting our own worlds by forming our identities, families, friends, and religions. No child is born with complete knowledge; like all of us, each child learns from their parents or their surroundings. We receive a name, just as our parents named us, and then we start identifying ourselves as Samir, Ram, Sita, Gita, Kavita, Sabita, Sunita, Binod, and so on. While we know deep down that we are not just these names, we often shy away from exploring this truth. Rarely do we ponder our true selves or question who we are and where we come from.
From the moment we receive a name, we begin to construct an identity around it. We often forget that this name is merely a label given by others and not our true essence. Religious scriptures worldwide emphasize that death is not the end and that our physical bodies are temporary vessels. Every religion teaches kindness, humility, and love. Yet, how often do we see these teachings reflected in our daily lives?
Our modern education system has drastically changed, focusing predominantly on earning money and acquiring power. Schools rarely teach children about Vedanta, the concept of oneness, or the nature of the soul. This lack of spiritual education leaves many unaware of the profound truths about human existence.
The human body is meant to be lived with intellect and purpose, not merely to exist like animals and other creatures. Spiritual knowledge should be integrated into education systems worldwide to help cleanse and beautify a child’s inner being from day one. We should teach kindness, unity, love, and passion.
Consider how all rivers eventually meet the ocean and become one with it. Similarly, all religions, despite their different paths, ultimately lead to the same truth. If you follow the path of Bhakti in Hinduism, see God everywhere, even in those you may dislike or not understand, and fully surrender to Him. If you follow the path of Gyana (Jnana), understand that the one Ishwara (God) is omnipresent, and that the Atma (soul) or Brahma is in everything. Realize that all visible things are illusions. You are not this body; you are the observer, the immortal, the Brahma.
Every religion has its way of guiding us to the ultimate truth. Whether you follow Sankhya, believing in the concepts of Prakriti (nature) and Purusha (spirit), or Yoga, or any other path, the goal is to realize our true selves. The true purpose of human existence is to seek and understand this reality before death.
If you are Muslim, find your true essence in the mosque, believing in the one Allah. Be kind as the Quran teaches. If you are Hindu, go to the temple and worship. Regardless of your religious path, the ultimate reality remains the same: God is everything and everywhere, and everything is God. So we are also a part of God. When we find our true self as Atman, we also become one and dissolve into God. This means that our arrogance or ego dies, leaving only the divine power. In this understanding, we realize that we are also part of that divine essence, making us one with it. Therefore, there is no need for conflict.
Have you ever considered this perspective? In our dreams, we see how our consciousness can create many different identities that feel just as real as our waking life. Everything we experience in dreams comes from our own minds. When we wake up, the dream ends. But if we were to wake up within the dream itself, everything would disappear, leaving only our awakened awareness behind. This idea really hit me personally, and I’ve shared my thoughts on it in a previous blog.
Our scriptures teach us that God is one, but can appear in countless forms to create everything around us. This understanding encourages us to always question who we really are. By striving to live truthfully and develop good habits, we can grow into better versions of ourselves, reflecting the unity and enlightenment found in these teachings.
In conclusion, our lives are often shrouded in illusion, much like a dream. When we wake up, we realize the oneness of all existence. So, let’s strive to live as enlightened beings, not like animals. Wake up from this illusion and follow the path of goodness, leading us to unity and enlightenment. Embrace the teachings of love, kindness, and truth from all religions to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.