God & I

The latest Sufi song from yet-to-be-released “Rockstar” is a rock star itself. It is one of the best Sufi rendition I have heard in recent times. Voices of AR Rahman, Mohit Chauhan and Javed Ali together weave some kind of ethereal magic which has power to take you to amazing depths!

In Sufi songs, Rahman’s music composition is like prayer itself. This is no exception. Here, to top it all, even the lyrics are simply awesome.
Sample this –

Mujh pe karam sarkaar tera,
arz tujhe ,
kar de mujhe
mujh se hi riha

Ab mujhko bhi ho deedar mera,
karde mujhe
mujh se hi riha

This prayer is spirituality.

I would classify songs/ bhajans /prayers in three categories –

1. Through which one seeks material gains, health, security etc.
2. These describe the virtues of gods, shower praises
3. Here the seeker is seeking one-ness with almighty aware that he himself also is a reflection of this all pervasive power (god). This seeking or the search is with-in

You might have come across Maslow’s hierarchy of needs for human beings.



The prayers are a good reflection of this hierarchy. There is nothing wrong with any of these prayers. They just reflect the stage at which one is. The lower order needs are to filled first before one moves up. Haven’t we heard “bhookhe bhajan na hoi gopala”

The rock star rendition works at that level – of self actualization!

My view of god & spirituality:

To me god is a power (for not being able to find any better word!), it is all pervasive, inside everything and everyone. We can’t see it that way because of our current paradigms. In this current state we can’t appreciate this concept. If we are willing, if we are ready, a guru or a teacher can guide us to see that “one-ness” . My belief is that is the pinnacle and meeting point of science and spirituality. No contradiction. Everything is one. You are god (aham brahmasmi).

Religion is just a means to that end. Temples are just to create that environment - to take you deep inside you. The idols are just pegs and are not god by themselves. (also that’s the basis of my poem “Temple”).

Most would believe in this as a concept but out there in the “real” world, it is a war– my god vs. your god, need to prove strength of one religion over other (even if that means dedicating a whole life to go after conversions! ). How ridiculous!

For the same reason I don’t consider those “religious” who demean other religion. For the same reason I don’t like people going after followers of one faith. For the Same reason, I don’t like what happened in Gujarat. For the same reason I don’t like Narendra Modi.

And this is just my opinion.