A shortcut to Divinity

Few days after my marriage, when I was jumpy to every creaking door, I
was asked to sing a bhajan in the weakly Geeta paath programme at our
home. However, in the two decades and seven years of my mortality,
singing was not one of my best traits. I faltered and there was a slow
murmur of disapproval from the bevy of house wives. One was aghast at
my blasphemy the bahu next door sings beautiful bhajans and performs
puja she exclaimed .To undo my wrong she then enquired about my
knowledge on God glorification and religious rites. Struggling against my
lachrymose eyes, wounded heart and the herculean lump inside my throat
I underperformed in that also.
After that incident I was tried to be taught the profane knowledge on
chanting hymns and performing worship rituals. But when I turned out
to be a hopeless case, I have been dodging mockery on what a sacrilege it
was, not to master in those standardised skills. But let me elbow myself
out of this debasement by declaring that I am neither agnostic nor
atheist .I just believed in a different road to divinity, which does not cross
path with the artificial dogmas. After all why go the difficult path when
nature has given us the shortcut, all a human being needs to do is be
humane. And if that road is trodden; it not only opens our heart to the
Lord but it will also check the degeneration of morality in the world.
To prove my point, let us portray our favourite seer, someone whom we
consider to be pure and a true devotee who has reached that highest
attainment. Say Gautam Buddha. What is it that draws our attention
towards him? Is it his display of power or dominance or is it his
humanitarian trait and compassion in his words and action, the calming
aura around them and the mastery over their senses. The knowledge that
if we make couple of mistakes we will not be censured but forgiven. And
this is because a humane human humbly accepts the Lord's ubiquity and
supremacy and is conscious of his own inadequacy. He understands that
the way the God is tolerant towards his shortcomings he must practice the
same forbearing towards others.
Narsinh Mehta, In his prayer Vaishnav Jana to explains the trait of a
true devotee. According to him he who, understands the misery of another
and whose heart is never tainted by conceit or satire, does not lust with
greed seeing other's wealth or woman is a pure devotee. And it was
ratified by a true devotee Mahatma Gandhi who inculcated all these
humanitarian traits in his thoughts and actions. These humanitarian traits
are the nutrition for the soul. Although it is an inherited trait, it is on its
highest when cultivated, and it can be murdered with perseverance. And
we try to ignore and block this trait because we think it is the trait of the
weak and it is not the way of the world. We believe that all the problems
around us can only be solved through a raw display of power, hence
blocking the road to divinity. No matter how much outer cleansing with the
best of soaps or performance of any rite can ever undo this wrong.

In Srimad Bhagbat Gita.(Chapter 13 Vs 8-12) Lord Krishna says a true

devotee is one " who is humble, non violent, tolerant, honest, maintains
steadfastness, renounces the desires of the senses, is free from egoism,
and is equipoise in all the situations ".Whereas The Holy Bible says Thou
shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people,
but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self. Whereas in the holy Quran,
(surah 107 ) Allah says " woe those who pray but are heedless to their
prayer, those who make a show, yet withhold (from small kindness). So
humane traits have always been the essence of every religion.
I agree, who has not read this ! .Yet how many Mother Teresas have we
come across. Divinely human, she was a true devotee. But the world is full
of devils, who at least once in their lifetime must have walked on those so
called God attainment paths. Thus attainment of spirituality and devotion
is neither for a braggart nor it is the prerogative of chant mugged ritual
performing intelligentsia. Not necessarily it is the renunciation of home or
economic activity. But only when we bask in the glory of love and
compassion can we turn humane, attain divinity and then what a different
word we would not be leading!