Praying to God

Kishore (February 2003)

Many times during my spiritual moments I start asking myself some questions and reflecting on the possible answers. I wanted to share my views.

Many times in our life when faced with problems we start asking ourselves, why is this happening to us, what have I done to deserve this. 

Why does God punish us?

After reading lot of spiritual material I have come to understand that we should treat God as our father. Whenever I get such doubts I relate it to a son-father relation and try to reason it out. And in most cases I am able to find a reasonable explanation that makes me feel better. 

God does not punish us. God is a father who loves his children. Remember as kids when we don't understand rules of the house and misbehave, we get a scolding or a punishment to make us understand that some things are to be done in a proper manner. When a father is hard with his kids, it is to make them understand because they don't want us to go on the wrong path. Example: consider your father found you started smoking which is he considers bad for your health. Does he not have the right to make you realize that it is bad for you? Whereas in our "infatuation" we think we are right and why our father has to punish us for doing something which we feel right.

So when times are tough and you feel you are being punished by God, realize this. It is for our good. It means we are doing something wrong in our live and we need to learn from our experience. It may be to do with our physical activity or even mental activity. Lot of times I found I was mentally upset I realized that I had to make changes in my own attitude. It is a way to realize our mistakes. 

Is it right to pray to God for fulfilling our desires?

As a kid when you wanted something, didn't you ask your father? Did he not fulfill your desire when it was a right desire. If you wanted a bike, your father will buy it for you when you are ready to receive it. If you asked for a car, he will not fulfill that desire because you are not ready for it. 

Sometimes father takes care of desire without even asking. He as an adult he knows better than we do. 

The same is case with God. God fulfills our desires even when we don't ask. Only thing is we don't realize it. We take things for granted. And when we our desire is not fulfilled we blame him not realizing that we don't deserve it at that moment or our desire was unwarranted. 

It is not wrong to pray for fulfillment of desires as long as they are righteous ones. 

Is it right to pray for petty things when God can grant wishes like granting perfect wisdom and bliss? Is it not stupidity?

There is nothing wrong in petty desires. One has to transcend petty desires to be ready to receive perfect wisdom. If fulfilling a smaller desire can eventually lead to overcoming the temptations, God will grant it. We all have to go through a process of worldly life before we can attain detachment and strive for liberation. I remember reading Swami Vivekananda's works where he states "You cannot teach spirituality to a person who is hungry. First feed him, then teach him." The same logic goes here too. Even after knowing that our desires are petty God will grant those wishes because he loves us and he wants to develop the dispassion naturally. 

I also realized this when I was making a few purchases last week for my daughter. I bought lot of toys and books though she has not asked me, because I knew they will benefit her. And also lot of times I have deliberately postponed her requests for a new toy till she was ready. She understand that we love her and give her what she wants only if it is appropriate to her need. 

In the same manner we should continuously relate our relationship with God as father and it will help us in our spiritual journey. 

How do we pray to God?

Each of us unique we all have our own experiences, opinions and perceptions that make us choose a specific means of praying to God. No process is wrong and no process is right. God does not distinguish between devotees based on their prayers because he loves everyone in same manner. Just like a father or mother, who loves all his children equally and does not bestow wishes based on how earnestly they request, God is love. 

Summary

Whenever I get doubts in spirituality I try to imagine God as a father and try to reason what will my father do in such cases or draw parallels with my person experience. In most cases my doubts are cleared and I feel satisfied. Above is just my thought process and I am not an expert in such matters. Hope this common sense thinking makes sense. I am not sure about others but sure I feel good after such thinking.