Holy Scriptures

Religion. I know how much it means to me. I have my own understanding of it all. And I love the way I understand it. So why the hell does someone think that I need to be told as to what I should or should not do. Today I ended up in a confrontation with my flatmate. Nasty one. I have never taken kindly to people trying to impose their way of life and principles upon me or others. I swear to god I hate such people.

Religion is not a set of rules. Please stop treating it like a Constitution. No one religion is complete in itself. None is. The thing breaks down into figuring out as to what is a religion? Isn't religion supposed to be a way of life that leads to attainment of god. How does one attain god? Isn't it all about doing good in life? What the hell does god have to do with anything else? If god does really exist, do you think he would be concerned about what you are wearing today? I don't think so. For me religion has always meant something which has brought peace within, especially at times when I needed it the most. At times when I could feel my self being consumed by my environment.

I have lived my life as a good man. Have done some bad things, but purely out of ignorance. Things I have apologized for. Never intentionally hurt someone, unless they deserved it. Have always come to the aid of those who needed it. Been an honest person and never cheated anyone. This is my religion. This and nothing more. I do not believe in anything more than doing good and being good. All the rest is crap to me. Beyond this, all religions are crap.

Masjid dha dey,
Mandir dha dey,
Dha dey jo kuch disda,
Par kisi da dil na dhavien,
Rabb dil vich vasda.

Destroy the Mosques,
Destroy the temples,
Destroy what ever you can see,
But do not break someones heart,
Coz that is where god lives.

So that is the truth of it all. God is in our heart. No pilgrimage, no rituals, no religious tantrums. I have lived a spiritual, religious life, if I am a good person. If I bring warmth to people around me. If I help the needy in whatever way I can. If my heart bleeds to the pain of others. And if don;t turn a deaf ear to someone else's grief. Is it still more important to do that pilgrimage, or read the holy scriptures everyday in the morning. Is it still necessary to go to the Gurdwara, Mandir or Mosque to be good in the eyes of the god?

Religious scriptures are no doubt extremely important. But the fact is, that each one of us understands them differently. The language of the saints is beyond what our normal minds can comprehend. Everything they say, can be interpreted in a way that suits what you seek. In the end, what you get, is what you had sought for. If you seek peace, they offer you peace. If you seek aggression, they offer you aggression. And if you seek god, they offer you the path to him. So, it is all about what you seek. The frame of mind with which you read them. I know what I seek, and without doubt it is different than what he sought. I got what I wanted and believe he did as well. What the fuck gives you the right to impose your beliefs on me. My religion is my personal property. I understand it in a way that is much different than you do. And I have every right to believe that I am right. At least god has given me the choice, and it is mine to make.

Thankfully, my vision has not been corrupted by blind faith. How can blind faith lead to enlightenment? No, it can't. I do not agree with rituals, customs or traditions. If you could attain god by shouting for him in the mosque, going to Vaishno Devi, or taking a dip in the sarovar at Golden Temple, then wouldn't we all have attained him.? Why do we still search for him? If it was so simple to attain him, then the world would have been rid of all the evil. Next time you are taking a pilgrimage, or a dip in holy water, look to your left and right. The person next to you, might be a serial killer, thug, or purely a son-of-a-bitch. And despite all the holy shit they do, still it doesn't seem to put an end to all the adultery in this world.

Haaji Lok Mecce Nu Jaande
Asaan Jaan Takht Hazaare
Jitt Vall Yaar Usse Vall Qaaba
Bhavein Phol Kitabaan Chare

People take pilgrimage to Mecca
But I desire to go to my lords court
My Qaaba is wherever my beloved (god) is
Even if all the religious scriptures tell me otherwise

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Pi sharaab tey kha kabab, heth baal haddaan di ag,

Bulleha bhan ghar rab da, ais thuggan de thug noo thug.

Drench yourself in wine and feast on roasted flesh, roasting in the fires flaming out of the bones. O Bulleha, break into the house of God and swindle the cheat of cheats.

---

Mulla tay mashaalchi dohaan ikko chit
Loukan karday chananan, aap anhairae vich

The priest and the torch-bearer are both very similar
They give light to others, but are themselves in dark

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Hum mailae, tu ujjwal karat
Hum nirgun, tu daata
Hum moorakh, tum chattar sayanae
Tu sarab kala da gyata

We are in the dark, you enlighten us
We are worthless, you are our lord
We are idiots, and you are clever
You are master of all tricks

I believe that this post might not go down well with all my readers. I know, that like me, even you don't like being imposed with someone else's beliefs. However, my sincere and unconditional apology to those who might have felt hurt. All of the above verses or others cited in this post are by my beloved Baba Bulleh Shah. Only the last one is from Guru Granth Sahib. Unfortunately Bulleh Shah mostly referred to things from Islam as he himself was once a Muslim. But in my post, I am not targeting any specific religion. For those who have been able to understand the post, it was targeted at those people, that try to impose their beliefs at others. Religion is for me to follow at my own terms. I need not confirm with someone else's take at things or how they understand it. It is none of their business as to how and what I follow. Religion is path for you to follow. It is not about making others follow it.

Topics such as these always incite aggressive responses. However, I shall not reply to any such aggressive or inappropriate comments made here. Those if any, that are hurt, I didn't intend it. Sorry! But I'm not targeting any religion at all.