God fulfills our wishes if we meet his requirements
An example of a parent vis-à-vis his son will make it somewhat clear. All children have desires, and they express them to their parents. In the case of God, He knows our desires, because God knows what we think. (The Bhagavad-Geeta 13.2) What does a parent do? He loves his son, and very much wants to please his son. He forces his son to do what will be in the interest of his son. For example, his son wants an expensive electronic gadget. Father’s response most likely will be: do well in your annual exam and you can have it. God acts similarly, if we, who are generally good persons, pray to Him for something. God forces us to become dutiful, to begin with. And God has many channels to communicate His instructions.
He gives intuitions and uses some medium – a family member, etc. The reason is simple: many are good people, not necessarily dutiful because that is very tough. In the Geeta, God is very specific about ‘yukta’ (appropriate action) at all times. (6.17) In verse # 3.8, God instructs us to be always dutiful. As we pass this test, God forces us to follow ‘dharma’. This is another big challenge. God is not unnecessarily strict; He has allowed us all enjoyment, which is not against dharma. (7.11)Now basics to get started are in place for God to take charge of our lives. He does so because these are minimum qualifications to please God.
The next requirement of God is for us to develop the mood of service. Aren’t we all made to serve one another? Now we must begin doing it consciously and sincerely. I will take the example of doctors. They are supposed to give relief to those stricken with diseases. They can do so in the mood of service or do so to make the maximum amount of money by this profession. One will please God and the other will send one into deeper clutches of ‘maya’ (the illusory energy of God). Lord Krishna has eulogised this tendency to serve if done in the right mood. The Lord gave the example of King Janaka for selfless service. (3.20) Not being judgemental will also help greatly. Is there anyone who doesn’t have faults? Therefore, we must also serve people who have faults.
Results are not in our control; they are decided by divine authorities under the superintendence of God. (9.10) Therefore, we must be always dutiful to please God, who in turn can please us by fulfilling our desires, which are according to dharma.Next, comes spiritual acts. These are superior acts. They are required to please God, and these are quite simple contrary to what one may assume. God just wants us to develop God's consciousness, because He and He alone control everything.
Try to love God. Who else should we love? Isn’t God ready to guide and help when we pray to Him sincerely? Another simple spiritual act is to do ‘namaskar’ to Him. This we do to many persons during the day as a habit. Why not pay obeisance to God, who is the Supreme Person? How about going to a temple? I go regularly to some temple or other; there are so many options for my daily visits. I have realised that where I live is my home, but God is my shelter like a parent to a child. I am forever seeking something, mostly material. I am not ashamed to admit this because this is what I presently need. I have not reached the stage when I will seek liberation. Sanjaya of the Mahabharata fame has made it quite clear that God is open to it. Sanjaya stated, “Where there is the yogeshwara Shri Krishna and where there is the archer Arjuna (all of us), there will be opulence victory, wealth and definite principles (morality).” (18.78)So what is the conclusion? God will fulfill our wishes if we meet His requirements just like a parent would. If He didn’t God will be accused of partiality. A parent may be limited, he or she mostly is; God isn’t. Therefore, let us obey God and get all our wishes, which are according to dharma, fulfilled. When we take God’s shelter, He gets active vis-à-vis us. He knows how to bring us around to become deserving of His ‘Kripa’.
(The writer is a spiritual guide; views are personal)
