Heaven or hell? We have the power to choose
When we ask the question, “Who are you?” we get a variety of answers. “I am a Hindu,” “I am a Christian,” “I am a Muslim,” “I am an engineer,” “I am a doctor.” One factor pervades all these answers-the ‘I.’ For this ‘I,’ there is no name or form. It is that supreme principle that we variously refer to as Atma, Brahman, or God, etc.
When we say, “There is no God,” it is like using the tongue to say, “There is no tongue.” The very ‘I’ is saying, “There is no ‘I.’” God resides in each and every one of us. That which pulsates in every living being, in everything that moves, and in everything that does not move, is consciousness. God is like space. Space is everywhere.
This universe is sustained in space. Before we build a house, space is there. Once the house is complete, the space remains. The house is situated in the space that was previously there. Even when the house is demolished and all the debris is carried away, space remains.
Similarly, it is that supreme principle that ever remains-in the past, in the present and in the future-without change. That is God.
Many people ask, “If God is all-pervasive, why can’t we see it?”
Are we able to see electricity? No, but when we touch a live wire, we will receive a shock. We experience electricity. The God principle is also an experience. It is through this experience that we truly come to know God.
Sometimes, if we are standing behind a tree, the sun disappears from our view. At such a time we may say, “The sun is covered by the tree,” but that isn’t really the truth, is it? In reality, the tree is merely blocking our line of vision.
Similarly, it is our ignorance that prevents us from clearly perceiving God. God resides within us as the life-force and consciousness. The Supreme, whose very nature is bliss, is our Atma. Even though God is all-pervasive, the mind’s identification with the feelings of ‘I’ and ‘mine’ obstructs the perception of this reality. It is what keeps us shackled. We will never gain a sense of completeness from the external world, yet we continue to search. When we study, the thought is, “Will I pass?” After passing, the next thought is, “Will I get a job?” Once employed, we think, “Will I lose this job?” And the list of tensions goes on and on. We all know this cycle very well.
In distress, many women come and tell me, “Amma, I’ve turned 40 and have yet to get married. I still haven’t found the right husband.” Similarly, many men arrive with the same anxiety, saying, “Despite getting on in life, I’ve yet to find the type of woman I’m looking for. I’m still searching.” In this way, they become disappointed; their lives are full of sorrow.
Reflecting on these struggles reminds me of a story. There was a man who travelled all over the world in search of a bride. In Spain, he came across a beautiful and intelligent girl, but she was not interested in worldly affairs.
Then, in Korea, he found another girl-one in whom there was beauty, intelligence, and an understanding of the world. But he was hesitant to commit himself to her. In another country he finally found a girl who had all the qualities he desired.
“Were you able to marry this girl of your dreams?” Amma asked.
“No,” the man replied with a tinge of grief in his voice.
“What happened?” Amma asked.
The reply he gave should stand as a lesson for every one of us. He said, “She was looking for the man of her dreams.”
When we search for perfection outside, we are always going to be disappointed. What is it we human beings are looking for? Isn’t it peace and happiness? For a little bit of peace, we are willing to run helter-skelter. But in doing so, we are transforming our inner world into a hell.
If lasting peace and happiness could really be attained through external objects and a life of luxury, wouldn’t we have attained it by now? It isn’t enough if we have air-conditioned cars and apartments; we should learn to air-condition our minds.
Peace, contentment, and happiness depend upon our own minds, not on external objects and situations. It is gaining control over the mind that is the foundation of happiness. We must always remember that heaven and hell are creations of the mind.
