The Light Is Always the Same
5 December 2024
Yesterday, an overzealous religious Instagram user attempted to draw me into a pointless spiritual discussion. It inspired me to share my thoughts gleaning from my own experiences.
My elder brother is neither religious nor spiritual. Yet, he sees me every day saying my morning prayers, meditating, or reading spiritual books. Despite our differing approaches, we live harmoniously as siblings, respecting each other’s choices without imposing or influencing one another, directly or indirectly.
We grant each other the freedom to grow, and seek the truth in our own ways.
Our conversations range from current affairs, jokes, politics, sports, and even spirituality. There are times when the insights he shares resonate with what I’ve read in my spiritual books. He tells me, “Julia, I haven’t read any of these books, but yet I know this.” :)
I tell him, "Soul wisdom is embedded in all of us even if you don’t read spiritual books."
Imagine two travelers heading to Goa: one by flight, the other by train. The one on the flight reaches in 40 minutes, soaring through the clouds, while the train traveler takes 10 hours, witnessing diverse landscapes along the way.
Can we judge whose journey was more right?
The spiritual path is the same. We are all on a journey to our Creator. Some may arrive sooner, others later, but the route and the scenery along the way will differ for each of us.
Who are we to judge?
By all means seek spiritual knowledge and enlightenment, but never look down on others whose paths are different from yours. Spiritual pride is the worst pride. For all you know, the one you are looking down on might reach heaven before you do.
In the first week of November 2024, I woke up with the name "Jalaram" on my lips. Curious, I searched online and discovered that Jalaram was a saint from Gujarat, a devotee of Lord Ram. Coincidentally, it was around the time of Jalaram Jayanti.
Reading about his life and selfless service inspired me to perform charity works in his name. I kept seeing his name everywhere — in my kitchen, on signboards, in public spaces. I later visited his temple in Virar and sought his blessings.
Over the years, I’ve had dreams that transcend religious boundaries. Once I got up with the name Purushottam on my lips. It turned out that it was Purushottam Jayanti that day.
In another dream I saw Lord Ganesha blinking his eyes, sometimes a Naga Sadhu visits me in my dream, in another dream I saw the name of Allah in Arabic etched in the sky during Ramzan. I cannot read or write Arabic, but I knew it was the name of Allah.
A Hindu friend of mine once dreamed of Mother Mary. I also recall the story of Our Lady of Vailankanni in Chennai, who appeared to a poor, lame Hindu boy asking for milk for baby Jesus.
Such experiences reaffirm a timeless and profound truth: God does not belong to any one religion. Religious conversion and disputes over religion are some of the most immature acts one can ever do.
GOD IS LIGHT, and religions or spiritual paths are like different lamp shades. The shade may vary in form and color, but the light remains unchanged.
So, no matter which lamp shade you choose, or switch to - THE LIGHT IS ALWAYS THE SAME.
Julia
