Only God can remove all deficiencies a tiny soul, in the sea of seven billion, faces in this impermanent place of miseries, writes AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI

Just imagine how large the universe is and how tiny a soul is, one in seven billion. Obviously, there are plenty of challenges for a soul in a human body. One is considered fortunate if one is born in a decent family. Lord Krishna describes two kinds of superior births, ie one in a family of pure and prosperous and the other in a family of wise yogis. Then, He states that the first one is rare and the latter still rarer in this world. (The Gita 6.41-42) Now we can imagine that not everyone will be so fortunate. These births are special because persons born here get a good start in life. They qualified because they had practised yoga in their previous lives. Now they are able to get back the proper intelligence of the previous birth conducive to yoga. This means that they would have the support of God in their present lives. This is the key requirement for an excellent present life. Because God can remove all deficiencies a tiny soul faces in this impermanent place of miseries. (8.15)

Then, what about the rest of us? How are we going to fare? To get the answer, we need to know a few details of the cosmic design. There is God, and there is His material creation, which works under His superintendence. (9.10) God has made the rules and the divine authorities, who oversee its working, implement them. Essentially, it is the karmaphala principle. Good karmas (deeds) are rewarded and bad ones are punished. These rewards and punishments are mainly where one will be born, ie in what family; where, ie place; the level of intelligence; the looks; material wealth and opulence, one will be able to gain etc.

The material creation has been set in motion by God. It has its own inertia. We, souls, need to adjust to it. One needs to get over the false notion that he or she is at the centre of the universe. Everyone must fall in line, otherwise there will be punishment. The degree of difficulty is big. One tries to manage but without active help from God, one lives quite an ordinary life. Taking shelter of God is the most important aspect of the cosmic design. Because a soul requires proper guidance, security, peace, support, all kinds of help, etc in order to lead a successful life. These can only come from God.

But one must qualify for it. What does one need to do to get this privilege? Lord Krishna says take God’s shelter in all aspects. (18.62) Worship God with undivided attention, meditating on Him. (9.22) Once we get started on what God wishes from us, then we are sure to get what will set us apart from the common man. God will get involved in our lives. God can do what no one else is capable of doing. He will give us the perfect guidance, being omniscient. Thus, He will destroy the darkness born of ignorance by the shining lamp of knowledge. (10.11) Don’t we go wrong because we are mostly ill-informed? Then a tiny soul is always in need of all kinds of help. God provides that. (9.22) For example, one is suffering from a serious disease. God will arrange all help for its cure, tolerance, etc.

Not only for tolerance, we need atmabala for being able to lead a quality life. God gives that. He protects as only He can, because He is omnipotent. Peace — the elusive prize comes from God only; those in God consciousness are privileged in this regard. (2.66) Similarly, sukha — the real happiness as different from sense pleasures — comes through God consciousness only. (2.66) God gives shelter/support as only He can. And God can forgive our past wrongdoings; divine authorities are not empowered to do that. Therefore, we may be tiny and the universe may be too big, we are well-placed if we are connected with God. After all, He is the everything of the creation. (7.19)

Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com