The Blind Belief in "God-Men"...

India is one of the most ancient countries in the world, with a rich culture and spiritual heritage. It is the land of Ram and Krishna, and of Gautam Buddha as well as of Shirdi Sai Baba and Ramkrishna Paramahansa. India has always had great spiritual personalities showing people the right way. With our deities and our “God-men” – a term I first heard a colleague mention during a coffee break at work, we have always looked up to someone as mentors and “Gurus”.

Religion is important to us as a race. Different people belong to different religions and we are chockful of worship rituals and the rights and wrongs of the correct way to practice. A few days back, Ram Rahim’s arrest and subsequent news began to make me think. It brought the movies PK and Oh my God, to mind, where the blind belief people have in all sorts of holy God-men has been shown with great effect on celluloid. We feel that we cannot communicate with God directly, and we must have a middle man to show us what to do and think. How could not one, not two, but five crore people have been hoodwinked by this Guru Ram Rahim? What is the phenomenon that makes them lose all common sense and follow a corrupt person, whom they believe will have all the answers to their problems?

It all stems down to people wanting ready answers and looking for quick fixes to the bumps that life deals you. Unfortunately, there is no instant solution, no matter which Guru you believe in. The answer lies within yourself, and if you feel spiritual inclinations, at least avoid the evidently false sages and sanyasis and go for the real deal. How will you judge that? A good dollop of common sense and caution always helps. No holy person will ever demand huge donations from you or try to get your womenfolk alone into a room. People who have left the “sansar”(domestic life) shun all kinds of material attachments and a life of luxury will definitely not be their preference. Also, such people don’t want to come into the public glare and prefer to remain anonymous. So spare yourself the megalomaniacs and self-styled religious leaders and if you feel able to, open your mind to the higher powers beyond. You don’t need a conduit for that!