Can God Be Proved?
I’ve been reading an excellent book on the subject: The History of God by Karen Armstrong. This history is limited to the Abrahamic faiths…
I’ve been reading an excellent book on the subject: The History of God by Karen Armstrong. This history is limited to the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam but it is an excellent account of the evolution of thinking down through the centuries about the existence and nature of God.[1]
Neither you nor I, however, need such a book to know that debates over God, religion and atheism are endless and, for the most part, uninspiring. It is true, nonetheless, that the great minds and hearts who have sought to realize God through study and prayer have often been blessed with profound insights and life changing experiences.
It is tempting to say “it’s all in their minds” or these experiences are entirely subjective and have no objective reality because their conclusions are so different. God, if indeed Consciousness itself and if indeed immanent in all creation, cannot help but be uniquely manifested in each human life because each of us are unique and necessarily subjective. Who can define consciousness except through the experience of self-awareness?
You know the story of the seven blind men and the elephant? How each man describes the elephant in entirely different ways but are, nonetheless, describing the same animal? Isn’t this what is going on?
To the intellectual, God is a definition; to the lover, God is the Beloved; to one who feels the pangs and anguish of those in need, God is compassion; to the creative, God is the Creator; to the active, God is activity. Why would we think otherwise?
Why can’t God be One and Many: at the same time? What else could Infinity be except: Everything! Why can’t God be the trinity of transcendent, immanent and active? Or, formless, form, and motion?
Paramhansa Yogananda, author of the now classic story, “Autobiography of a Yogi,” came to America in 1920 at age 27. For the next two decades he became one of America’s most sought-after inspirational speakers. Thousands would gather in the concert halls of the great cities of America to hear him speak. He spoke on subjects as wide ranging as energetic healing, marriage, business, politics, meditation, original Christianity and original yoga.
Following the footsteps of an ancient and elevated tradition and in the long shadow of another modern rishi, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Yogananda taught how to see the many faces of God in all religions with none of them having a monopoly on truth and each of them offering inspiration and support to those who resonated with their message and practices.
But what he taught, also has become a “way of truth” on its own for new generations of souls born into a new era that has emerged from the older traditions of the past. It’s not a “ray” that seeks to compete or distinguish itself but rather seeks to express universal truths in ways and forms that can help the millions who are adrift of the old-time religions.
The emphasis here is on experience, not dogma, rituals and sacraments. It is focused on individual awakening and is called “Self-realization.” In this it resonates deeply with the individual-centric ethos of our times. Yet Self-realization encourages fellowship with others of like mind for “no man is an island.” A new expression needs both workers while its adherents need each other. The experience we’re talking is born of the practice of meditation.
The breakdown of traditional bonds of culture, family, gender definitions, nationality, religion, and language invite new forms of conscious community and relationships: all revolving around individual self-awareness.
Human nature doesn’t change and so thinking, feeling and acting remain fundamental to self-expression. Our relationship with “God” can express itself in any of these three vehicles and now especially in the transcendent state of inner communion arising out of meditation.
Transcendent experience has always been the blessing and gift of those who particularly dedicate their lives to seeking God. But in the modern age where millions meditate, the benefits of meditation accrue to anyone who practices regularly and faithfully. Thus, the path of Self-realization can serve all sincere seekers according to their efforts, temperament, and interests.
Definitions of God on this path are of secondary value. While reincarnation and karma are a cornerstone of the intellectual understanding of the “big picture,” nothing is more important than the consciousness of the present moment. Self-realization teaches the need for a way-shower-preceptor-guru to act as a transmitter of transcendence but the role of the guru will depend on the spiritual needs and awareness of each seeker.
Granted, however, that the millions of people who meditate regularly will probably never seek, meet or enter a meaningful relationship with an enlightened master, nor, in any event, ever achieve more than fleeting moments of transcendence beyond mindfulness, how can a seeker of God follow the path of Self-realization?
Even if for me and thousands of others, this path is based on discipleship to the Self-realization lineage of Paramhansa Yogananda, for my purposes here in this article I use the term “Self-realization” in the sense that Yogananda did when he predicted that “Self-realization” would be the religion of the future.
What did he mean by that prediction? Not that the world would join one religion or organization but that in the future the emphasis of truth-seekers would be on actual experience and consciousness, and that the overriding spiritual practice for that purpose would be meditation: the inner path. Whatever outward affiliation or faith they belonged to would be that which suits them best.
Here are some suggestions beyond the daily practice of meditation:
1. During daily activity, feel your connection with the space, the objects and the people around you and out beyond as you are able to do. Feeling is of the heart not merely the mind as in a thought. FEEL that space and that connection.
2. Listen for the silences between words, activities and sounds. Develop the fine art of listening. Listening is not just about hearing; it’s also about FEELING. When someone is speaking, listen intently and learn to drop the habit of silent narration while you prepare your response.
3. Develop concentration both by listening (see above) but also paying close attention to everything you do. Do what you say you are going to do and finish what you are doing. Be actively calm, and calmly active.
4. Say YES TO LIFE by offering help and being willing to temporarily stop what you are doing if someone else needs a hand. (If at times you need to finish what you are doing, say so and then commit to help as soon as you can.)
5. Develop the habit of quieting the narrative mind when you pause between activities such as waiting for a bus or at a traffic signal; be observant of your surroundings (without narrative).
6. Develop both good posture and diaphragmatic breathing while sitting, standing or walking. Yogananda stated that “a bent spine is the enemy of Self-realization.”
7. Do some kind of yogic exercise every day. Yogananda taught a powerful 12-minute routine of standing exercises called Energization Exercises. (I say “yogic” because most gym exercises are conducted on the periphery of the body using mechanics rather than originating from the center of the body using will power and conscious energy control.) Walking or running type exercise can be added to yogic exercises for their aerobic value.
8. Develop a healthy diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts, and if possible, a vegetarian diet (chicken, fish or lamb might be ok).
9. Avoid alcohol or recreational drugs.
10. Your relationship with another person should be wholesome, committed, faithful, mutually serviceful and respectful. Shared interests could include community service, creative, artistic, holistic or intellectually uplifting activities and, where possible, shared spiritual goals and practices.
11. According to your temperament, develop a personal relationship and longing for connection with God in name, form, no name, no form or some meaningfully devotional, humble way of self-offering and gratitude. Prayer, mantra, chanting are helpful in developing devotion. You are a part of something much larger than your own ego, body, and desires. We are here in a school of life to learn our lessons.
12. Develop generosity in helping others or supporting a spiritual work, and develop basic virtues of kindliness and compassion in addition to others mentioned above.
Definitions of God are oh so passe! As Jesus Christ put it, “The kingdom of God is within you!” That’s the mantra of Self-realization and for the Age of the Individual that has dawned.
[1] The Sankhya philosophy of India declares Ishwara Asidhah, God can be neither proven nor disproven.