Monday, April 16, 2007

where is GOD?

It is normal for the rational mind to doubt the existence of God. But here's a beautiful story I found, for both doubters and believers.A man went to a barbershop to have his hair and beard trimmed. As the barber set to work, they began to chat. Eventually, they touched on the subject of God.
The barber said, "I don't believe that God exists.""Why do you say that?" asked the customer."Well, you just have to go out into the street to realise that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."
The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to get into an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, unwashed hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.
The customer turned right back and went into the barber shop. He said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist.""How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!""No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.""Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.""Exactly!" affirmed the customer "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering."I understand this story to mean that God is not found in temples and rituals. If we surrender ourselves to GOD and kill our ego completely, we will find God within us.