Hinduism religion not only believes in presence of God but also shows the path to reaching state of enlightenment, God in one’s lifetime.
Hinduism scriptures like Upanishads (independent spiritual treatises) say if a completed puzzle is Brahman (God Almighty in all its glory) then individual pieces of puzzle were independent souls’ atmans. If a grain of sand is an independent soul atman the whole mound God Almighty.
Adi Shankaracharya in his doctrine of Advaita Vedanta says other than God Almighty nothing existed in cosmos. The manifest physical world as per Adi Shankaracharya was an act of Maya (veil of illusion). Similar as the image in the mirror did not exist in reality, the present manifest physical world existed only in thoughts of God Almighty.
The theory of Advaita Vedanta can never be discounted for it is an absolute fact of life even confirmed by Lord Krishna in his doctrine of Bhagavad Gita.
As detailed in Upanishads it is only when Brahman (God Almighty) exploded self with a big bang the present cosmos formed. The sum total of all souls’ atmans in cosmos in their pure form is what we defined as God Almighty (Brahman in Hinduism). As per Hinduism scriptures we as human beings exist only because God exists. As a soul atman existing in heart, we manifest human form to cleanse self of dross impurities within.
Broken down to basic building block of cosmos the whole world was just a cluster of atoms and molecules, nothing more. When seen from senses point of view things appeared solid, in reality all was gaseous formation. If we look at the abstract world it seems truthful that other than God Almighty nothing exists in cosmos. As a Hindu one could never deny existence of God.
The belief of a Hindu in God makes some seekers go in search of God. Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana both took path of jnana yoga to go in search of God. They subsequently succeeded in reaching state of enlightenment in their lifetime.
Unless one believed in God, believed in the existence of God one could never travel spiritual path successfully to reach God in one’s lifetime. Prime reason why other than Jesus Christ none in west ever succeeded in reaching God!
To understand precepts of spirituality contained in Bhagavad Gita, our 100% faith in existence of God is necessitated. If we believed in God, we also believed in world of souls atmans. Indulging in contemplation (chintan) we slowly realized that it is our soul, consciousness existing in heart that manifested human form to work out its karma, remove dross impurities within.
As per Hinduism scriptures the human form was but a medium for soul atman within to purify itself. Moment human beings gained enlightenment the cosmic journey of soul atman finally ends. A pure soul atman need not manifest a body again.
Contrary to Hinduism, scripturally Jaina scriptures do not believe in existence of God. But in my entire lifespan I have yet to find a Jain family who does not believe in God. Followers of both Hinduism and Jainism not only believed in existence of God but also the summation that it is only in human form pursuing path of spirituality one can reach state of enlightenment.
Though born in a Jain family right from six years of age I believed both in Jainism and Hinduism equally. As my belief in doctrine of Lord Krishna was more, I indulged most of time in spiritual values contained in Bhagavad Gita.
The spiritual sayings, the analogies given in Bhagavad Gita were clearer and simpler to understand. Indulging in all 700 shlokas verses I finally realized that God was the end of all. If I could see and meet God in this very life, my cosmic journey of life, my endless rotation in the cycle of birth and death would end. And thus started my spiritual pursuit of life!
From six years of age my faith in God was 100% absolute. Even if God Almighty himself came disguised to sway me from my belief in God, I would have not. It is this belief in God that finally led me to God.
By indulging in abstract values of life contained in Bhagavad Gita and also Upanishads one can easily understand what God Almighty was all about. To understand everything relating to God our indulgence in spirituality (not religion, path of rituals) is necessitated.
Hinduism scriptures further say just as we can realize presence of a flower by its smell, we can also realize presence of God in day-to-day affairs of life. Though abstract but everything relating to God and his world can be understood indulging in spirituality as detailed in Bhagavad Gita.
Hinduism have many gods
Until now we have dealt with monotheistic aspect of God Brahman. But masses unable to conceptualize, comprehend the massive entity of God prayed to different attributes of God Almighty. This resulted in a plethora of gods created only to pray and worship to God. Those indulging in religion (rituals) believed in Saguna form of God (having a form). Such religious practitioners believed in not one but many gods.
In reality as per Lord Krishna God is one and only one.
For those believing in spirituality God was only one Brahman Hinduism. For religious practitioners’ right from Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva there were millions of other gods and goddesses. Hindu culture is full of multifarious gods. For every deed there was a God. Those desiring rain prayed to Varuna God. Those desiring general welfare prayed to Lord Ganesha. Those fearing death prayed to Lord Shiva. Those desiring wealth to goddess Lakshmi! Those wanting to excel in studies prayed to goddess Saraswati. As our convenience accordingly the manifestation of God! There was no dearth of gods in Hinduism culture.
For a follower of Hindu culture, belief or non-belief in God was never a matter of choice. One believed in God from the very beginning of life, when only a child.
In Hinduism journey towards God means journey towards our inner self, soul atman existing in heart.
In Hinduism belief in God was never a matter of choice. One believed in God from birth.
Having realized God in 1993 I can distinctly talk to God every second of life on one-to-one basis.