The Hand of God
When belief is applied to the existence of God, it becomes highly controversial. To most people who believe in God, they associate God with miracles. There are many miracles going on in plain sight which would not be classified as done by the hand of God. For example, take a field like surgical intervention, especially when it comes to dealing with the heart. For every other organ, its functions can be interrupted with either rest, medications or in case of bones and joints splints and casts. A heart cannot be stopped even for a single second while the patient recuperates from a procedure. Furthermore, in a procedure like angioplasty, the repair of a blocked blood vessel goes on even while the heart is still beating and working as it normally does. The mind has the luxury of falling asleep when it's tired, not so the heart. In a car or an aeroplane, the “heart” of those machines is the engine. Without a functional engine, even the most luxurious car or plane would be of little use. Similarly, without a healthy heart, all the money and luxuries of the world will be of little use. The advances in modern medicine are miraculous indeed even though they are carried out by men and women just like us. Those curative actions that doctors perform should be considered godly. Wealth can be replaced but not health. Our heart is our most precious asset.
The heart is also the seat of emotions. Emotional health and well being are in our hands and not necessarily in the hands of doctors. If we are able to successfully carry out our own “emotional surgery” by removing and discarding negative qualities, that would also amount to a godly act. Positive qualities make us less self centered and more world centered, in effect we will be in the service of others. Like the heart, we cannot stop thinking, talking and acting as this inner transformation is going on. This procedure can be carried out successfully only in a “beating mind” not a “silent mind” that is asleep. Retreating to forests will also be of little use as we would be bringing the same emotional baggage with us. In fact, the impact of those stored emotions will be far greater due to the solitude of the surrounding. There will be very little to distract us from the happenings of the mind. It may seem counterintuitive, but the busy world is the best place for inner transformation especially for modern day humans.
We are constantly tested and challenged. These challenges provide instant feedback on our progress. How we handle them is important. For this, there is only one tool at our disposal, will power. Of the five fingers of one’s hand, the thumb can be thought to represent will power, the index finger our ego, middle finger pride, ring finger envy and the little finger love for a lazy and luxurious life. One or more of these four negative qualities is the source of much of our suffering. When the hand is closed in a tight fist, the thumb dominates the other 4 fingers. When will power is developed and is the dominant “appendage” of the mind, one can easily control and let go of one’s negative qualities. A successful practitioner of “emotional surgery” is full of good qualities. When good qualities become firmly entrenched and becomes our nature we begin to realize our God-like potential.
The heart is also the seat of emotions. Emotional health and well being are in our hands and not necessarily in the hands of doctors. If we are able to successfully carry out our own “emotional surgery” by removing and discarding negative qualities, that would also amount to a godly act. Positive qualities make us less self centered and more world centered, in effect we will be in the service of others. Like the heart, we cannot stop thinking, talking and acting as this inner transformation is going on. This procedure can be carried out successfully only in a “beating mind” not a “silent mind” that is asleep. Retreating to forests will also be of little use as we would be bringing the same emotional baggage with us. In fact, the impact of those stored emotions will be far greater due to the solitude of the surrounding. There will be very little to distract us from the happenings of the mind. It may seem counterintuitive, but the busy world is the best place for inner transformation especially for modern day humans.
We are constantly tested and challenged. These challenges provide instant feedback on our progress. How we handle them is important. For this, there is only one tool at our disposal, will power. Of the five fingers of one’s hand, the thumb can be thought to represent will power, the index finger our ego, middle finger pride, ring finger envy and the little finger love for a lazy and luxurious life. One or more of these four negative qualities is the source of much of our suffering. When the hand is closed in a tight fist, the thumb dominates the other 4 fingers. When will power is developed and is the dominant “appendage” of the mind, one can easily control and let go of one’s negative qualities. A successful practitioner of “emotional surgery” is full of good qualities. When good qualities become firmly entrenched and becomes our nature we begin to realize our God-like potential.
