Where is God's residence? Where indeed do gods reside? In temples? These structures are man-made though. Extremely beautiful, with rich patterns that convey superb significations symbolically, most temples are a tribute more to the glory of human artifice, ah, yes, to creativity which sure is infinite.
Do gods reside in rituals? Well, yes and no! These rituals have been performed by millions before us, and will continue to be performed by zillions after us. Most often, moreover, they are a show-off of one's wealth, oftener ill-gotten. Much much more worse, the rituals are an exhibition of piety! Disgusting it is to watch the race to prove how much more religious one is! Pathetic are such shows. Gods possibly cannot reside in religiosity, right?
Where indeed do gods reside? For sure in the magnificence of nature! The grandeur makes you wonder about the primal cause that crafted and continues to care for this infinite universe with its uncountable varieties. Whatever is this power, that holds a Jyotirmath together despite dastardly human interventions, it continues to care for a birdie that nestles in a frost bitten tree!
Who initiated this infinite universe? One knows all the answers, the counters to it, provided by Physics, by astronomy. Yet the refrain continues to be "neti, neti". No, this is not it.
Indeed where do gods reside? In the human heart? But how can there be any godliness in people who cheat, lie every minute through the teeth, are unnecessarily mean and nasty and full of duplicities, ill-treat others unfortunate enough to be relatives due to the unfortunate fact of birth, cannot stand up to truth, are crazed due to ephemeral things such as wealth, whichever way gotten!!!
Can gods reside in charity? Well, yet again, yes and no! Remember the poem "Abou ben Adhem" whose tribe the poet, Leigh Hunt, wanted to increase? Sure, charity is go(o)d. Often though, it is downright self-indulgent sympathy, rather than genuine empathy. Those who receive charity, moreover, are greedy and deceptive, while those who indulge in it are white-washing their ill deeds, and gaining, moreover, power through it!
Where do gods reside indeed, if beyond these age-old, traditional negativities? May be, in being wiser, and not merely knowledgeable, by the day? In self-reflexivity? In constantly re-fine-ing oneself? May be, only then can the philosophies of "tat tvam asi" and "ahm bramha asmi" would mean much!
Pratima@ I suppose, go(o)dliness may consist of living the life one has to face with grace, dignity and courage, in finding wise answers to impossible questions. The Himalayas sure tell you this moral of the tale!
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