I have always wondered why prayers aren’t simple. In many cultures, prayers turn out to be long rituals. One specific ritual that prevails is ‘sacrifice’.
Every prayer, especially congregations, festivals, and masses have one, inevitably. From serving rice puddings to beheadings cattle, or sometimes even humans, sacrifices range from banal to bizarre. It is hard to pick on the specifics, which I shall refrain from; but it is curious to see how ‘sacrifices’ happen.
Expression of gratitude is sometimes a mere gesture, and on other occasions, it could be a few words; but for God, we see that they are packaged in prayers – this, we have seen already.
Now, how many times we have sent a ‘thank you card’ with ‘flowers’ and ‘chocolates’? Have you seen some of us send cookies, special cakes, etc., as ‘return gifts’? Return gifts are symbolic, yet a ‘material’ expression of this gratitude.
Beyond the chants, mantras, sermons, and prayers, the praying groups wish to give a ‘return gift’ in a material form. The simple to savage offerings are nothing but return gifts in material form to the higher power that is seen as the giver of their hopes.
The rituals are these wishes made into practices over time.
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Is God male or female?
Most of our visualizations have always gravitated towards male forms of God. I don’t want to tackle religious views here, but there is a patriarchal slant in our perceptions about God.
If God has one form – the higher power – it has to be a giver, a listener, and gracious.
Wait, it seems that we have someone among us already like that.
Our mothers. Aren’t they givers, listeners, and gracious? I don’t see a disagreement here.
The easy answer is God is female.
I have seen the male leaders – the humans in our lifetime – and universally we know how they end up. I am not saying that men are lesser, but you know how patriarchal thoughts are. I say this at the cost of stereotyping, but if the question was to identify a stereotype, so would the answer be.
Men are takers, by and large. Women are givers. Again, I may be stereotypical, but in my excuse, I was just trying to answer the question without sugar coating.
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The final question that comes to my mind. Is there God? If so, show me.
I think I have already answered that question.
God is giving, listening and gracious. If you, give, listen, and are graceful, you are in love.
Love is a giving emotion. Love binds us with life. Loves thrives on hope and prayers. Love flames desire. Love liberates at the same time. Love accepts but it also lets go.
If you are in love, you are a God. Now add yourself to the complex layers from the second article, you will lose yourself in the joy of being in love and being God. S
So where were we? The question of ‘Is there God?’
Go figure.
