How Can We Live in the Will of God?
In order to align our will with the divine will, we need to recognize our interconnectedness and interdependence. We are interconnected and interdependent with all creation and every human being. Our actions affect everyone and everything in the world. Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nath Hanh famously stated that we need to awaken from the illusion of our separateness. When we realize this unity, we live with gratitude for all of creation, which helps us to understand our unity with God. We live for the welfare of the entire creation. One cannot truly understand God until they grasp the essence of interconnectedness and interdependence.
It is like a leaf realizing its unity with the entire tree and leading its individual life for the good of the whole. When we live in this unity, we can say that we are living by the will of God. The will of God that initially comes as external commandments is only a preparation until we discover this unity. Then, all external commandments are transcended or outgrown. The life based on commandments is referred to as the First Covenant, or Old Covenant, in the Bible. Through Moses, the Old Covenant was inscribed on stone tablets, and through Jesus Christ, the New Covenant was written in the hearts of people.
Living in Harmony with God
If we aim to live according to God's will, we should totally surrender to God with absolute devotion. This devotion is marked by the sacrifice of our ego, tranquility, sacrifice of intoxication and control of senses, and constant awareness of God's presence. Chanting God's name and always speaking the truth are essential. We should always strive to listen to God's voice, believing that God is present in the five elements: air, fire, water, soil, sky, or even in the void. Our actions should always serve the universe, as this is the work of God. We should meticulously perform these acts in unison with God.
Questions and Reflections
How we imagine God and what values guide our lives significantly shape our perception of the divine. Does the God we believe in and conceptualize reside in the heavens and demand our complete subjugation before Him? Does He communicate through mysterious beings in unusual circumstances, asking us to trust and follow without questioning? Is God kind to all or only to those who obediently follow His commands? Does God become angry when people do not adhere to His rules? Does He allow us to think freely and act independently? Is there an expectation of gratitude, compliance, or something else for all He has supposedly done for us? Does God have a will, and if so, how can we know who will be aware of it when? There is no personal meeting, so only imagination, intuition, inspiration, and influence are available on a personal level.
Let us introspect and ask our conscience to guide us. It is the only medium through which we can receive divine signals, provided it remains pure. Keeping our conscience pure is crucial. As a Hindu, I believe in performing my duties and leaving the rest to God. As the ancient Hindu text proclaims, 'karmanyewadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachan!'—meaning 'One is entitled only to action, but never to the result thereof.' In the end, it is God's will that will be done, as He controls everything. As the saying goes, 'Hoyihain wahi jo Ram ruchi rakha; ko kari tark badhawe shakha!'—meaning, 'Do as Lord Ram desires, and do not forestall His plans.
Hinduism teaches us that God is present in everyone, everything, and everywhere, making us bold enough to declare 'Aham Brahmasmi' and 'Tat-Tvam-Asi.' This means 'I am God' or 'I am that which God is.' And 'He is not different'—tat twam asi!—which emphasizes that our desires are also His will, and we are merely carrying out His wishes, doing everything submissively. This understanding comes from the belief that He is in control of everything.