The Divinity of Life
The Hindu mind is singularly dominated by one paramount conception: the divinity of life. Regarding the creation of the universe, Hindu tradition, based on the experiences of illumined mystics, asserts with deep conviction that God is the supreme creator of every thing and every being. The Reality within and the Reality without are identical. There is complete harmony between the individual and the universe, the microcosm and the macrocosm.
The universe, being nothing but God, hence is looked upon by the Hindu mind as a temple or body of God. It is divine and sacred. This ultimate truth, the oneness of God, man and the universe, has been revealed to Hindu mystics down the ages. Hence, the deep impact of this living tradition has molded the Hindus to be tolerant, respectful, mild and meditative persons.
This supreme knowledge of finding unity behind multiplicity, has dominated the Hindu mind to give the most importance to the development of the inner life in finding the center of our being, which brings about our ethical inward transformation. These moral and spiritual values of life culminate in qualitative improvement of life. Moral improvement is imperative to spiritual awakening.
Hindu tradition does emphasize, again and again, the paramount necessity of moral excellences in the pursuit of inner growth. Spiritual truth, being the goal of human fulfillment, can never be attained without moral perfection. Morality is not a end in itself, nor ultimate good, yet without morality a person cannot realize the supreme harmony within as well as without.
Of all the peoples in the world the Hindus alone have discovered the secret of loving God as a mother or as a child, friend or sweetheart. To them God is not a person, but a principle which may be viewed from many perspectives. Hindus have taken down the stern God of justice of Christian theology from His throne in heaven and given Him a favored place in their homes as mother, friend, child, even husband or sweetheart. God, being the most beloved object of life, must find a place in our family life. He must be dear and near to us. God is addressed by Hindus as He or She or It, according to the constitution of the mind of the seeker. This ideal of the sweet God, lovable God, playmate God, child God, has been admirably illustrated in Hinduism in the personality of Sri Krishna. So, every child can be looked upon by anyone as a baby God and spiritual life can be quickened in this manner.
We are enclosing certain excerpts from Hindu scriptures which highlight moral idealism. (1) Moral instructions imparted to the students by the teachers upon graduation. (2) Mother is a very important figure in the household because she is the first teacher of the baby. (3) Mother is instructing the child to tell the truth. (4) Every child is looked upon in Hindu tradition as baby God.