A while back, someone posted a story on Facebook in Urdu, which inspired me to write this blog. I will try to translate it, but since there was no author’s name, I will quote it as “author unknown.”
And I quote:
“One day, a teacher told his students to prepare for an exam. He gave each of them a paper with some questions. When all the students received their papers, he said to flip the paper over and write about whatever was on the back. The students were surprised to see that nothing was written on the other side, except for a black dot in the middle of the paper.
Confused, the students did their best to write about the black dot. When they finished, the teacher collected the papers and read them aloud to the class. Every student had focused solely on the black dot.
After reading all the papers, the teacher explained to the silent class: ‘I am not going to grade these papers. I wanted to give you something to think about. None of you wrote about the white part of the paper; everyone focused on the dot.
In real life, we all focus on the black spots as well. Life is a gift from God, filled with reasons to be happy, like love and looking after each other. But we tend to focus only on the black dots—health problems, poverty, bad relationships, or unfulfilled expectations. In the face of life’s gifts, these black dots are insignificant, yet they have the power to cloud our minds. Look at life beyond these black dots. Appreciate every moment and blessing. Be happy, spread happiness, and encourage others to be happy.'”
End quote.
Profound wisdom, yet so simply expressed. I am taking it to the next level because I believe that God must take physical form to be helpful to the ordinary human individual. People who believe in God acknowledge that He created the universe and trillions of galaxies, yet they often ignore the importance of the individual, causing people to lose their self-respect. The significance of the individual can be recognized by observing dead planets, ghost towns, and desolate spots on Earth.
In answering someone’s prayers, an individual becomes an integral part of God’s plan. Yet, collectively, we fail to see, accept, or acknowledge the importance and responsibilities of the individual. The reasons are politically charged religions and the promotion of a sense of belonging that diminishes the individual.
Sure, God exists, but how does His existence benefit the individual and humanity as a whole? The answer lies within personal responsibility. Each individual must explore their spirituality rather than blindly following inherited beliefs.
If an individual plays a role in God’s work, why don’t we acknowledge it? The answer isn’t found in spirituality because we use politics to manipulate God. The individual, blinded by the political strength of belonging, cannot see clearly. The problem lies within the individual’s personal belief system.
When you stray from spirituality and follow the political arm of religion, you avoid questioning even nonsensical teachings because you’ve been told these are God’s words. I believe humanity and God are evolving entities. This evolution is evident when we look at our progress from the past to the present. However, religious extremism and nationalism persist, causing people to kill each other over ancestral knowledge.
Believing in God without doubt means accepting His will in all circumstances, not just when it suits us politically. We must stop harshly punishing people in God’s name and resist following religious leaders blindly.
If you believe in evolution, existing knowledge becomes a foundation for future growth, even in religion. From the beginning, knowledge has evolved, yet religious politics continue to incite violence. This happens because we egotistically cling to religious knowledge, separating ourselves from God and humanity. Instead of addressing problems as black dots, we try to solve everything with religious knowledge, even issues unrelated to spirituality. Seeking perfection should be a personal goal, ensuring black dots remain dots and do not become black holes that drain life.
As mortal beings, we cannot afford to sacrifice happiness for things we will eventually leave behind. When you let a dot become a black hole, you are being self-destructive. You must take charge of your life, balancing all aspects, including the sense of belonging and religious beliefs. Half-knowledge is dangerous, ruining you mentally and spiritually, robbing you of happiness.
Spirituality reflects the reality of God, existing beyond political boundaries, whether nationalistic or religious. Human beings are central to all actions, but nothing is achieved without the support of nature. For example, oxygen is beyond anyone’s control, and nothing can be done by a dead person. God’s work is performed by living humans, so as evolving beings, our knowledge must constantly change. This is why people follow different paths and belief systems, even within the same religion.
Sometimes we stick to the same path due to personal insecurities, even when changes come from God. The question of how much influence we really have arises. It’s easy to dismiss God’s existence to avoid straining our minds, but as mortals, it’s our duty to find happiness and contentment in this temporary life. A belief system helps us understand balance and responsibility, enabling us to reciprocate during our temporary stay. If you overextend yourself, you cannot be an effective leader of your own life. Confusion arises over how much is enough, so don’t let a dot become a black hole that drains your life.
Cultural traditions, trends, customs, and even religious duties can rob you of happiness and contentment instead of providing these precious jewels. Ultimately, the responsibility for a fulfilling life rests on the individual.
Adding happiness and contentment is crucial to a mortal life, as is transforming black holes into dots. This is your personal and spiritual responsibility. One day, my son wanted to play a card game called War, but I was busy. I suggested he play solo, using his left and right hands. When he started, he wanted one side to win, so I reminded him that both sides were his, and he needed to play fair.
Valuing yourself is the first step to living a balanced life. You are the CEO and the one connected to the source. You carry both sides within yourself, and it’s your job to balance them. Reciprocate while living for yourself because this life is temporary. Enjoy it while you’re alive. If you live your life like a worker bee, God might say that you had free will to do justice. If you failed to do justice to yourself, it was your choice. A group will always want you to be subservient, living like a hamster on a wheel. You can choose this out of a blind sense of belonging, but it is still your choice, and you can make yourself insignificant.
Remember, you are not a born sinner nor an insignificant entity. Do not become a sacrificial lamb for tradition, custom, or politically charged religious wars. You are alive to keep God alive and to help others. Each of us can help fulfill others’ prayers, and even if you get paid, you are maintaining God’s physical world.
If you are a religious leader, help others without preaching prejudice and hatred, which can lead to spiritual crimes. Be a person of God for all humanity, not just the chosen few. This selection has nothing to do with spirituality; it is pure politics. Preach spirituality and filter out politics, even if it is in the Quran or Bible. We must evolve with changing times. If we are killing each other, we are not understanding spirituality or are politically twisting it to fit our group’s agenda.
We cannot kill each other over a belief system because God physically survives through living human beings. Killing someone doing God’s work is against His will. Our knowledge must evolve to keep God’s world functioning, not destroy it. We all have the duty to advance our knowledge, turning religious extremism, nationalism, and racism from black holes into dots. Focus on the white page of spirituality, God, and humanity as a whole.