One Divine Presence, Many Names
God is worshipped in many different ways. For some, He is God; for others, Bhagwan; for some, Allah; and for others, Guru Sahib. The names may differ, but faith and devotion are the same.
Why Do We Pray?
We pray in different ways and for different reasons. Sometimes we pray out of fear, sometimes out of hope, and sometimes out of pure love. Do we pray because we truly believe God exists, or because believing in Him gives us courage, strength, and positivity during difficult times? We may never have seen Him with our eyes, yet we trust in His presence and have faith in His divine grace.
Some people pray so that negative thoughts do not arise. Some pray because they fear that if they stop praying, difficulties may come into their lives. Some chant His name and sing His praises because they believe it brings spiritual merit. Some pray to preserve their happiness, while others pray that nothing bad happens, or that what they already have may increase. Some remember God in sorrow, while others thank Him in moments of joy, hoping their blessings remain protected.
We all have our own reasons, yet with complete faith, we accept both the joys and sorrows that come into our lives as part of His will. We pray, we trust, and we believe with all our hearts.
When Faith Is Tested
And yet, when things go wrong, we often blame the same God and ask, “I did everything. Then why did this happen to me?”
The Difference Between Believing and Experiencing
The truth is that believing in God and actually experiencing His presence through self-realisation are two very different things. Experiencing that Divine Presence is as natural and direct as experiencing your own existence. He is here—in every moment, in every breath. Once His presence is truly felt, all arguments and doubts disappear. There is only His presence. Where He is, we are. In truth, there is only One.
He exists in everyone and everything.
Seeing the Divine in All
Whether someone appears as a saint, a sage, a spiritual teacher, or an ordinary person, the same Divine Presence resides within all. If one possesses both self-knowledge and self-realisation, one begins to see that the human being, the saint, and God are not separate realities, but expressions of the same truth.
The Difference Between a True Teacher and a False One
A truly enlightened person will never make you feel that God is far away and can only be reached through them. They know that the Divine belongs to everyone equally.
After all, how can any human being take the place of that Supreme Power in His own name? We are all simply human beings living in temporary bodies. No matter how much knowledge, respect, or spiritual understanding someone may have, they are still a part of God’s creation—not God Himself.
A true teacher points you towards the Divine; they do not place themselves between you and the Divine.
When Spirituality Becomes Life
To understand God, a guide may be helpful—but only one who has realised the truth within themselves, one who is filled with self-knowledge and wisdom. Yet self-realisation itself is something only you can experience. No one else can do it for you.
Connect directly with that Supreme Power.
Personally, I have found this depth of understanding in the teachings of Shri Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj, a highly revered Indian Hindu spiritual guru, saint, and philosopher based in Vrindavan and Sir Sandeep Maheshwari Ji, one of India’s most popular motivational speakers, entrepreneurs, and content creators. There may be many others as well. I do not easily follow anyone unless I can see in them the reflection of what I have experienced within myself. One who has truly touched self-realisation begins to understand life from a much deeper place.
A Final Reflection
If you genuinely wish to experience the Divine Presence, listen to such teachings, reflect upon them, and apply them in your life.
Jai Shri Krishna ♥️
