What is your Religion?

I must have been a small child when I first heard this word, Religion. The only line that I had heard & picked up about religion was, Religion unites and never divides. However as I went to educational institutes, I again saw this word Religion in the line “What’s your religion?” Every second form that I have filled since then asks about my religion. To be honest, I always felt perplexed. Not because I never owned a religion, but the fact that I could not differentiate one from the other. I always questioned myself, what makes me more of one religious background and not of any other background?
Well about my actual background - My spiritual had guide introduced me to a formless friend to play with, to study with, to fight with, to laugh with, to cry with and to do everything with. Knowing this formless friend has been the only reason that unites me with other beings on the planet. So the religion that had united me with rest beings was the actual religion I tried to follow. And as far as I am aware all religions speak of unity. So in nut shell I tried to follow all the religions or call it one single religion of Universal Brotherhood. Hence were the confusions while filling those paper forms.
These days I am in UK. I again hear the same question when I sit with client representatives. Amidst other talks this topic often comes and I generally face this question, “So what is your religion? “ Same happened last time when I was sitting with Steve, an expert on one system. I was again confused to answer. The reply he expected was something like Hindu. However I could speak, “I am trying to follow religion of Universal brotherhood.” He wasn’t sure what I meant. Going further, something slipped out of my mouth “I am trying to follow your religion “. He heard and smiled.
I too smiled after his smile. I had found the long awaited simple answer which everyone would understand. I have had people around who were keen on their religion being the only religion. Then there were some other friends who were okay with others even if others had some different religious faith. And here comes the final lot who understands the real meaning of religion and treats other’s religion as its own.

You are Lucky !

I remember once this sister from US sent me this comment. Probably she had commented this after reading one of the emails on Divine Souls. "Sunil ji, You are Lucky because you are in India".
Well the same moment, I felt that she had written this coz she had been out of India for quite many years, and was missing her family back in India. However, I didnt ask her what made her say this. Today, when I met this small girl's mother in Cambridge. She was mentioning how the society had laid restrictions on her so that she doesnt harm her children in any form. Post this she also praised Sheetal for the upbringing that Disha has. And Sheetal spoke the same thing many a times, Its because we are Indians.
We are Indians, You are lucky you are in India. India, the nation I was born in. With pride for the nation, I always felt its some thing else also which has made Sunil a Sunil. I cannot skip mentioning teachings what mission had laid in me. Thanks Babaji, for giving me birth in India where my childhood didnt have any 999 to dial for a rescue operation incase my parents gave me a slap to teach me how to differentiate between right and wrong.

Listening

I am very often reminded of the conversation that my roommate and I had some months ago; It went something like this – ‘Sunil ji, its 10M pixel’ ‘Sound Quality should be okay’ ‘Optical zoom 6x, hmm..Not bad’ ‘Will Apple be a good deal?’ ‘It’s quite cheap, Canon is nice company’ ‘How about getting speakers along with this?’ I had asked my roommate to find some deals for buying a good camera. While he was telling me various options available online, I was asking him to search for some iPod deals as well. To be honest, I remember this incident every time I see pictures clicked by friends with their cameras. I wish I had listened to my roommate and finalized some deal that day ! Active Listening !!