The Journey of Faith: Moving Beyond the Material to the Infinite
The journey of faith doesn’t restrict us to any physical form; it goes beyond tangible and into the abstract. When we were kids, we felt immense joy and excitement whenever we received a toy. We did not know who previously possessed those toys, yet we eagerly claimed ownership of every single one. In those moments, the physical presence of the object gave us absolute faith that it would make us happy; As we grow older, however, we often wonder if our focus remains too restricted to physical objects, causing us to forget the source of true and lasting happiness. The possession of material things- and the belief that they will bring us permanent joy - is temporary. As things get older, that happiness fades away, and we inevitably begin our search for new objects.
This is similar to the way we worship the Almighty as well; there is nothing wrong in worshipping an idol, but if we get too engrossed in worshipping the idol, we kind of start believing in the physical form of god but in reality it is far from that. When we refer to chapter 12 of Bhakti Yoga of the Bhagavad Gita, where Arjuna asks this question to Lord Krishna in verse 12.1: “Who is more perfect in Yoga—those who worship You in a personal form (Saguna), or those who worship the unmanifest, formless Absolute (Avyakta)?” and Lord Krishna replies in verse 12.2 and 12.5: “Both reach the same ultimate goal. However, the path of meditating on the formless Supreme is exceedingly difficult and full of tribulation for embodied beings (dehavadbhir—those who have a physical body and mind)”. The Gita emphasizes that because human beings interact with the world through physical senses, minds, and emotions, focusing entirely on an abstract, attribute-less reality (Nirguna Brahman) is unnatural and exhausting for most people. Therefore, approaching God through form (Saguna) is presented as a far more accessible, harmonious, and effective path.
God is ultimately infinite, formless, and beyond any physical representation. However, the Bhagavad Gita highlights that using forms (Murtis) isn't an inferior mistake; it is a practical, effective tool designed specifically for human minds to direct devotion toward that very same infinite Reality.
Ultimately, the most important aspect of the spiritual journey is to cultivate faith while following your duties diligently and honestly. The Almighty keeps watch over every tiny aspect of our lives. If you perform your duties with sincerity and without agonizing over the immediate material rewards, you can trust that at the right time and the right place, the universe will give you exactly what you deserve most. True faith is found not just in how we worship, but in how we live, work, and surrender the results to a wisdom greater than our own.
