I wished to hear/read something similar a bit more often of western actors/actrices (may be I should google by including the "west" more??!!)...I do know some soccerplayers here though, who confess boldly their faith...many are Brazilians...anyway... wanted to share that:
Great smile, something which speaks the loudest for me : J O Y....the deeper/warming kind
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Joined: 31 Aug 2007
Posts: 491
Vidya Balan on spirituality
I have felt the presence of God since I was a child. I’ve been brought up in a family where every member has been a firm believer of God. The power of prayers has been with me right since my childhood. However, my belief in Him grew stronger after my father’s sudden death. He had a heart attack when I was young, and since then my world has changed. My family went through a turbulent period after he left us. We wouldn’t have been able to cope with the loss without His guidance and blessings. Those were the days when I saw my father through God. I felt his presence through my prayers and my belief in Him grew stronger.
Having faith in God gives me strength to do my work efficiently. It gives me the determination to carry on in life. I feel His presence in every move that I make and it acts as an accelerator in my life. I do my bit and leave the rest to Him. My faith in Him is so strong that I am always rewarded. I strongly believe that when you truly desire something and are determined to get it, the whole universe gets together to get it for you, provided you have the will and firm faith in the Almighty.
Spirituality for me is a feeling that comes from within and is not something that can be inculcated. Even though it’s a personal feeling, most of us sense it and can feel the connection. I believe God is with us everytime and everywhere. He plans every move that we make and whatever we do is according to His wishes.
Spirituality means to be able to see God in everything that you think and every little work you do. If people believe in destiny, they ought to believe in the Almighty. Destiny and kismat are things that most of us have faith in. I feel they should also acknowledge His divine presence through it.
However, spirituality need not be mistaken with being religious. I view both in entirely different frames. While spirituality could be viewed as a way of life, being religious is more about customs and traditions. It takes you away from God and keeps you bound by certain customs that you may not even believe in. According to me, when you are a spiritual person, you feel a closer connect with Him and it is a better way of knowing Him. Remembering God could be at anytime, in any dress and in any form you like, while religion binds you within a set of rules and customs defining the correct time, the correct place and the correct dress to worship Him.
Spirituality, for me is not just a word, but the essence of my being. It’s my faith and belief in the existence of a superpower, which is there with me at each and every moment of my life. However, spirituality is not something that should be confused with being superstitious. Even though I am a very spiritual person I do not believe in superstitions at all. They not only take you away from God, but also question your faith in Him.
I feel sad when I see and hear of natural calamities like earthquakes and landslides that destroy so many lives. Sometimes I wish I could do something to stop such disasters, but then what is destined has to happen and none of us can change this fact. What lies with us is our immense faith and trust in God and the belief that God helps those who help themselves. People do well in life not only because God wants them to, but also because they strive hard and put in their best efforts with firm belief in Him. For me the best mantra is — Do your best and God will certainly do the rest.
As told to Teena Jha