Who is God? Selections from “Practice of Bhakti Yoga” by Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati (vegetarian), Part 2 of 2

Chapter 1 Gospel of Bhakti God Exists

“At whose command does the Sun rise punctually in the morning and set in the evening? The Sun is miles and miles away from the Earth. What a great wonder it is that from such a long distance the Sun is able to send light, heat, energy and vitality to all living beings inhabiting this fair Earth? […]

Who supplies water to the trees, flowers, various shrubs, etc., that are found in the forests? Who is this unseen, untiring gardener who works without wages or any sort of remuneration? […] From a tiny seed there comes out a big mango tree that gives abundance of luscious fruits! What is that power that supports and nourishes these trees? What is that hidden and miraculous power that brings out a huge form with hair, fingers, toes, nose, teeth, ears, legs, thighs, etc., out of one drop of semen? What is that power that brings a mighty tree with foliage, flowers, twigs and fruits out of a tiny seed?”

“Again how wonderful is the human machine! How harmoniously all the organs work in unison in the economy of nature! In the Gita this body is known as ‘the nine-gated city’ (Navadware pure). In summer the skin works energetically to throw off all impurities of the body. In winter the kidneys work hard to eliminate the impurities of the blood and to relieve the over-worked skin. The endocrine glands, pituitary, pineal, adrenals work in perfect harmony in manufacturing the internal secretions to help the metabolic process of the body and its growth and structure. […] How harmoniously the different systems of the body work without any rest, murmur or grumble! How very beautifully the different centres in the brain such as the vision-centre, the auditory-centre, the centre for smell and so on do their functions!

One is struck with awe and amazement as he begins to think seriously on the working of this delicate human machinery. To think that this most wonderful mechanism is the result and product of a fortuitous combination of particles of matter or atoms is simply absurd and illogical indeed! It has been doubtless, molded and fashioned by some architect who is infinitely more skillful, more intelligent and more powerful than these ordinary architects who build mansions and palaces and bungalows. Remember this point well. That architect is God or Ishwara or Creator. Call Him by whatever name you may please. It does not matter much.”