Dial-A-God

(This story is in no way related in blood or by marriage to 1-800-GOD, but inspired by the title though…)

Kumaraguru was a fun little boy. He runs around his village – getting customers for his dad’s little workshop. He loved his responsibility – sort of like a marketing manager for his dad. He admired Appa. He taught him how to live honestly and follow God’s path.

Kumar sits atop the mound near the village road a.k.a. the accident zone. The village road was a place with high odds of punctured bikes, bent suspension bars and cycle chain mishaps. And that meant business!

Some days, there will not be any business. Not a single vehicle all day long.

But some days, there will be bounty prizes – like a car or even a punctured bus!

Kumar’s family lived in a tough condition. But his parents made sure he did not feel the pinch. Amma cooked all his favourite meals and showered him with love and care. Appa taught him the lessons of life and survival.

As Kumar grew up, he began to see many facets of the society. He was particularly disturbed by the sight of Lallu Prasad – the village Zameen’s son. They lived not far away from Appa’s workshop. Rich boy, but arrogant and cruel.

He began to see that Lallu Prasad has so much in his life. He travels in chauffeured cars and lives in a mansion.

“Appa, Lallu doesn’t have to run around looking for punctured tires or work day and night repairing bikes and cars. But, he is so rich and has all the luxuries… I don’t understand, pa,” Kumar asked Appa one day.

Appa’s reaction was very mild.

He sighed and said, “Staying good is our biggest wealth, Kumar,” and got back to fixing the cycle chain.

Kumar did not understand what Appa told him that day - he was still bothered.

Kumar was resting on his bed one day and he thought, ‘Lallu Prasad shouted and yelled at his parents. The other day, he kicked a pregnant cat. The next day, he went bird shooting with his cousins. The next day, he got a new bicycle as present – and it wasn’t even his birthday!’

“Why am I so unlucky God?” whispered Kumar to himself, not realizing his words.

It was the usual day at the mound. Kumar was on the watch-out for his customers. He didn’t have enough sleep. Lallu kept bothering him in the sleep.

He looked up and said, “You’re making a mistake God!”

Suddenly he heard a voice – no, not from God – it was the village postman.

“Dey Kumar, you got a parcel!”

Kumar was overjoyed. He never got even a postcard before, let alone a parcel. He dashed down the small hill to the village road.

“What is it Anne?”

“Careful maybe it’s a bomb,” quipped The Postman.

The parcel was heavy. He quickly went up to his workplace at the mound and started unwrapping the parcel.

Kumar’s eyes beamed. It was a phone. He looked around for the name of the person who sent it. There wasn’t any. But the phone had one big yellow button – “DIAL-A-GOD.”

He was sweating all over. His hand quivered as he pressed the big yellow button.

There was a ring tone.

“Hello, Press 1 for Spouse-Related Complaints, Press 2 for Karma Balance, Press 3 to Speak to God”

Kumar was wordless. He was as confused as much as the author of this story.

His hand was making resonating movements as he reached for the ‘3’.

There was another ring tone.

“Hello, God speaking, how may I help you.”

Kumar looked around him. His shirt was drenched. He was scared and doubtful.

“G..g..God…I am K..Kumar..,” he stammered.

“Yes, I know, your question please.”

Kumar cleared his throat. He collected some of the residue confidence lying within.

“God… life is so unfair. The bad guy gets to live in luxury, but good people like those in my family are suffering.”

“Hahaha,” laughed God, God-like.

“I mean, not that I am not happy, but poor Appa has to work so hard to support us. Can’t you see all this?”

“I know, My son. I see this, and beyond,” said God.

“Do you mean to say, we don’t deserve any Grace from you and that Lallu guy gets it all?” Kumar asked – he was in his full form now, furious – with God!

God gave His discourse:
“My son, there are three types of Karma: Past, Present and Future. Present Karma must continue. It is like the carriage behind which is a trail of dust. If the carriage stops, the dust will settle on it. A doubt might be that the carriage cannot forever continue so as to be ahead of its dust. But the carriage need not always travel on a dusty road. It can get on the surface highway where there is no dust.”

“How do we get to the Highway if we can’t even earn a proper living? I am sure you can do something, God – don’t be so selfish!” asked Kumar again, annoyed.

God continued:

“The highway is equivalent to the Grace of God. There is a difference between the benefit of Grace and the benefit of the Bhakthi, or devotion. A patient with pain is given a sedative, which dulls the pain. But Grace is an operation that does entirely away with pain. Make no mistake; Grace does entirely away with Karma. It is like a medicine which is labelled, 'good until 1968'. If used in 1973, the medicine is entirely ineffective. The body is the bottle, the karma in the body is the medicine, God puts a date on the 'medicine'; so it is not effective.”

Kumar was smiling by now. “You mean to say, you can give us Grace as in… a mansion like Lallu and a car, with a driver?”

God smiled. (not through the phone but to himself)

He said, “Look at yourself. You are an embodiment of Divinity. The Divine Principle in you is eternal. That lives today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow. Hence, treat the past, present, and future as one - even though our experiences in the three phases of time are different. Do not give much credence to these experiences. Past is past; it will not come back. We are not sure of future. Present is the only reality with which we should be concerned. This is not ordinary present, but omnipresent, because the past as well as future are present in it.”

“But we are suffering,” demanded Kumar.

“Are you? Think again, My son. All your experiences in this changing world are only momentary and unreal. They are like passing clouds. You need not be too much worried about them. You are marching forward. Continue your life’s journey with steadfast faith in God. Why should you have to look back and brood over the past? Money comes and goes, but the morality that your family has will bring you happiness now and forever.”

“Thank you, God,” said Kumar, finally realizing his good fortune. Tears welled up in his eyes. He couldn’t believe that God just spoke to Him.

“It’s my pleasure – contact me anytime you like. If you will excuse me, I have to go now, there is another call from somewhere in Damansara Utama. I guess it must be something urgent.”

And thus spoke God.