Religion is a Man-made Institution

He believes spiritualism and materialism can perfectly co-exist. A non-believer in religion, his relationship with the supreme power is unique and unconventional.
- Manoj Bajpai

I believe in the power above. I believe, someone up there has a plan for all of us and we are living by it. I have no reason not to believe it. From the milieu I belong to (Belwa village in Bihar), to come this far, it cannot be hard work and talent alone. There are millions who are more talented and hardworking than me. Yet, I am the chosen one. I feel blessed. Humbled.

I've gone through innumerable ups and downs in life, but at no point have I questioned the existence of this power. After all, what explanation do I have for things that have happened which weren't in my control?

I pray sincerely. And I know my prayers don't get wasted. I don't ask for materialistic pleasures. My miseries won't lessen or happiness increase, by requesting the power to do so. Many say God communicates with them. I've never got any such 'message'. Rather, when people talk like this, I feel it's time they saw a shrink. I only follow my instinct. And I've never gone wrong.

My relationship with the power is a much deeper connection, an intimate bond that I share with Him. I don't believe in idol worship, so obviously I don't pray to any particular deity. When on outdoor shoots, there are many in the film unit who take an initiative to visit places of worship. I don't, because I don't believe the power resides more in that place than in me. But of course, I respect all gods and whenever I visit places of worship, I pray because I believe I am addressing the power through the idol.

Talking about co-existence of spiritualism and the lure of materialistic pleasures – honestly, I don't understand why they should be mutually exclusive. I could be worldly-wise and yet be very spiritual. Say, if I pine for a car or a house, does that make me less connected with God? I don't think so. I am not any less spiritual than the person adorned in a saffron outfit, seated under the tree, chanting mantras. I feel undue pressure is placed, stating the two cannot co-exist.

For me, spirituality is that constant inner search to know and understand who I really am. Where will I go after my death? Why are we all here? According to me, each and every individual is spiritual in his or her own way. No matter what lives they lead, at some given point, they do wonder what is life all about, what is our existence all about… this is what I call being spiritual.

During my college days, when I was a Marxist, it wasn't that I did not believe in Him. But unlike today, it was in the form of a n ge r. Looking at the disparities in life – the rich getting richer and the poor, poorer, enraged me tremendously. I used to fight with Him, questioning why was there so much pain and sorrow all around when He was there to look after us. Today, that anger is constructively channelised. I have become more mature. I speak openly about things that affect me strongly. Do things whenever it is possible to make a change.

Religion, to me, means a man-made institution that has only caused destruction and bloodshed. I only believe in humanity. If I were to describe God in one word, it would be – parents.

(Manoj Bajpai is a leading
Bollywood actor)