Goswamy Tulsidas wrote in Ramcharitamanas :
“परहित सरिस धरम नहि भाई।
परपीड़ा सम नहि अधमाई।।”
i.e.
There is no dharma equal to service of others
There is no sin equal to harming others
Similarly, the great Hindi poet Rahim wrote :
” Deen sabhan ko lakhat hain
Deenahi lakhay na koi
Jo Rahim deenahi lakhay
Deen bandhu sam hoya “
i.e.
The poor seek help from everyone
But no one helps the poor
One who helps the poor
Becomes like God
( in Hindi literature God is often called Deenbandhu i.e. friend of the poor)
I am an atheist, but I am also a staunch believer in God. This may appear a paradox, so let me explain.
To my mind the poor people are God, and helping them is the real puja or namaz. There is no other God, and no other puja or namaz.
So I am both an atheist and a staunch theist
