The journey towards a global understanding of religious wisdom, our collective heritage, often starts with small steps, such as drawing connections between two or three traditions. When we uncover these commonalities, we establish a strong foundation for a broader comprehension. Interestingly, these parallels sometimes reveal themselves, even when we aren’t actively searching for them.
For instance, in many Christian churches, the Sunday readings on June 23 feature two encounters with God amidst a great storm. In the Book of Job, chapters 38-42, God appears “in the whirlwind,” the powerful storm, to the long-suffering Job. Here, God challenges Job to explain the world and its creation before Job dares to question why a righteous man like himself must endure such suffering. While God has much to say in these chapters, the setting is most striking—God speaking from the heart of a great storm, where the forces of nature display their terrifying power. Job listens, but the overwhelming experience of meeting God face to face forces him to his knees.
On the same day, the Gospel of Mark, chapter 4, recounts another stormy encounter. After teaching crowds by the lakeside, Jesus and his disciples set off across the lake at night. Exhausted, Jesus falls asleep. A fierce storm arises, and the boat is in danger of sinking, but Jesus sleeps undisturbed. The terrified disciples wake him, pleading for help. Jesus simply commands the storm, “Be quiet. Be calm,” and the lake becomes calm again. The disciples, previously familiar with Jesus, are now terrified: “Who is this, that even the wind and the waves obey him?”
Having studied Hindu traditions for over fifty years, it is natural for me to connect these stormy encounters with a similar experience in the Bhagavad Gita, chapter 11. Arjuna, troubled and confused, finds peace through the wise teachings of Lord Krishna. But when Arjuna requests to see Krishna’s true form, expecting further peace, he is met with the opposite. Krishna reveals himself in all his overwhelming power and glory—fire, blinding light, and the forces of death and time. Arjuna, unable to bear this vision, confesses his weakness and, prostrate at Krishna’s feet, begs for a return to the familiar form. Krishna obliges, and the fiery storm of divine presence subsides. Arjuna, humbled, emerges stronger and ready to fulfill his duty.
These examples illustrate how the Divine is encountered in storms and fire, in ways that can be overwhelming and even unbearable. Yet, such powerful experiences, though daunting, are ultimately a grace—a purification that strengthens us and prepares us for love and service. This journey toward understanding reflects the essence of the religion of peace, a path that unites us across different traditions, bringing us closer to the divine.
Some texts that illustrate these encounters include:
Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me…” Then Job said: “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I humble myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Book of Job 38 and 42, New Revised Standard Version)
A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Be silent! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Gospel of Mark 4, New Revised Standard Version)
Beholding that excellent form of Yours, with its many mouths and eyes, O mighty-armed Krishna, its many arms, thighs, feet, bellies, many formidable fangs — the worlds shudder; so do I. Touching the world sky, flaming many-coloured, with gaping mouths and flaming vast eyes — beholding You thus, my inmost self quakes, and I can find no fortitude or tranquillity, O Vishnu. Seeing Your many mouths studded with formidable fangs resembling the fire at the end of time, I know not where to turn, and I find no shelter. Be gracious unto me, O Lord of the gods, O Home of the universe! (Bhagavad Gita 11; from the G. Feuerstein translation)
In reflecting on these traditions, one can see how the shared experiences of encountering the Divine in overwhelming circumstances point to the deeper truths of the religion of peace which transcends individual beliefs and unites humanity in its quest for spiritual understanding.
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