Shri Nathji’s parable on the atheist and the ship had become so acclaimed that people wished to hear it again and again, and, Shri Nathji, on his part, would use it very frequently in his sermons, enthralling the hearts and souls of all, even as he placed before them the highest of truths in the simplest of words. Shri Nathji’s parables showed that God was meant for all and the knowledge of God was such that it could be understood and accepted by all, without regard to differences of race, religion or nationality, or age, wisdom or intellect or learning. Shri Nathji disseminated spiritual knowledge to all, and made it as freely available as the air. The parable of the atheist aboard a ship is given below:
An atheist, drunk by wealth and power, was aboard a ship. He had always said “God is nowhere”. Suddenly the ship was hit by a storm. As the waters of the ocean raged around the ship and began tossing it about, the atheist found his world crumbling. Neither his wealth nor his fame could help him. In his state of alarm he ran to the captain of the ship and asked him to save the ship from sinking. The captain said angrily:
I am doing my duty!
The other passengers in the ship could not help the atheist in any way. He tried to hold the sides of the ship but to no avail. He turned to the raging waters of the ocean and said:
Please calm down!
But the forces of Nature were composed of dead matter that was deaf to his ears.
In his desperation he looked at the sky above and called out to God:
O God, please stop the storm! Save my ship from sinking! After that you may choose to exist or not, as you please!
He Bhagwan! Iss toofaan ko roko! Mere jahaaz ko paar kar do!–Phir honaa naa honaa tumhaari marzi hai!
The phrase, ‘GOD IS NOWHERE’ had turned into ‘GOD IS NOW HERE.’
In this parable Shri Nathji emphasized how God becomes a Reality when man finds his strength reduced to zero and feels the need for a Higher Power to come and save him. The sorrows and sufferings of the world bring man closer to God. Even the most powerful of persons are humbled before the forces of Nature