This was a question on Quora. Here is Maria Wirth reply:
I assume you mean by God That which is upholding this universe, responsible for it, the highest authority. So the answer is: God is everywhere, including in us.
This answer is based on the insights of the ancient Indian Rishis and modern science also points to it by claiming that the different objects in the universe are not really ‘there’, when you search deeply. You end up only with one and the same energy. The Rishis however say, this energy is conscious, alive. They call it Brahman or Paramatman or simply Tat. In English it is usually called “God”.
Yet you don’t want philosophy (philo – love, Sophia – wisdom), though love for wisdom (philosophy) is a good start if you want to ‘know’ for sure that God is inside you and everywhere.
I assume by ‘exact’ answer you want an answer which fully convinces you and which shows you God ‘face to face’.
For this you have to shift your focus away from forms and names to the invisible Being inside you. Try to get familiar with that pure consciousness inside you. It’s not so easy, because the senses will pull you out and convince you that it is far more profitable to read a book or chat with friends than to sit still and explore and dive into the inner realm with nothing really to hold on.
But when you get a little taste that this essence in you is actually rather blissful, you may want to explore more and you may automatically stop eating meat (if you did earlier), because you don’t want to be part of this colossal bloodbath any longer, you may stick to speaking the truth, become generous, stop negative emotions before they can settle in your mind, etc.
In this way the conviction that ‘God’ is really inside you grows, but when you really see him ‘face to face’ or rather, when you merge in That Essence, is not in your hands. It cannot be ‘done’ by thoughts or actions. It is granted when the time is ripe. Till then, just do what is right under the given circumstances, knowing fully well that you have immense support from within.
We are like waves on the ocean who see only other waves but don’t see the ocean as long as we do not embark on the discovery of our true being. Once we embark, we come to know that there is tremendous depth and strength in us, and it is so close that it cannot get closer.
The Kena Upanishad says: Brahman is not what the eyes can see but That whereby the eyes can see…. Not what the mind can think but That whereby the mind can think…
Imagine, this wisdom has been there for thousands of years, and most of us in this world don’t know about it.
By Maria Wirth