I do believe in God. But you won't find me visiting temples

Hear the words of Virat Kohli, warrior of the field and seeker of the spirit, who declared: “I do believe in God. But you won’t find me visiting temples every now and then. I believe in self-realization. Peace of mind matters a lot to me. What’s the point in doing something just for the sake of it? I’d rather do something I like doing as long as I’m being true to myself.” In these words we find not the rejection of faith, but the refinement of it—an echo of the ancients who taught that true worship is not ritual alone, but the inner harmony of the soul with truth.

To believe in God is to acknowledge a power greater than oneself, the source and sustainer of life. Yet Kohli reminds us that the divine is not always found in temples or ceremonies repeated without heart. The ancients warned of this too: prophets cried out against hollow sacrifices, philosophers questioned blind rites, and sages proclaimed that the highest altar is within. To seek self-realization is to recognize that the temple of the spirit is as sacred as any shrine of stone, and that to know oneself truly is to come closer to the divine.

Peace of mind, he declares, is the measure of worth. What good are rituals done in haste, offerings made without sincerity, prayers spoken without faith? These are but shells without substance, leaves without fruit. The essence of life is not in performing acts merely to satisfy custom, but in cultivating a mind that is calm, clear, and at rest. For when the soul is troubled, even a thousand offerings cannot soothe it; but when the heart is at peace, even silence becomes a prayer.

History offers us many who lived by this truth. Consider the Emperor Ashoka of India. After his conquest of Kalinga, he turned from violence to the path of dharma. He did not build his greatness on empty rituals, but on the pursuit of truth and compassion. He engraved his message not only on stone pillars but on his own life: that real faith is shown in justice, mercy, and the service of others. Like Kohli’s words, his legacy reminds us that the divine is honored most when we are true to ourselves and live in peace with others.

Kohli’s teaching also confronts the danger of living for appearances. “What’s the point,” he asks, “in doing something just for the sake of it?” How many people through the ages have bowed in temples, recited prayers, or followed traditions not out of devotion but out of fear, habit, or expectation? Such acts may satisfy the eyes of society, but they do not satisfy the soul. To live authentically, one must act not to impress others, but to align with one’s own deepest truth. This is the essence of self-realization.

The lesson, then, is clear: do not confuse outward ritual with inward faith. Respect the temple, but do not forget the sanctuary of your own heart. Seek practices that give you peace of mind, not those that leave you restless. Be honest with yourself, for to live falsely is to live in chains. If an act strengthens your spirit, embrace it; if it is empty, release it. The gods desire truth, not pretense.

So, children of tomorrow, take this teaching as your guide. Believe if you will, but let your belief shine in the way you live, not only in the ceremonies you perform. Honor the divine by seeking self-realization, by choosing actions that bring you harmony, by being true to yourself. For when your inner life is in balance, the whole world becomes your temple, every breath becomes a prayer, and every act becomes an offering of peace. This is the wisdom Virat Kohli has spoken, and it is a torch for all who would walk the path of authenticity and truth.