Who decides my purity?

In India, the land of spirituality, we come across a number of organizations and Gurus supposed to facilitate our spiritual growth and pave the way for realization. This aspect of India attracts a great deal of foreigners who hope to achieve liberation in our land and who ultimately realize that they have been looking everywhere except within. I recently saw a documentary exposing a well-known 'enlightened leader', and was aghast at some of the revelations. And not only India, this happens all around the world; a sad reflection of the times we live in. I'm sure there are a number of enlightened people who are actually genuine, but that's not the topic of discussion today.

I decided to explore this topic of the so-called 'messengers of God' further and have come to the following conclusion. All these 'spiritual' organizations more or less propagate the following:

All are children of God; however, some are special
Love is all there is; you must love everybody (which is the only thing that makes sense, somewhat)
The world will end
Strict vegetarian food and celibacy is the way to a pure soul...the list is endless

Which makes me sit and wonder...who decides all this? Who decides how pure I am? if God can speak to the leaders of these cults, why can't he/she speak to me? Am I less pure cause I have a healthy sexual relationship or because I relish the tandoori chicken on my plate? Surely, someone as all-encompassing as the almighty is beyond all that! I've always felt the need to steer far, very very far, from any person or group who attempts to impose their views on me. For surely, there is a reason why God gave us free will choice. I'm sure he protects us, but at the same time he would like us to explore ourselves and realize who we really are. How meaningless a life where everything is known beforehand?

Take the topic of celibacy. If that's the path to heaven, why did God bless us with the beautiful virtue of fertility? Surely, there is something wrong with these beliefs. And also, if everyone goes around refraining from sex, how do more 'pure' souls come into this Earth!? However, I don't intend to say, by any yardstick, that practicing celibacy is wrong. People who do it - that's their own purpose of life. But anyone who imposes it, that's 100% blasphemy. Don't believe an ounce of it.

The same goes for meat. If you're a vegetarian, great. I too believe that killing animals to feed your stomach isn't the nicest thing one can do. But anyone who imposes their vegetarianism on you - now that's wrong. The same goes for all things. Anyone interfering with your free will choice, stay miles way. Of course, habits like smoking and drinking have been proved detrimental to health scientifically. So there isn't a need to dwell on it.

Please don't confuse free will choice as a way to disregard the advice of elders. That's needed and if you see sense in them, follow it because they mean the best for you. But the moment you sense the slightest hint of force, that's when you need to withdraw.

When I look at myself, I like to believe that I'm a part of god and I'm special to him, just like all of us are. I'm sure he isn't more closer to people who chant his name relentlessly or do all sorts of things to 'please' him/her. He's surely beyond such temptations! The only thing which I've read which seems the most plausible, at least to me, is 'Conversations with God' and our scriptures. It all makes so much sense, and there's nothing that's thrust on you. The path between you and God is crystal clear. Why cloud it with so many useless beliefs? The moment you realize this and dispel all the blasphemy that's fed into you by a plethora of people, the path becomes clearer and you're now open to direct communication.

I've realized one thing. The greatest answers to all of life lie within you; all you need to do is Remember.

Lots of love,
Rohan