Religion and Spirituality

             Spirituality is considered secular in some contexts and in other, it is taken to mean the opposite of secular. Consequently, there is much confusion and people even come to blows, over the different understanding of the same word.

               Religion            

      Religion is the belief in and recognition of or awakened sense of a higher unseen controlling power to which emotion and morality are connected. It has a specific name and institutional identity. Religions influence the lifestyles, belief and practices of large numbers of people in massive geographical areas. Religion is the belief in and recognition of or awakened sense of a higher unseen controlling power to which emotion and mortality are connected. It has a specific name and institutional identity. Religions influence the lifestyles, beliefs and practices of large numbers of people in massive geographical areas.

      The word “religion” comes from the Latin root ‘re’-back, ‘ligare’- to bind. The mind which is wandering in the sensual objects of this world is fixed to the soul, the original source or abode. All religions have the common object of explaining to man his real identity as different from physical reality. Religion aims at giving to man code of conduct and behaviour so that man does not suffer divine retribution. Religion explains man’s relationship with other beings and throws light on how the noble goal be achieved. For this purpose, it gives its own view to man and prescribes certain so that he may be able to realise the self and to have a link with God and peace of mind.

       Religion and life are not two but one. Religion is perfection or harmony. Religion is oneness or unity. Religion is above mind and senses. Religion is above ceremonials ad rituals. Religion is union with God. Religion is the attainment of divine consciousness or divine wisdom. Religion is freedom from ignorance, illusion, doubt, fear, grief and delusion. Religion is a call to action in the spiritual field for fighting the battle of righteousness and establishing the ancient Dharma which elevates the soul and confers of Moksha or eternal bliss.

      Religion is faith in knowing God and worshipping Him. It is not a matter of discussion at a club-table. It is the realization of the true self. It is the fulfilment of the deep-set craving in man. Therefore, hold religion as the highest prize of your life. Live every moment of your life for its realization. Life without practical religion is real death. Religion is one. Real religion is the spiritual life beyond senses. Real religion is the realisation of Atman. It is feeling God, seeing God and talking to God.

      Religion is the science of life. It teaches us to live with God and attain immortality. It helps us to enter the realms of eternal bliss and unceasing peace. It removes the veil of ignorance and enables us to realise the sublime vision of the unity of self. Some say that religion is a luxury. Those who say that religion is luxury are sunk in ignorance and worldliness. How can a man live without religion? Religion only enables him to get rid of delusion, sorrow, pain and death and shows him the way to attain the abode of immortality.

     Some religions have been against many discovers of science. Preachers of some religions have, in the past, condemned certain scientist as heretics and some scientists have condemned certain religions belief as mere blind faith and the religious belief in God as a figment of man’s imagination or an atavistic throwback to past to which was characterised with fear and superstition. But the situation seems to have changed lately. Now followers of various religions accept many new concepts given by science as true. They also accept science as a useful discipline and openly admire the achievements of science. Religious leaders and writers even use scientist concept to support their religious beliefs and they make an endeavour to project their ideology as a scientist. They also have lately, made attempts to show that scientific discoveries have their parallel in religion. However, the area of exploration and the methodology of the two even now remain widely apart and, on many points, almost irreconcilable.

      Also, many people – scientists and others allege that religions have been the cause of many wars. Much violence and bloodshed have occurred throughout the ages, because of religious fanatism and intolerance. They, therefore, allege that religion has not brought man nearer his goal but has divided mankind into antagonistic communities that they are always ready to clash at the slightest provocation. To an extent, this charge is true. Religious people often say that true religion does not breed hatred and intolerance but one asks which such a true religion is.

     True religion is different from theology and philosophy, as its doctrines and precepts have not been derived from logical and philosophical ruminations but are generally based on religious and mystical experiences or realization or revelations. The professed aim of religion is to bring peace and solace to the tormented souls. It gives mankind a message for his life on earth and after death. Every religion gives a certain world vision and also promises liberation from suffering and better existence hereafter if its commandments are faithfully followed.

      But, we find that, in actual practice, there has been much persecution by followers of one faith or one religion, of people following another faith or religion. Also, we observe that though the professed aims of religions have been high, all religions, put together, have not been able to improve the morals of mankind and make the world a better place to live in. Religion, which was to have been a uniting force, has in practice divided mankind into different communities. Also, religions have failed to inspire a majority of mankind on a path of love and peace, unity, divinity, and kindness. Instead, Religion has itself suffered rapid degeneration and has lost its path. It has not been able to raise the consciousness of man to a soul conscious level, and, instead, religious intolerance has caused much tension and turmoil in society. But it cannot be denied that each religion has provided some relief to individuals following it faithfully. Each religion has emphatically asked its followers to observe an ethical code of conduct and this attracted the attention of individual souls and changed them onto better beings. It has also given peace to its faithful followers during the time of great stresses and strains. At least, it has constantly been reminding man to become a better and elevated soul.

       But selfish people have used religion for exploiting others and for attacking other segments of society with the aim of territorial conquests. Some thinkers also allege that religion has been spreading blind faith, ritualism and superstition. They also may say that religion has been an obstacle in the path of search and exploration. Thus, questions nor have they been able to eliminate poverty and suffering from mankind. Instead, we find that poverty and problems have increased in the world. This is not necessarily the result of science, religion and philosophy. Yet it shows that there is a missing dimension of our understanding of reality and something is lacking in our lifestyles.

             Spirituality

            Spirituality refers to spirit, mind higher faculty, soul and highly refined thought ad feeling. It means awareness of the incorporeal and free from sensuality. It focuses on our collective original spiritual qualities of peace, purity and love.

      Mankind needs knowledge which is strengthened and supported by science and religion, philosophy and common sense. It needs such knowledge to answer questions satisfactory about the physical world and the spiritual reality. It needs something which has science, religion and philosophy integrated into one undifferentiated whole. This something should give meaning and purpose to life, should bring about unity in place of fragmentation and should give peace and solace to the suffering humanity.

        The concepts of spirituality or facts of knowledge should give an integrated and satisfying world vision and should be supported by logical and rational thinking and its sets of values should be of universal nature so that they are not meant for a particular territory or should give to man a scientific temper but should also have an element of faith and should also have transcendental source of its origin. It should draw its life from revelations but should be so logical as to gain support from scientific and philosophical methods of exploration. It should synthesize various branches of knowledge, such as history, geography, philosophy, health science, phycology, ethics, social science, etc., into one whole and should give away of practical living. It should give a comprehensive and clear world view which should inspire and unite mankind to a higher level of consciousness and a way of life that is characterised by love, kindness, compassion, co-operation, humanism, ethical values and has a happy blend of knowledge of the mundane and transcendental reality.

      The spirituality should build such an interpretation based on history as can identify the causes of the fall of civilisation and can now provide guidance for building a better world. It should have rationalism of science, the faith of religion and integrated vision of philosophy and common sense. It should give an overview of all branches of knowledge of the mundane and should flower into such spiritual wisdom as can bring fulfilment and bring about happiness. This something which has all these characteristics is called spiritual wisdom. It is this which promotes spirituality.

         Comparison between religion and spirituality

         Spirituality knowledge as distinguished from religion is free from prejudices. It provides an insight into the nature of consciousness. It interprets the findings of history, sociology, economics, politics, biology, phycological and the science and integrates all knowledge into a whole to give an orientation to all science and arts and culture so that man’s life becomes happy and he can understand and play his role better and with greater satisfaction.

         Spirituality discusses Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, Karl Marx’s Dialectical Materialism, ‘Sigmund Freud’s Thesis’ of ego and superego forms of belief about God and such other tenets gave by various religions’ independent view of things. It explains the concept and laws of metaphysics and gives such code of conduct and such practices as to give man high character and gives an ethical base to life and to all other branches of knowledge. Spirituality inspires man not only of his individual liberation from evils and the resultant sufferings but it also equip him with such knowledge and spiritual power whereby he can satisfactory fulfil his social obligations and his family duties and can also attain excellence and can march towards mundane and transcendental perfection.

      Spirituality change man’s exceptionalist attitude or his aggressive and carnal behaviour and gives him a strong will and purity of mind and intellect and control over his desires and physical organs. It brings about a paradigm shift and a quantum jump in the quality and level of consciousness. It enables him to be face to face with the new reality and gives him an experience of bliss and divine peace. The practice of spiritual meditation makes man’s life free from tension and more efficient. It gives to man equipoise and tranquillity and at the same time, gives to him the strength to solve the problems of life by the cultivation of moral and human values in his life.

    Thus, spirituality is different from religion in many watts. It has a universal appeal and has a strong and fully developed ethical core. It has all that is best in religion, philosophy and science. It has appeal even for the atheists and the non-believers and its message is of love, kindness and purity.