Religion and Spirituality - what differentiates Religion
from Spirituality?
Religion is "absolute truth of life" of the physical
manifested world. It is Religion and not Spirituality
which forms the basis of the present society we live in.
In the present the needs for following a Religion being
at its minimum... it is easy to follow any Religion.
Anyone... even a layman can follow any Religion but not
Spirituality?
What vastly differentiates Religion and Spirituality?
Religion... if it forms the core of the physical manifested
world... it is the Spirituality (the truth of our Soul within)
which upholds the values in the society. Without
Spirituality the physical manifested world cannot sustain
for long but in the absence of religion... the society can
survive on its own.
It is Spirituality (the truth of our real self... our Soul
within) which forms the core of the cosmic world. The
physical manifested world is a reality in terms of the
senses (which guide every human being on its earthly
journey). In the cosmic world... our physical manifested
world does not hold good for there is nothing solid in the
Cosmos. Everything in the Cosmos is made up of the
basic building block of the Cosmos which comprise of
atoms and molecules alone.
Religion is meant for passing of the physical manifested
life in a meaningful manner. Unable to understand the
nature of God... humanity has built for itself various
religious centers all over the globe. These religious
centers are they a mosque, temple or a church...
provide a succor to the ever ailing society. They quench
the thirst of an average human being... one who does
not have time or the resources to contemplate directly
on God the Almighty.
Indulgence in Spirituality is not meant for the average
human being. To be able to fathom the depths of the
Scriptures of the various religions of the world (the core
truths of Spirituality)... one needs to dive deep into the
pearls of wisdom contained in the various sacred
Scriptures of the world. Spirituality is totally oblivious of
a religion. In the field of Spirituality one need not go to a
mosque, temple or a church in search of God. It is
contemplation and only contemplation which shall lead
one to God the Almighty.
Spirituality (contrary to religion) is all about the spirit
existing within every human being neigh every living
being (Jiva as we call it in Hinduism). It is truth of every
life prevailing on Mother Earth. It is the real self of us
which exists within every living being since the birth of
that body in the form of an individual soul. Spirituality
and Religion are the two fundamentals of life which
every living being is required to follow simultaneously.
One can live without Religion but not without Spirituality
for Spirituality forms the core of very existence of every
living being. It is the spirit within every human being that
we exist as a physical form on Mother Earth. We may or
may not indulge in understanding Spirituality or a
Religion but inherently every living being pursues the
path of Spirituality in every manifestation. Spirituality is
that fundamental of life which cannot be ignored by one.
To be able to understand the basics of the Spirituality
(not religion) one needs to understand the underlying
meaning of the various sacred Scriptures existing on
Mother Earth. Whatever our religious masters teach us
on the physical plane may not be a truthful
representation of whatever is contained in the sacred
Scriptures. Many commentaries may exist related to a
particular sacred Scripture but all may not be correct or
rightly represent the facts contained therein.
To be able to interpret the sacred Scriptures correctly
one needs to understand the inner meaning of the core
teachings contained therein. Spirituality in other words
can only be best understood from a realized master.
Only those who have reached the level of Mahavira,
Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed
can deliver the humanity of its ills.
On the contrary going to a temple, mosque or a church
can provide temporary succor to the ailing humanity but
it is only Spirituality which can provide a permanent
relief. Religion provides relief in day-to-day life but
Spirituality liberates one forever from the cycle of birth
and death. Religion is primarily a following of an
enlightened master... it is only the correct interpretation
of his teachings that one can follow spirituality to its
logical end.
Buddhism Religion relates to the teachings of Gautama
Buddha. The Islamic Religion is based on the
teachings of Prophet Mohammed. Jainism (which can
not be rightly called as a Religion but a way of life) is
based on the collective teachings of the various
Tirthankars (enlightened souls). Similarly Christianity is
based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Following the teachings of Mahavira, Gautama Buddha,
Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed... One can
definitely reach the higher portals of Religion but to
become one like Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus
Christ or Prophet Mohammed one needs to understand
the core teachings of the realized masters themselves
in a totally unadulterated form.
In a nutshell, if we desire to understand the
fundamentals of life itself and reach the end of the
cosmic journey... we need to understand Spirituality in
totality. And on the contrary if we desire to live the
present physical manifested life in the best manner
possible then following the dictates of Religion alone
would suffice.
Vijay Kumar... The Man who Realized God in 1993 explains what differentiates Religion from Spirituality. Subscribe free Newsletter "Spiritual Secrets Unveiled" - Explore hidden cosmic truths - Glossary of Words in Hinduism http://www.godrealized.com
