Religion and Spirituality - what differentiates Religion from
Spirituality?
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.