Religion and Spirituality

There is a lot of debate these days about how religion is the root of many problems - fundamentalism, terrorism, and what not. So, one should not be religious and rather be humane. Because there are problems with the way religion is understood and practised today, we need not throw religion out. What we need is a proper spiritual understanding of religion. Truly religious process should make your heart soft and bring compassion for all living entities vs what we see where people's hearts harden and they become fanatics and are ready to even kill others in the name of religion.

Even though there are five separate fingers on each human hand, they invariably meet at the palm. In the same way, there are five major religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam— and while their external appearance may vary, they are ultimately one, in that they strive for the same (or similar) goals. There may be various gradations in these goals, higher or lower depending on the needs and aspirations of a particular people. They may refer to these goals by using different terms, and their approaches may be designed for a particular people, in particular parts of the world. But make no mistake, the essence is the same!

The word religion comes from Latin word 'religio' which means union with the God or divine. It is similar to the word yoga which means to bind (yuj) or unite with God. We have to make a distinction between what goes as religion nowadays (sometimes it has become a business) vs spiritual understanding of religion.

So what is the spiritual understanding of goal of any religion? 

It is nothing but aiming to achieve love for God and as a result love his creation and all the living entities. Now, I do not want to get into the discussion of what God is—nature, power, or supreme soul. It is clear that there is something beyond what we 'see' with our outer eyes. Something which needs to be experienced as we look 'inwards'. I do not also claim that I have managed to do that—I just now that there is a greater purpose of life and we all should find it. 

For thousands of years, humanity has passionately pursued the Truth with a capital T—the ultimate answers to life and the universe. This perennial knowledge constitutes the answers to what are often called the 'soul questions':

• Who am I?
• What do I want?
• What is my purpose?
• What is the meaning of life?

Historically, from the perspective of the soul, there have been two foundational routes to discover these truths: religion and spirituality. Although they have many similarities and there is a relationship between the two, there are differences between religion and spirituality.

By definition, religion is a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices; the service and worship of God or the supernatural.

Spirituality, on the other hand, connotes an experience of connection to something larger than you; living everyday life in a reverent and sacred manner. Or as Christina Puchalski, MD (leader in trying to incorporate spirituality into healthcare), puts it, “Spirituality is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, and to the significant or sacred."

A key difference between the two is that one is somewhat based on fear and other on love, which is the greatest emotion! Despite the best of intentions, religions can sometimes contain a subtle (or not so subtle) undercurrent of fear woven into their teachings. The concepts of original sin, divine judgement, God’s wrath, or eternal punishment can create a mental environment burdened in worry and anxiety over your worthiness and whether your actions will result in divine retribution or karmic punishment. Your fate in the afterlife can loom like a specter in the back of your mind, subtly influencing your thoughts and behavior.

By contrast, spirituality typically discards the vestiges of fear and worry in favor of a more loving, compassionate approach to life—and death. Spirituality embraces a consciousness-based worldview that supports all human beings on their path to awakening in unconditional love and kindness. Your choices and behavior are guided not by fear of punishment, but rather by a desire to end suffering and create a peaceful and loving world for all.

This may be the tonic one needs in the current times! Stay blessed!