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