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