Religion and Spirituality .

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Pranams to Bhagavan Sri Krishna and His Bhaktas,

Religion means "That which binds the soul back to God " .

Religion and Spirituality are the two defining factors in the determination of the higher values of life. These two functions of the inner call of a human being correspond to life in the world and life in God (Bhagavan) . The relationship between the world and Bhagavan is also the relationship between Religion and Spirituality. Bhagavan manifested Himself as the world . Then, equally, we may say that Spirituality manifests itself as Religion. Here we come face-to-face with the necessity to describe the characteristics of Bhagavan. It is true that Bhagavan is all-pervading, all-knowing and all-powerful . But these three features usually associated with Bhagavan are connected with space and objects in time; while space, time and objects are subsequent to Bhagavan's Original Being prior to creation. This would mean that no quality or attribute can be associated with Bhagavan, even with the farthest stretch of one's imagination. Nevertheless, it should be accepted that every conceivable quality or character should have its potential existence in Bhagavan Himself. Or, else, from where did these qualities arise ? Here we have a hint at the nature of Religion and the nature of Spirituality .

In India there is a specific discipline ( Varnashrama Dharma) prescribed for the gradual evolution of the human individual by stages of (1) education, (2) adjustment of oneself with the demands of natural and social living and, (3) an austere detachment from the usual entanglements in life and (4) final rootedness of oneself in Bhagavan. This last mentioned stage is known as Sannyasa and the first two stages are the religious disciplines preparing a person for the third and the fourth stages .

Religion has its various restrictions imposed on a person, keeping all human activity confined to specific areas of living with its several do's and don'ts - 'do this' and 'do not do that' . There cannot be any religion without these two mandates imposed on man. People in the first two stages of life mentioned above are placed under an obligation to follow these dos and don'ts of religion in social behaviour, in personal conduct and dealings with people in any manner whatsoever. Every religion has these ordinances defining the duties, which are religious, whether in the form of ritual, worship, or pilgrimage and even in diet daily ablution, and an exclusive literal devotion to the word of the scripture of the religion. These restrictions are lifted in the third stage where the life of a person is mainly an internal operation of thought, feeling and understanding and not connected with human society in any way.

Relevance of Hinduism

Hinduism is the mother of all religions . It is as old as the world itself . It is known as *Sanatana Dharma* because it is protected by Bhagavan and it can make us eternal . The Vedas are the foundational scriptures of Hinduism . Hinduism regards the spiritual experiences of ancient Rishis as it's authority .

Hindu codes of conduct called Smritis have assigned specific responsibilities to the four *Varnas* ( Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras) , according to their respective in-born qualities . The Smritis and scriptures do not consider irreligious people as sacred and pure.

While the Varnashrama system was originally evolved for the necessary classification of human duty in order to preserve the organic stability of society, it is deemed to get affected in Kali-Yuga . In this age of Deterioration , selfish Hindus would forget it's original meaning and its philosophical foundation . bigotry and fanaticism would corrupt it through egoism, greed and hatred, contrary to Vaidic dharma .

Vidura, famous in the Mahabharata, was born of a Shudra woman. But by strictly adhering to Vaidic Dharma he attained the Atmic power to summon the son of Brahma, from Brahmaloka, by mere thought . While Bhagavan Sri Krishna was in Hastinapura to mediate between Kauravas and Pandavas, accommodation was arranged for Him in Duryodhana's palace . However politely rejecting those Royal facilities, Bhagavan stayed at Vidura's hut and partook with great relish the humble *Kanji*( Rice porridge). This explains the relevance and effectiveness of Hinduism .

Hindu scriptures called the foreigners as "Yavanas" and "Mlecchas", which mean infidels. Thus, travel to the land of these infidels was considered as contaminating the purity of the Brahmin, and one who took to such foreign travels, across the seas, was debarred from the community of Brahmins.

But, the Sannyasin is an Atyashramin, that is, transcending the caste system, because the Sannyasin transcends social law, and he was even considered to have undergone civil death. He is not anymore one of the four Varnas . He is rooted in Bhagavan and he is a man of Bhagavan and he has no restrictions even as Bhagavan Himself has no restrictions.

The point is then that those who have a hesitation to feel that they are rooted in Bhagavan have to follow these rules, but since the Sannyasin is fixed in Bhagavan-consciousness, no rules apply to him. He is free in every way to make the best contribution towards Vaidic Dharma by updating Hinduism to suit with the time. The great success stories in Foreign lands by modern Sages like Swamy Prabhupada , Srila Prabhupada , Sri Satya Sai Baba , Sri Sri Ravishankar, Mata Amritananda Mayi Devi, etc prove this point beyond doubt .

Modern Religions like Islam and Christianity

Hinduism was not founded by any Prophet . Islam and Christianity are founded by Prophets in Kali Yuga . Christianity and Islam manifested in the foreign land to promote Spirituality . The strict dogmas of these two Religions emphasize spiritual discipline , self purification and selfless charity to attain God realization .

Universal Brotherhood

It is necessary for everyone to have consideration for the facts of world-unity and goodwill, * Sarvabhuta-hita* , as Bhagavan Sri Krishna mentions in the Bhagavad Gita. Justice is more than law. Human body is constituted of the five gross elements - earth, water, fire, air and ether. Else, it would be a sin on the part of a son to consign to flames the lifeless body of his father .

It is therefore, not proper to victimise a colleague by an action plan of any religious community wedded to fundamentalist doctrines.

Through the process of evolution, the world has now become a global village. Sun, moon, stars and the galaxies operate in a cosmic co-operative spirit. The air that we breathe, moving everywhere freely, has no nationality, no ethnic distinction. We live by the free gift of Nature. Any assertion of isolated individuality is not in consonance with the way the Universe is operating. Events have cosmic connotations. Creation is one, and Bhagavan is the Supreme Personality of Godhead .

Please Chant the greatest mantra of this age :

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

And be Happy !!!

Om Namo Narayanaya !!!

SriKrishnaDasa Rajeev