Love OR Religion??????????????

[Guest guest]

Love OR Religion???? ????????? ?Love is the essence of religion too, for it is religion (notorganised religion) that teaches ethics and compassion.The story goes that once the Devil and his close friend went for awalk. The devil picked up something from the ground and put it inhis pocket. When he was asked by his friend what he had picked up,he said: "I have picked up the Truth".The friend said: "If you picked up the Truth, then your time is upbecause Truth is the opposite of what you symbolise". The devilsmiled and said, "Don't worry my friend, I will organise it". Youknow what I mean?Of course, organisation is necessary but we should see that the coreis not corroded by the trappings. The evolved human being is notjudged by the number of cars he owns or his bank balance. He isjudged by his capacity to understand and love; by his compassionatenature and strong desire for

peace - all hallmarks of an evolvedbeing.The ancient Vedic prayer Sarve Bhavantu Sukhina says, "May the wholeworld be happy". Clearly, love is the essence of life. Love is amany-splendoured entity. Physical love or spiritual love has thesame source, although it manifests at different degrees. Love andcompassion are pure unadulterated love, that give out of itsfullness, and is the essence of all religion.The compassion and love of all humanity of the Buddha is well-known.Love is the parent of ahimsa or non-violence. It is love thatshares, cares and gives. It is the foundation of dharma. The Sufiscall love mohabbat. Love which is slowly sublimated is divine love.The sufi mystic Jalaluddin Rumi's poetry of love, The Maznavi,reflects this mohabbat.In fact, the Quran starts by saying 'Bismillah-ir- Rehman-ir- Rahim'which means "In the name of God, the Compassionate" . Compassion

isthe highest manifestation of love. When the great Teacher ofGalilee, Jesus Christ, was crucified, it is said that Peter theApostle reached for the sword, only to be reprimanded by his master -"Put down thy sword, Peter, for he who raises the sword shallperish by it".In the Gita, Krishna says to Arjuna, "The first and foremostqualification of a religious person is Sarva bhuta hite ratah - heshould have love and concern for all living beings in the universe".Sowing the seeds of love in our hearts is the only solution to theproblems of the world. Great literature, sublime poetry, exquisiteworks of art have all been inspired by love and compassion. It isunselfish love for humanity which is the culmination and the highestpoint to which love can soar to.When that happens, one lives for the good of others. The highestevolutionary attainment is the experience of love for all

humanbeings. And if we claim to be religious and neglect this aspect weare religious only in name.Ramakrishna Paramahamsa felt so much love and compassion for othersthat he would experience excruciating pain whenever he feltanother's sorrow. To love and serve those in sorrow and pain, hedeclared, was the best way to serve God.Change should begin with the individual. Once we sow the seeds oflove in our hearts, they will sprout and yield the fruits ofcompassion not only for the individual concerned, but for all.Jai Sai Ram