Chapter 3 - What is Religion ?
In this chapter, we focus on the role of religion.
First, lets start with some basics. As individuals, we should all strive for "complete knowledge" of everything. However complete knowledge is often elusive. The key to getting complete knowledge is to understand that everything consists of both the gross and the subtle. Lets understand this with a series of simple examples. A TV show you look at consists of the show that you see, and the quality of effort that went into the show. A complete appreciation of the TV show would require us to not just focus on the show itself, but the individuals but the coordination that went on to make the show. Many times, we have seen classic movies being produced. These movies often come with "how we made it" videos, to provide an individual complete knowledge.
Similarly, we (as individuals) have both the gross body and the subtle body. There is am amazing array of medical science that has studied the response of the gross body to its environment. We exercise in order to keep ourselves fit and there is a science to exercise. However, it is also important to understand our subtle nature. Religion is the science of our subtle nature. When we gain mastery over both the gross the the subtle, we have the energy to lead a high quality life. Just as we study the laws of physics or any such law that has been created for the physical world, there are laws about the meta-physical world that we need to understand. Often, this requires introspection and thinking carefully. In addition, it also requires us to learn about the laws that govern our inner self. Thus, religion makes human beings holistic and helps us connect to the world in a positive and healthy manner by learning the art of "right thinking." This, in turn, can help us achieve our goals and aspirations with energy that otherwise many of us may not have.
Thus, religion is a way to lead a healthy, wealthy and happy life. The key is to use the science of religion in an inclusive and healthy way.
At a more basic level, religion in latin has its roots in re-connecting "re" and "ligre." What are we trying to reconnect with ? Its the connection with your subtle self.
Religion is also a set of rules, and ptotocols that we follow. As a Tam Bram, I am not alien to these rules. An indian growing up in orthodox environment will have 1000 do's and donts. Here some level of acceptance provides a sense of discipline to our minds. We all can know what happens to an indisciplined mind -- most like will be a raving lunatic. This discipline -- when pursued in a peaceful manner -- allows the mind to focus inside and understand itself. This is where the re-"ligre" part comes in. When your mind does not jump from one to another, religion becomes moot, the self-control allowed allows the "self" to express more naturally. In that sense, religion provides bounds to our sense organs -- that are external to us -- and allows us the "luxury" of enjoyment, while preventing us from "thoughtless deprivation" that can drive most common people nuts (to use colloquial language).
Unfortunately, for most of us, religion becomes an end in itself, when its supposed to be the tool to re-connect with the self.
So the essence is to live religion intelligently, with some faith, even if sometimes we don't understand. After all, lets go with the adage of "what does not kill us only makes us better." Maybe we say, "religion never kills us but only makes the self more evident."
First, lets start with some basics. As individuals, we should all strive for "complete knowledge" of everything. However complete knowledge is often elusive. The key to getting complete knowledge is to understand that everything consists of both the gross and the subtle. Lets understand this with a series of simple examples. A TV show you look at consists of the show that you see, and the quality of effort that went into the show. A complete appreciation of the TV show would require us to not just focus on the show itself, but the individuals but the coordination that went on to make the show. Many times, we have seen classic movies being produced. These movies often come with "how we made it" videos, to provide an individual complete knowledge.
Similarly, we (as individuals) have both the gross body and the subtle body. There is am amazing array of medical science that has studied the response of the gross body to its environment. We exercise in order to keep ourselves fit and there is a science to exercise. However, it is also important to understand our subtle nature. Religion is the science of our subtle nature. When we gain mastery over both the gross the the subtle, we have the energy to lead a high quality life. Just as we study the laws of physics or any such law that has been created for the physical world, there are laws about the meta-physical world that we need to understand. Often, this requires introspection and thinking carefully. In addition, it also requires us to learn about the laws that govern our inner self. Thus, religion makes human beings holistic and helps us connect to the world in a positive and healthy manner by learning the art of "right thinking." This, in turn, can help us achieve our goals and aspirations with energy that otherwise many of us may not have.
Thus, religion is a way to lead a healthy, wealthy and happy life. The key is to use the science of religion in an inclusive and healthy way.
At a more basic level, religion in latin has its roots in re-connecting "re" and "ligre." What are we trying to reconnect with ? Its the connection with your subtle self.
Religion is also a set of rules, and ptotocols that we follow. As a Tam Bram, I am not alien to these rules. An indian growing up in orthodox environment will have 1000 do's and donts. Here some level of acceptance provides a sense of discipline to our minds. We all can know what happens to an indisciplined mind -- most like will be a raving lunatic. This discipline -- when pursued in a peaceful manner -- allows the mind to focus inside and understand itself. This is where the re-"ligre" part comes in. When your mind does not jump from one to another, religion becomes moot, the self-control allowed allows the "self" to express more naturally. In that sense, religion provides bounds to our sense organs -- that are external to us -- and allows us the "luxury" of enjoyment, while preventing us from "thoughtless deprivation" that can drive most common people nuts (to use colloquial language).
Unfortunately, for most of us, religion becomes an end in itself, when its supposed to be the tool to re-connect with the self.
So the essence is to live religion intelligently, with some faith, even if sometimes we don't understand. After all, lets go with the adage of "what does not kill us only makes us better." Maybe we say, "religion never kills us but only makes the self more evident."
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