RELIGION at best a Dogma

I searched for god and found only myself…I searched for myself and found god……jallaluddin rumi

From millenias religion has been the driving singular force for humankind’s upliftment-as general perceptions are, but also for worst bloody savaged wars; genocides; and gory sectarian violence. Its benign to even write about this oldest and explosive topic which is loved and hated,both very strongly by humans.

Historic references available show that first systematic religion was ‘Paganism-worship of nature and its elements’. No singular god or a form was there then. This was the start of systematic worship and rituals of worshiping a certain higher or inner thing which can’t be seen or described completely by humans. From there started this long river which gradually across millenias branched along into various streams.

Zorastranism, Jewesim, Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Taoism, Paganism etc being some major religions across the globe as of now. Each claiming its birth first and its god or teachings as being pure and supreme.

Now  problem with religion lies in here! As fundamentally at its core, at its very roots its OPPOSITE from what Is  called and loved: Spirituality. Knowledge says its one and same but Wisdom shows its vastly different. Its like religion being a man who knows everything: atleast claims to; but spirituality being the man who lives everything.

Being religious is like being dogmatic, always tied down to endless rituals and books,and forms or idols, or places and sects and gurus of all kinds!

But on other hand being spiritual is being free, being ready for growth,ready for love, ready even for failures, liberation, not only knowledge but true wisdom. One can be spiritual in any class, form, colour, economic or social condition, but for being religious many fullfillments are primary. Point of difference here is no animosity towards god per’se.  God or a higher or inner supreme element is central to both, but minus the rituals, the traditions, the hard-line booked rules, the dividing colours of its sects, or places of its worship, or its various so called supremely powerful agentified gurus! Being godly is to be being one with your core being, and at the core of your element there are no narrow barriers, blinkered visions, extremist thoughts; there’s only love and acceptence of things and surroundings with the awareness of its good or bad in it. Water is purest when its flowing, stagnancy makes it obsolete! Or put it other way, even stagnant water needs regular filling up as with lakes; via glacial waters or rains; hence so with religion vis-à-vis spirituality.

There are wonderful spiritual mystics in this world, whose mere whiff spreads like aromatic attar(perfume) amidst our presence. True ones never discriminate or bind u in borders of any kind. Money, power, lust, mass followings, are all unworthy to hinder them from their paths. They will always show you the true path which is right for you in the longer run of life, at risk of even hurting you or even getting abused and hit upon by u or society at large. Rather then winning you by unture but kind words and mollycuddling actions they will unflinchingly show you the mirror always.

‘Let there be light at end of the tunnel’ but in today’s times all light is mightily blocked by most so called majoritarian religions who for long have abandoned the true teachings of their own god! How then will people find elevation in such prisons of faith. Isn’t such succour a fake hallucination of righteousness. Lives are made richer by moments and by living in the moment as is famously said by the ‘tathagatha-buddha’: ‘to live consciously each moment in the present’. But instead people who live only by textbook knowledge and dogmatic rituals, preachings of sectarian gurus, miss up the real aatman or essence of the whole teaching of their own god. No god has for sure created divisions of any kind, or uttered a single hurtful word for others, or even thought and wished ill for even his haters, examples galore we have from Christ, Nanak, Mahavir, Buddha, Kabir, Saibaba, Krishna, Ram, Muhammad, Rumi,  George Gurdjieff, Dalai lama,  Mooji, Swamivivekananda, Nizamuddin auliya, Osho rajneesh, Tulsidas, Paramhansa, etc. So how and when did their religions become so problematic and combustible. Cause people started twisting the words spoken, or even their lives lived, and inserted all other nonsensic stuff of their own for their own narrow gains of power,lust,money.

All spirituality is religious by default but not the other way. Rituals don’t define godliness. Words in books at best inscribe values, but courage to live or transform them with changing times is a whole different brave game. Spirituality never shys away from bowing down, humility, non-agression, taking steps back for broader newer visions.

Krishna himself voluntarily as we all know faced 100 sharpedged abuses…Mahavira was tortured immensely during his mortal life times inspite of his royal background and nonviolent teaching…..Jesus faced the gravest hatred plus goriest violence from whole of ruling kingdom and its hedonistic followers inspite of his forgiving nature for  all his enemies too, Kabir and Saibaba historically belonged to unknown or so-called backward poor castes, heading no power prosperity or progress but still integrated the whole society into one thread, Rumi mystically always talked of love and spread its smile across even the most extreme hate spewing thinkers too, Osho was the wildest storm the world and especially the west has known who was brave enough to criticize god himself and denying everyone from being blind followers, Nanak being peace and humility lover always in help of people and society at large, Ram being ‘maryada purshottam’ (the ideal man) and keeper of his word till last breath of his who always strived for wellbeing of enemies even.

There are countless many examples of good spiritual positive energy’s to every bad rigorous negative so called religion specific energy. At the end its mostly heart over mind. Simple but profound wisdom in fewest of words. Every soul at its core knows what’s right and what’s wrong. Mystics never worried for fan followings or cults like today’s gurus? They never measured their words as with how much is acceptable to the hearing audience. Boldness is a gem only gifted to the vulnerable and true; which is the essence of spiritual person.

Don’t follow a guru blindly as we have countless rogue mobs rampaging in name of all and sundry.

Only idiots are noncontroversial….oshoThere have been courageous souls on this earth whov destructed the whole dogma and cult related with religion and a external god if any. Thev shown us that the path lies within us itself, and heart knows no boundaries or limitations. What’s achievable for one is achievable for all. The fear of being different, of being out of groups, is the biggest hindrance for growth and freedom. Your journey is yours not others and others journey is not yours. Every soul kneeds his own path, has to experience his own liberation, his own highs and lows. Books and words at best are there to guide or show one the path but then walking, imbibing and facing the path is ones own quest which won’t be fulfilled by any other god or guru. Most structured limitations are just in place to stop you from your growth and liberation. After all one needs to experience darkness himself to understand the true value of light. A child until he dosent fall repeatedly dosent truly stand up to walk and run properly, none set of others legs are of any use expect his owns. Your truth is to be seen and felt by your ownself, and no other single entity in whole universe is capable of replacing the unique you.

When you are growing internally, there’s a joy and liberating feeling to it, akin like a zen feeling. Even failures, hatred, obstructions then become a challenge you are happy to face and overcome. As failure can be the best teacher, and anyways the bad times show you the true face of people around you in your life.

Karmayog ki bhatti ki garmi, har aatman ko sehni hain….sai- ‘every soul has to face the heat of its karma doings’…..is the absolute truth. Before and after life are unknown or vague, at best their presence can be humbly accepted but its ‘the now the this’ that counts. And every knowing action done has its account to be settled herein itself. 

Of the many quoted above hardly has any found his true calling in any so called religious place alone, like a mandir; masjid; or a gurudwara. Or hardly was their soul salvaged by reciting prayers, or chanting of slogans alone. Neither did the traditional rituals alone led them to their final enlightened existences. All were out of the moulds society always tries to fit one into irrespective of each ones different times and socio environment prevailing during their times. Creation happens only when theres certain beautiful disruption, when the old structured dead is demolished for new creative lively life.And yes, certainly the paths were never easy or rose strewed. In fact looking at each one’s path we find everyone of them faced gravest of challenges, abuses, violence, social boycotts etc. But not wavering from the core belief each had in them, and continuing to move forward irrespective of the  people’s obstructionism.