Pujya Gurudev Pt. ShriRam Sharma’s Kripa 

                                The true form of religion

(Akhand Jyoti July-Aug-2009)

A glance at various religious communities of the world known by the names like Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Taoists, Confucians, Jains, Buddhists, Jews etc is enough to realize that their external form and methods are world apart. It is logical that these differences exist because the circumstances and environments in which these religions were formed and expanded had to naturally cast their impression upon them. Based upon location, prevalent times, and circumstances, whatever principles and codes of conduct the wise men, avatars and great men put forth to enhance good qualities and suppress inferior tendencies, began to be called religions over a period of time. So it is natural that their outer forms are so very different. Still as far as the fundamental principles are concerned, they are the same in all so called religions. All agree to the fact that the ultimate aim of human life is to establish oneness with the all-pervasive entity.

All existing religions in one form or the other have accepted the importance of prayers in one form or the other and have included it into the daily routine.Dr Brill a famous American psychiatrist has stated that any person who is religious in the true sense can never fall prey to mental disorders. Psychologists and psychoanalysts have also agreed that the prayers which are a component of religious rites and the self study of good thoughts work like a potent vaccine against mental disorders and psychosomatic diseases arising from baneful and inferior thinking.

Famous thinker Dale Carnegie has written, “No man is capable enough to fight against all complications and complexities of life and succeed all alone. To win this battle prayers to God with sincere faith and belief need to be resorted to.”A Muslim saint has said, “Relation of the soul is with ilm (knowledge) and honesty; for it there is no distinction between Hindus, Muslims, Christians, etc.”

Famous Christian preacher Justin has said, “All the great channels of thought, whichever religion or country they may belong to, are directions given by God to all men”.It is stated in Shiv Mahima that – like so many rivers that come around from different places finally merge into the sea, in the same way human beings, following different religions according to their nature, reach the same God.Another scholar has written, “As many breaths come through men’s nostrils those many paths are there to reach God”.Confucius the famous philosopher of China has stated, “Intuitions of different religions do not contradict but complement each other.”According to famous saint Zoroaster, “We believe in and revere all those religions which teach honesty and righteousness.”Yogeshwar Krishna has clearly stated in Bhagavadgita that all men following multiple paths finally reach me in the end.Several wise men and sages have agreed that the ideals and principles described in different religions are eternal.Ecclesiastics mention – “Is there any ideal that can be called new? Each principle has been in existence forever and is prescribed to in all religions.”Hazrat Mohammed called upon people of all religious communities and said – “come and let us together think about all that is same between you and us.”Charak has written – “We must focus on the unity of all religions. If we concentrate only upon the disparity of their outer forms, it would lead to a certain downfall of humanity.”All the communal riots and disturbances are a result of one sided point of view in which differences between religions are assumed by looking at their external form. Due to their narrow mindedness, people do not pay attention to that fundamental unity of religions with which they originated.

A Japanese saint said – Shinto, Confucianism, and Buddhism all three religions are different branches of the same tree of religion. Japanese people imbibed the basic elements of religion. They did not fall into the trap of differentiating religions based upon their exterior form and zealously progressed on the path of sustained development.The above exposition leads to just the conclusion that though outward appearances and activities of various religions may look different but the central spiritual element is the same in all. The true form of the religion is actually just that which exists in them in the form of timeless principles. Only by accepting that spiritual element and by infusing it into practical life would do good to all; and the human society would savor the taste of peace and happiness.

Thanks GOD, Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma