RELIGION: What it ought to be -Origin;Vivekananda;Krishna;TrueReligion-

Its a violent and a turbulent world we are being compelled to live in. Ethnic clashes in Srilanka ,Apartheid in South-Africa and Namibia, Palestine problem in Middle- East, Siya-Sunni clashes in Asia have made the life troublesome in these parts of the World. Back home insurgence problems in Eastern parts of the country and a fissiparous phase in Punjab had made the life miserable for all and sundry.

Against this backdrop , if someone is asked which Religion he belongs to .The answer  would vary from being a Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Budh, Jain or Sikh etc. Further interrogation would reveal that many a times flimsy logic is applied in adopting any specific Religion. Followers may adduce numerous reasons such as their Religion being the oldest one or most glorious one and may also reminisce about the heroic deeds of pioneering saints.

In my opinion such meek arguments given in favor of following doctrines of any religion are unconvincing .These charlatans may put a distorted version and are responsible for creating misnomers about the doctrines of their religion in true sense. However accurate it may be but still it is hard to digest that 95% of our country's populace adheres the religion not by choice but by accidental chance of being born in that particular one. 

Referring to historical anecdotes one would face that the origin of every religion is linked with the birth of an Authority. The writing of religious scriptures, establishment of rituals, doctrines and practices is done by the same authority and its paraphernalia. And whenever efforts are made to ring changes in principles and concepts a furious resistance sprouts, consequentially leading to a vertical split in the concerned religion e.g. Shiya-Sunni, Akali-Nirankari, Digamber-Swetamber, Prostestants-Catholics etc. At times certain elements, urge to escalating change in principles and concepts. This mysterious urge, incessantly abetted by some antisocial elements assumes the shape of fanaticism. And History is a witness to the victimization of great humanistic saints and leaders like Socrates, Christ and Mahatma Gandhi at the hands of such reactionary forces and fanatics.

The reactionary forces masquerading under the disguise of revivalist forces arouse religious fanaticism by projecting a one-up image of their religion over the other's proclaiming the pious image and at the same time disparaging all other religions. Worse is the fact that when these reactionary forces try to synchronize religion with politics. The result of this malefic synchronization assists only in the eruption of nefarious attitude towards one another. Sneering utterances, social boycott, group clashes and violence are the repercussions of such abominable acts and while doing so these people just don't know as to what (ill) they have been doing and what (good) is ought to be done. They forget Swami Vivekananda's words - "If you are really pure, how do you see the impure? For what is within is without. We can not see impurity without having it inside ourselves. This is one of the practical sides of Vedanta, and I hope that we shall all try to carry it into our lives."

I am tempted to quote here Lord Krishna as per the second chapter of  Geeta, “Man does not die, Only body dies and the soul changes the body to assume a new one just like a man changing old Clothes. And this soul could not be burnt, wet or dried. It is stable and everywhere”. In fact this postulates the theory of re- incarnation. It amuses me as to how these narrow-minded sectarians would react if they were to know that they might take birth in the same religion against which they have been suffusing  venomous propaganda. The strong hold of these forces and elusive aura of vaunted power they have built around themselves can be threatened only by a handful of conscientitious persons who have the wisdom to grasp this underlying concept.

The prevailing circumstances do compel us to contemplate the true meaning of religion and to dispel the yoke of sectarianism. Serious thought should be given to sift genuine religion from the mess of unwanted and undesirable elements which has got mixed up with it. Both these great personalities laid stress on propagating the concept and dogma of a true religion. They never tried to generate yet another "ISM" which could have engendered "schism". In simple words they never attempted to attach a (brand) name to their "service to mankind". Needless to say that one may be called as a truly religious person if one has learnt how to serve mankind i.e. by spreading peace, working for down-trodden, assisting the "have-nots", walking along the path of Ahimsa. When one understands these doctrines and implements these whole-heartedly then only one could be considered as a truly religious person.

I assert that interaction between Man and God is a very sacred and private affair and this communication evokes a sense of reverence, prayer and service to mankind which should constitute the core of religion.

My utopian concept of Religion would then be cutting across boundaries of countries, castes, cultures and colors of skin and would hammer the need for global brotherhood. The world would be a cleaner, safer, peaceful place to dwell in where only one Religion would exist that of Humanity.    {PPS}

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