Religion and Human Life

As opposed to conventional belief, religion is not a set of rituals and dogmas. True religion is not a person being born into a particular family linked to a specific religious tradition. As a result, he becomes connected with some ‘religious’ groups he identifies with. These are all external things. It is not the reality of religion. The reality of religion is inner realization, and inner realization is far above external things. True religion instils right thinking in man. It shows man those hidden things the ordinary human eye cannot see. Religion makes man capable of drawing lessons from the past and seeing the future in the present. Religion makes a man a superman. Religion is a means for man’s spiritual evolution. Our world has two aspects—one, the visible world, and the other, the world that cannot be seen. The world is like an iceberg. Only the tip of an iceberg is visible. The physical eye cannot see the more significant part. Religion makes the nonvisible dimension of the world a visible thing for a man. In life, one repeatedly faces occasions when one feels helpless when one begins to fear that one has lost control over things. At such times, religion appears as a hope, a means for salvation. At this time, religion saves man’s drowning ship. Religion is a source of certainty and confidence in all sorts of challenges. Religion is the source of all virtue. Religion gives man the strength to forgive those who get angry with him, rise above greed, overcome jealousy, accept others, relate respectfully with all, save oneself from injustice, always behave well even with enemies, be a giver, and not just a taker. Religion makes man someone who lives for a higher purpose. It creates within man a principled character. It nurtures self-control and self-discipline in a person.