Attainment of Blissfulness
What is religion is a complex pursuit. The concept has become so fluid that people are using it conveniently to suit their own needs. Some call it a ritualistic process, some label it as devotion whereas others have made it doctrines. One’s religion is decided at the moment of one’s birth, that person should be introduced to the religion right at that time by explaining all the elements of religion. Like our dearest home, religion is the address of our inner being. It becomes the source of your internal energy. Religion makes you a more inclusive person by enabling you to understand and accept whole world. It is the home of your existence. You need to stay there and purify yourself as much as possible. The ultimate goal is to purify our being from the external contamination. Religion teaches us how to triumph over four Kashays. The more your own this ‘home’, the more you realize your true self and regulate your mind. No matter how far you go on a vacation and stay in luxurious hotels, you still crave to go back to your home because it gives you a sense of security and warmth. Similarly, religion provides warmth and comfort to your soul. Nevertheless, the question is, do we really stay in the home of religion!!
Is the home of religion different from spirituality? No. Both are heading to the same goal. The former works at the worldly level whereas the latter is for internal stability and peace. Both enlighten us. One should carry out Sadhana with absolute faith.
Once a person starts walking in that direction, the state of blissful experience of the soul is not far away.
Religion is a state where one does not commit any sin. But what is sin and good action? All these nomenclatures are interconnected and it is practically impossible to define anything exclusively which is devoid of the other. Normally, bad actions include hurting someone, misuse of public property, snatch someone else’s property, using power to exploit others, stock things to raise the demands, etc. However, while doing all these, one gets richer and indulges oneself in welfare activities, you would call it good deeds, wouldn’t you? Superficially, we might agree on some of the aspects. Human nature and mind; and everything connected to them is related to religious matters. It can make or mar a person.
The internal pursuit of enlightenment is to be free of all doubts. With Sadhana, one can get rid of cravings, control senses, attain equilibrium, equity, simplicity, and fearlessness. One develops an ability to witness the journey. To be fearless is the essence of life. Experience and realization become handy. Once we get on to such a path of truthfulness without any doubt, we develop the virtuous required for a peaceful life and all the vices fade out. The objective of a spiritual Sadhana is to purify oneself through religion and truth.
We need to differentiate between religion and spirituality. Those who discard religion are liberal to spirituality and stubborn too. Applying true religion is itself spirituality. To be spiritual is to attain consciousness that is fearless and full of faith in the truth. When a person starts practicing such truth without any doubt in real-life situations, he/she experiences the true nature of spirituality.
There are two paths to a field called life: faith and sadhana. Faith sustains religious character whereas sadhana drives us to spirituality. They are not antithetical but reciprocal. When the youth says, “We believe in spirituality”, we should understand that their foundation of religion is very strong but not their understanding. We need to introduce to them the true character of religion. For them, it seems, religion is limited to some kinds of rituals. When we understand the real meaning of religion, we being to understand its lucidity, light and seriousness. Popularity and personal bias (including vested interests) are injurious to both religion and society. The more a person makes money and builds property, the more one becomes fearful about it. There is no joy or fear where fear reigns. To be free from worldly attachments is to be spiritual. The only and the best way to attain happiness is to be familiarized with one’s desires, cravings, anger, etc., and be free from them. Once the person starts walking in this direction, there is only joy. It can be called spiritual joy or joy of the soul or experience of Consciousness. Let the words be there, the main point is to understand the essence. The forthcoming time is that of religious festivals; many people will crack jokes about it, some will criticize, others would be serious and the so-called intellectuals of the society would apply several logical ways of interpreting it. However, fundamentally, the faith is organic. Those who are interested in genuine processes would focus on internal ideas. When you say “Michchhami Dukkadam” this time, mean it. You will feel great! Jain Avenue has completed one year, and the number of readers and feedbacks are rising. If well apply the best of the religious practices in life, it will be a blissful journey together through Jain Avenue.
There are two paths to a field called life: faith and sadhana. Faith sustains religious character whereas sadhana drives us to spirituality. They are not antithetical but reciprocal. When the youth says, “We believe in spirituality”, we should understand that their foundation of religion is very strong but not their understanding. We need to introduce to them the true character of religion. For them, it seems, religion is limited to some kinds of rituals. When we understand the real meaning of religion, we being to understand its lucidity, light and seriousness. Popularity and personal bias (including vested interests) are injurious to both religion and society. The more a person makes money and builds property, the more one becomes fearful about it. There is no joy or fear where fear reigns. To be free from worldly attachments is to be spiritual. The only and the best way to attain happiness is to be familiarized with one’s desires, cravings, anger, etc., and be free from them. Once the person starts walking in this direction, there is only joy. It can be called spiritual joy or joy of the soul or experience of Consciousness. Let the words be there, the main point is to understand the essence. The forthcoming time is that of religious festivals; many people will crack jokes about it, some will criticize, others would be serious and the so-called intellectuals of the society would apply several logical ways of interpreting it. However, fundamentally, the faith is organic. Those who are interested in genuine processes would focus on internal ideas. When you say “Michchhami Dukkadam” this time, mean it. You will feel great! Jain Avenue has completed one year, and the number of readers and feedbacks are rising. If well apply the best of the religious practices in life, it will be a blissful journey together through Jain Avenue.
Best wishes for the upcoming festivals! And always remember: We are not what other people say we are. We are what we know ourselves to be, and we are what we love.
Dr. Sejal Shah ( Ph.D )