Arya Samaj

Shishya · Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 12:54 am Post subject: True Religion

True Religion
by
Dr. Vivek Arya

From reciting prayers consisting of set phrases, uttered almost unconsciously or at best in a state of semiconsciousness by unfeeling hearts to forced ceremonies that are adopted through customs due to fears of society. From costly, useless, energy-wasting and time-consuming acts to the uncontrollable flood of misery, crime, war and bloodshed against humanity. This is the present state of the grossly misunderstood word 'religion'.

From 9/11 to Mumbai train blasts it seems that reason and faithfulness have vanished from the entire domain of intellect. 'Religion' has become synonymous with mere profession of creed or opinions. Mere faith has been substituted for living good lives and doing gracious deeds. Superstitions and mythology have dictated explanations of the mystery of the universe -explanations that are neither less entertaining nor more true than the tales of Arabian Nights. Guesswork and conjecture take the place of precision and certainty. Is it not all this deplorable? Can nothing be done? Is the mystery of Religion really insoluble?

No, it is not.

Were it so, life would be a sad spectacle indeed. The pains and miseries of this world would be simply unbearable. The above scene should be attributed to human ignorance towards True Religion. True Religion or Dharma is not merely an oral profession. 'Dharma' is a Sanskrit word, which is derived from the root 'dhra-'. Dharma means to hold or accommodate, to possess or follow something which is essential for survival in the world, for an individual and society alike, with due harmony and consistency with the whole universe, without fail. Dharma is something suited, relevant and worthy to act upon, mentally and physically, for the benefit for all. The opposite of Dharma is 'Adharma', which is not beneficial to anyone in any respect and hampers the peace, prosperity and the progress of society and the world.

The word 'Dharma' is used in various contexts in the Vedas, the Upanishads etc., as standing for 'virtue', 'merit', 'attribute', 'nature', 'quality', 'duty', 'law', 'right', 'righteousness', 'propriety', etc. All noble qualities, thoughts and actions are included in Dharma. Maharshi Manu writes about religion as:

"dritihi kshamaa damo asteyam shouchamindriyanigraha dheervidyaha satyamakrodho dashakam dharma lakshanam."
-Manusmriti: VI - 92

This translates to: (1) Resolution, (2) Patience, (3) Self-Restraint, (4) Honesty, (5) Purity, (6) Restraint of the Organs, (7) Devotion, (8) Knowledge (of the Vedas), (9) Truth and (10) Absence of Anger. These are the tenfold principles of Vedic Dharma for the right conduct of life for all mankind. So, True Religion or Dharma is a living essence. It's highly practical and founded on holistic Truth. It takes for its basis the harmonious development of all the faculties, the righteous unfolding of all our capabilities of knowing and being. True Religion consists of a Life in Divinity.

The first lesson to be learnt in True Religion is to realize the existence of this Divinity and to feel its presence everywhere and at all times with us and within us. When one has realized this and is in the joyous depths of this consciousness, he can exclaim, "BY ONE SUPREME RULER IS THIS UNIVERSE PREVADED, EVEN EVERY WORLD IN THE WHOLE CIRCLE OF NATURE." He is then fit to take a step further and learn the lessons of individual reformation. For this, one has to understand the captivity of the sensuous phenomenon of the world. Man is easily misled by nature's alluring attractions and wild enchantments to forget the everlasting, eternal God that resides in the interior of and pervades each of his ephemeral creations. The gorgeous display of riches and wealth, the show of rank and luxury, the temporary worldly pleasures seduces the young mind to crimes, jealous thoughts and hatred. When man seeks pure everlasting enjoyment of peace and happiness, abandoning all thoughts of this perishable world, then he is in the Deific Essence that rules and governs all by generous and wise providence, intended for the highest of all.

The souls enlightened to this supreme level then chant the most joyful mantra of this world. For them, life is a luxury, an immanent blessing, an eternity of enjoyment and growth. For them, those who presume to know more are not wise; who claim to carry a pile of books in their brain; or a thick cluster of words and phrases in their memory. Rather for them, wise are they who feel nobly, think nobly, live nobly and act nobly. Now they can claim True Religion for themselves as life with perpetual happiness, eternal peace, the fruits of eternal bliss and immortality. He who realizes True Religion passes beyond the physical dissolution arising by virtue of the life of the senses and enters into immortality by virtue of the life of spirit. Man's life is thus converted into a pleasant, instructive, invigorating power, a journey of awakening that leads through the invisible portals of death to the calmness of eternality.

Here let us pause and take a survey of the great eminence to which we have ascended. There is God, the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, All-Pervading, distributing justice to all, and assigning to each and every one their respective mission. Here is a man endowed with potent, active faculties, energetic capabilities and all-achieving powers, adequate to fulfill the mission assigned to him. Thus fulfilling the mighty ordeal assigned to us is the True Religion for the accomplishment of which His Eternal Blessings are always with us.

"O All- Wise Being! Thou art the Source of Knowledge. Inspire us with Thy Wisdom, lead us to rectitude, and drive off our vices! To this end, we repeatedly praise Thee and adore Thee."

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti