| Religion is "absolute truth of life" of the physical | | | | being that we exist as a physical form on Mother |
| manifested world. It is Religion and not Spirituality which | | | | Earth. We may or may not indulge in understanding |
| forms the basis of the present society we live in. In the | | | | Spirituality or a Religion but inherently every living being |
| present the needs for following a Religion being at its | | | | pursues the path of Spirituality in every manifestation. |
| minimum... it is easy to follow any Religion. Anyone... | | | | Spirituality is that fundamental of life which cannot be |
| even a layman can follow any Religion but not | | | | ignored by one. |
| Spirituality? | | | | To be able to understand the basics of the Spirituality |
| What vastly differentiates Religion and Spirituality? | | | | (not religion) one needs to understand the underlying |
| Religion... if it forms the core of the physical manifested | | | | meaning of the various sacred Scriptures existing on |
| world... it is the Spirituality (the truth of our Soul within) | | | | Mother Earth. Whatever our religious masters teach us |
| which upholds the values in the society. Without | | | | on the physical plane may not be a truthful |
| Spirituality the physical manifested world cannot sustain | | | | representation of whatever is contained in the sacred |
| for long but in the absence of religion... the society can | | | | Scriptures. Many commentaries may exist related to a |
| survive on its own. | | | | particular sacred Scripture but all may not be correct |
| It is Spirituality (the truth of our real self... our Soul within) | | | | or rightly represent the facts contained therein. |
| which forms the core of the cosmic world. The | | | | To be able to interpret the sacred Scriptures correctly |
| physical manifested world is a reality in terms of the | | | | one needs to understand the inner meaning of the |
| senses (which guide every human being on its earthly | | | | core teachings contained therein. Spirituality in other |
| journey). In the cosmic world... our physical manifested | | | | words can only be best understood from a realized |
| world does not hold good for there is nothing solid in | | | | master. Only those who have reached the level of |
| the Cosmos. Everything in the Cosmos is made up of | | | | Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet |
| the basic building block of the Cosmos which comprise | | | | Mohammed can deliver the humanity of its ills. |
| of atoms and molecules alone. | | | | On the contrary going to a temple, mosque or a |
| Religion is meant for passing of the physical | | | | church can provide temporary succor to the ailing |
| manifested life in a meaningful manner. Unable to | | | | humanity but it is only Spirituality which can provide a |
| understand the nature of God... humanity has built for | | | | permanent relief. Religion provides relief in day-to-day |
| itself various religious centers all over the globe. These | | | | life but Spirituality liberates one forever from the cycle |
| religious centers are they a mosque, temple or a | | | | of birth and death. Religion is primarily a following of an |
| church... provide a succor to the ever ailing society. | | | | enlightened master... it is only the correct interpretation |
| They quench the thirst of an average human being... | | | | of his teachings that one can follow spirituality to its |
| one who does not have time or the resources to | | | | logical end. |
| contemplate directly on God the Almighty. | | | | Buddhism Religion relates to the teachings of Gautama |
| Indulgence in Spirituality is not meant for the average | | | | Buddha. The Islamic Religion is based on the teachings |
| human being. To be able to fathom the depths of the | | | | of Prophet Mohammed. Jainism (which can not be |
| Scriptures of the various religions of the world (the | | | | rightly called as a Religion but a way of life) is based |
| core truths of Spirituality)... one needs to dive deep into | | | | on the collective teachings of the various Tirthankars |
| the pearls of wisdom contained in the various sacred | | | | (enlightened souls). Similarly Christianity is based on the |
| Scriptures of the world. Spirituality is totally oblivious of | | | | teachings of Jesus Christ. |
| a religion. In the field of Spirituality one need not go to a | | | | Following the teachings of Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, |
| mosque, temple or a church in search of God. It is | | | | Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed... One can |
| contemplation and only contemplation which shall lead | | | | definitely reach the higher portals of Religion but to |
| one to God the Almighty. | | | | become one like Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus |
| Spirituality (contrary to religion) is all about the spirit | | | | Christ or Prophet Mohammed one needs to |
| existing within every human being neigh every living | | | | understand the core teachings of the realized masters |
| being (Jiva as we call it in Hinduism). It is truth of every | | | | themselves in a totally unadulterated form. |
| life prevailing on Mother Earth. It is the real self of us | | | | In a nutshell, if we desire to understand the |
| which exists within every living being since the birth of | | | | fundamentals of life itself and reach the end of the |
| that body in the form of an individual soul. Spirituality | | | | cosmic journey... we need to understand Spirituality in |
| and Religion are the two fundamentals of life which | | | | totality. And on the contrary if we desire to live the |
| every living being is required to follow simultaneously. | | | | present physical manifested life in the best manner |
| One can live without Religion but not without Spirituality | | | | possible then following the dictates of Religion alone |
| for Spirituality forms the core of very existence of | | | | would suffice. |
| every living being. It is the spirit within every human | | | | |