Religion has been one of the major causes of strife and turmoil in the world, says Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji
It’s a known fact that religion is deeply rooted in man and from time immemorial it has been a dominating factor in man and his ways of thinking and behaviour. When one looks at the present world situation, especially as it exists between some countries, or even within India, between its various religious communities, one comes to the conclusion that religions also have been a major cause of strife and turmoil in the world. Therefore, the question that arises is, are religions of any real benefit to mankindIJ Have they not caused confusion and conflictsIJ When we give an impartial thought to this charge against religions in general, we find that, to a great extent, it is true. However, it should also be noted that though this charge points to the fact that there are serious flaws, deformities and discrepancies in the existing religions, it does not necessarily imply that religion, even in its real form also is unnecessary, for the truth remains that it fulfils man’s many needs. It was not so long back when Swami Vivekananda reflected on the necessity of the concept of universal religion for the society. He realised the nature of man, according to which mankind in the whole world has been trying to look beyond in the quest of his ultimate destiny or search for God. Therefore, the whole of the world community is today expecting a religion, which is acceptable to all.
It is an undeniable fact that every normal person wants to discover the meaning of his worldly existence and wants to know himself and the Creator and also the goal or purpose of his life, and it is this kind of study which, usually, goes by the name ‘religion or spiritual knowledge’. So, if we keep in mind this natural inquisitiveness of man, we will have to admit that it has truly been said that religion fulfils a great psychological need of man and that God is very much needed in man’s life for His qualities of Truth, Justice, love, Kindness and Uprightness and also because faith in Him gives the man a feeling of security and sustenance in moral values. But, people are now really sick of religions which give man faith in imaginary, multitudinous man-gods and which tend to divide mankind into warring factions. They want a religion that offers them one realistic, universal, loving and kind God who unites mankind and Who, though incorporeal, is a person with Whom they can have a living relationship as of a mother, father, friend, philosopher and guide. They want a religion that tells of a God, Who, though infallible and full of wisdom, is not egoistic or authoritarian and unapproachable but is one who helps and is easy to access. Moreover, people now don't want a religion which offers them an imaginary heaven or gives them a fear of an imaginary hell. Instead, they want a religion which gives them uprightness and happiness in this very life and enlightens them how to transform this very world of sufferings that is the hell in paradise. It is this religion, which is universal, altruistic and practicable.
Majority of people across the world believe that God is one and truth is one. If that is the case, then why do we have so many messengers and why do we have different messagesIJ If God’s message is for establishing true dharma on earth, then it should have unified all humans instead of dividing them. Isn’t itIJ Till date, thousands of religious heads have come on earth and preached about dharma but there never was more adharma in the world before than in the world we now live in. Why is it soIJ We must understand a fact that religious preceptors come into the world and shine their light of purity and goodness so that humanity’s faith in lord is restored or sustained. Their teachings help people hold onto their belief in goodness and God. However, liberation and salvation, purification and world transformation, the establishment of dharma and destruction of evil are tasks done by lord Himself when he himself reincarnates at the end of iron age. Hence, true seekers of truth should understand that God is supreme, omnipotent and omniscient. He is the creator and hence he alone has the wisdom and power to redeem the whole creation to its original pure state. He is the seed that emerges when world tree becomes old and the new tree has to come out. Thus, through his directly imparted wisdom the gates of liberation and salvation open up and that is why he is known as the purifier, liberator and guide. So, as wise children of One lord, it is our duty to follow him to reach our final destination of golden age.
