Friday, February 16, 2007

Religion and Spirituality

RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY February 16 3.30am

There is a difference being spirituality and religion.To be religious, one has to belong to a religion.When this happens, you become bonded to the religion of your choice. You have to subscribe to the doctrines and dogmas of the faith and inevitably you become a believer of that religious faith. By becoming a believer, your mind will be indoctrinated by the doctrines and dogmas and your mind no longer is open to other religious beliefs. This is what brain washing is about. There is no longer any freedom of the mind to accept any other religious faiths. This becomes bondage. In order to be a free soul, the mind must be deconditioned of all beliefs, dogmas and doctrines. Freedom from all preconceived ideas of whether it is religious or woldly matters,is needed for the mind to experienced the Higher Self.
This conditioning of the mind is analogous to a computer. The computer works only when it receives programmes from the owner. Without these programmes, the computer is useless .Similarly; our brain is like a computer. The programmes the mind has, results from the accumulations over the years of all sorts of knowledge, concepts, likes and dislikes, phobias, prejudices etc over a lifetime. The brain is therefore filled with all sorts of information that ultimately determines his character and personality. This causes bigotry, hatred, intolerance, worries and all sorts of sufferings which determine the personality and character of a person.
Religion is man made while spirituality predates all religions. Every religion claims that their religion is the only one that is true and that their God is the only one true God. Salvation can only be obtained by believing in that particular religious faith. This is certainly not universal.
Many wars, conflicts and violence have been committed as a result of differences in the various religious faiths.Ironically all religions teaches love and peace.
A spiritual person is completely detached from all these religious faiths. Consequently, such a person have complete freedom to pursue the true path to Self realization. The main purpose of meditation is therefore able to still the mind without being conditioned by knowledge of any kind. The still mind has the freedom to experience Self realization.





_

No comments: