________________
DISCOURSE XXXVI
IDENTIFICATION OF RELIGION
Gentlemen,
In preceding two discourses it was clearly pointed out that every man has to practise religion unfailingly to achieve real aim of human existence. Power or efficacy of religion is unfathomable, inconceivable and boundless. But what is religion ? What are its characteristics ? How to identify religion? We cannot practise religion unless we know all this. In the current discourse we shall put to light all those ingredients of religion.
What is religion? This querry is answered by various men in various ways. Someone declares : “Religion means service". The other lays down : "Religion means duty". The next person means morality by religion. Someone opines : “Religion is right conduct”. Still another person proclaims : “Religion is devotion to God”. Someone says : "Religion is giving in charity". Religion is a holy thought". "Religion is devotion to knowledge". "Religion is the tradition-conduct of one's family”. “Religion means injunctions and prohibitions laid down in the scriptures". These are the various opinions held by various thinkers on the nature of religion. But all these definitions are imperfect in one way or the other and they fail to convey the real nature of "Dharma".
If by religion we mean "Service" then the question arises as to who is to be served ? Men, in order to fill their belly serve many people in various ways. Is this religion ? Some serve even their wives and children, can this be called religion? Some people enjoy the fruits of wealth and power under the guise of “Service", they wrap any selfish activity in the garb of service. Moreover, they fakely believe that in the name of service any sinful act is justifiable. Thus the meaning of religion declared as service is unacceptable.
Even if we accept the definition of religion as duty then also real nature of religion is not conveyed because the world abounds in numerous concepts of duty. Some declare that to produce progeny is our duty. We should produce progeny as our parents produced us. If we do not do so, our race would become extinct.
406
