Jain Journal 2007 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 24

Sagarmal Jain The Role of Religion In Human Unity And World Peach
Performance of rituals is only the external aspect of religion. In its real sense religion means the eradication of passions and lust for material enjoyments as well as the realization of one's own real nature. Thus the true nature and purpose of religion is to attain equanimity and peace in individual as well as in social life. Whatsoever disturbs mental equanimity and social peace and spreads hostility and violence is not a true form of religion, instead it is Saitana in the cloak of religion. But now-a-days, the essence of religion has been shoved into the background and dogmatism, uncritical faith and performance of certain rituals have got precedence. Thus, we have forgotten the end or essence of religion and stuck to the means only. For us it has become more crucial point that while performing prayer, our face should be in the east or in the west, but we have forgotten the purpose of prayer itself. The religion aims at having control over our passions, but unfortunately we are nourishing our passions in the name of religion. Actually, we are fighting for the decoration of the corpse of religion and not caring for its soul. If we want to maintain religious harmony and ensure peace on the earth, we must always remain aware of the end and essence of the religion, instead of external practices and rituals.
The English word religion is derived from the root 'religio' which means 'to unite. On the basis of its etymological meaning we can say that whatsoever, divides the mankind, instead of uniting it, cannot be a true form of religion. We must be aware of the fact that a religion in its true sense never supports violence, intolerance and fanatical outlook. A true form of religion is one which establishes harmony instead of hostility, affection and kindness instead of hatred, individual and social peace instead of mental tensions and conflicts.
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One world-Religion: A myth:
Though in order to eradicate the conflicts and stop violence in the name of religion from the world, some may give a slogan of one world religion, but it is neither feasible nor practicable. So far as the diversities in thoughts and habits, in cultural background and intellectual levels of the human beings are in existence, the varieties in religious ideologies and practices are essential. Haribhadra rightly