________________
KARMAYOGIN
A WEEKLY REVIEW
OF National Religion, Literature, Science,
Philosophy, &c.,
Vol. I.
12th CHAITRA, 1316.
No. 38.
PASSING THOUGHTS. RELIGION VERNIS SPIRITUALITY
- Essence and form.
turverything we have to distin guish between the o nce and the tormi. Spirituality is that essenec, of which religion is one of the firtus. If One Pact breathes through all things that constitute the universe, it follows that it is only vue, and not the sole forin, in which spirituality can find expres sion. Education, science, poetry, art, are some of the other forms. Indeed there is no activity of man which is not capable of being the
chicle of supreme spirituality, marked, as that is by the floud of realination of some idea, sweeping way Heil. Religion tends, more than other things, to be confused with spirituality, because religiva IN built up of those forms and doc. trinen, in which humanity has Muriven from time to time to eu. shrine the essence of things spiritual. It providen, for most people, the ladders and scaffolding by which at a crisis, they may climb to the heights of the tower of spirituality. But religion, it must be reinembered, is only means, never an end. Spirituality is the aim, and cacb noul, having in this, reached its uw height, may come down by its own sinine, no to speak, may exprese its vipic in its own way.
A Common Fallacy.
The Spirit of the Age Makes Its Own Palth. If spirituality, then, is a fire, re s nation-
TKWIX pultier 0 ligion can only be thought of as fuel. in it, after all, wligion? I'uhtiess l'ucl will never du, instrull of fire. wund that we t e with dni but vuly as med l fire. Rued interests, with watering deals ligious practices and beliefs some. Il rival part I nution-runk times appear at their must perfecting there is but he ideal curried in hypocrites, and the worldly out by different methods, and the wise: spirituality is to be noen only interest in the comment interest of in him who can tread the world be self-sacrifice. In the higher neath his feet. It follows that re- of the word 'religiou,' then, tatligiou derfves all its value frumn building woulil Meet to the near spirituality. It can never bo offer. er to the ideal definition of it, than d a substitute for it. Spiritual rites and ceremonius Indraitis ity, on the other hand, may chuose #perception of this fu't that has its own instrument of expression, own
gathered the whole Indepeuple in and religion is but one of the means such striking tashwin round the that lie to its hand. Ramanuja, banner of nation:hty, during th Chaitanya, Sivaji, Guru Govind,
last few years. Those who have met how different are the means of ex- ranged themselves beneath it, ar pression. chosen by each one of merr luggands without a name, L. these! But can anyone dispute the dare not spech above a whisper, t.. fact that it is a common tide of give an account of their position spirituality that bears them on its Difurent groups clar'u in widely Hood? Such facta cat the ground
different ways, to be working out from under the feet of the coward
the common end: our point in the who excuses himself from tiation- •very man ims. Nationality building, on the plan that India is admitted, as the goal and interper to be saved, 'not by politics, but by
tation of all methods alike. 1.. religion. The words are true en
other words, the spirit of ruchu ough, if by religion is meant the
creates its own religioni, fel spiritual energy of religion, the Nationality is the religion of th: volcanic forces that inay focus in it,
present period. Behind it, blant and cleave the earth to find their
the forces of Indian wpirituality own path of projection. But if it
upon it converges the pasioni meaps a collection of formis, * series
Indian religion. It is slow with of formulne, the path of nafoty and the light of ideal personalitrs popular approval, then the phrase is wanctified by the lofty motives
lio, and nothing can redeem it workers known and unkowe; filled
