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SELF AWARENESS THROUGH MEDITATION
truth and at the fag end of their life realize that they wasted their beautiful life after immaterial and useless things. But then, it is too late.
Rituals, Religion and Dhamma
When people go to temple, church, mosque or any other denominated religious place and offer worship, prayer or fulfill other ritual, they call themselves religious. Behind most of these prayers we are always beseeching the 'God' to fulfill one or the other desire like money, service, house, property, offspring, freedom from disease etc. When we fail in our physical efforts, we seek the help of God. There is belief that by worshipping, God will become happy and shower gifts to our heart's content. Out of that some portion can be donated to God, which will bring name and fame. One can become charitable and philanthropic by donating a small percentage of what he got from the God. The God will again be happy and grant more desires. More temples are constructed, more decorations in gold and silver are donated and then name of the donor is printed in bold at a conspicuous place to show the philanthropy. All this is happening in the name of Religion and God. Once these temples, mosques and religious establishments are in place, they become the bone of contention for ownership, control and personal aggrandizement. One can be philanthropic in the temple or church though his own real brother may be starving. He may be bitterly fighting case in the court against his own real brother for small portion of inheritance. Though one is called religious and philanthropic, but in real life he may be doing heinous and atrocious works and killing the humanity in the name of Religion' and God'.
Rituals have become the religion' and worship a dogma though these have no relationship with the real religion which is and should be called 'Dhamma'. Dalai Lama says, “Being motivated by compassion and love, respecting the rights of others—this is real religion. To wear robes and speak about God but thinking selfishly is not a religious act. A religious act is performed out of good motivation and thought for the benefit of other”. He goes on to say, “If we lead the life for the benefit of the world, this is the hallmark of religious life. This is my simple religion. No need for temples. No need for complicated philosophy. Your own mind, your own heart, is the temple; your philosophy is simple kindness”. 117
The word 'religion' has done more harm than good. It has been misunderstood. The word religion does not reflect the true meaning of Dhamma. Dhamma is the Nature. Dhamma is the Duty. Dhamma is to live as per the Nature and as per Duty. There is no place for violence, retribution
