Finding my Religion
By
Murali Murthy
Either we force ourselves to sync in our belief system, just because we are born into it, or convince ourselves by gaining some knowledge suiting the belief system.
But the state in which these standard religions are, is disheartening. If one believes in increasing their popularity by converting more people, other two are so blinded that they are ready to kill each other for the sake of religion.
Religion has become ego, it's become a right, it's become pride.
Religion per se cannot, should not be blamed for its state. After all, the upkeep of religions is by people following it. And people all around, huh!!
Religions when founded, had deeper, philosophical, spiritual knowledge filled with righteousness, morality intended to guide humanity towards peace and happiness. Every religion claims it's a way of life.
As Jackie Chan says in the movie "The Karate Kid" - "Kung fu lives in everything we do".
All seekers usually knock the doors of the Religion to find answers. So, it has to be kept unfiltered, unadulterated, uninfected.
I got this crazy, strange idea when I was having a similar philosophical conversation with a friend and I casually told her "I will start my own religion".
When I started to mull over it, and started defining the shape, form, principles of my new religion, I realized it needed to have three parts to it:
1. Defining God, spirituality
2. People practicing this religion
3. Dedicated geography
If people identifying themselves to be part of the religion are the flag bearers of the religion, then the choice of people practicing my religion matters.
So, the idea should be to filter and select eligible people to be part of the religion.
For Ex: if someone chops off the head of another, because he drew a cartoon making fun of my god, or if someone dances, bursts firecrackers and screams chants just to mock and tease others, whichever religion they follow, they will make sure they will bring disrepute.
There must be a series of tests to validate and select qualified people. People should embrace a religion who have common sense, think logically, be pragmatic, civic sense, be empathetic, have sympathy, and be considerate to fellow humans.
One of the tests shall also include a real world Driving test. I strongly believe, one's mindset can be easily judged by the way they drive in chaotic traffic.
It has to be in a dedicated geography to avoid competition, bias and avoid non eligible people around this perfect place, and avoid toxicity.
If right Philosophy is preached by and to the right people, and if the philosophy explains and recreates the idea of God, spirituality, followed by sane and mindful people, that's when the religion truly becomes a way of life!
A religion that maintains harmony, a religion that is concerned about Nature and it's resources, with no convenient sympathy towards dogs, but ok to kill and eat sheeps. There must be same yardstick to sympathy - Dog or Sheep, Cow or Pig, Peacock or Chicken.
My inability to comprehend the established religions is: every religion has its own definition of God, and every religion believes that's the ultimate truth, and all others are erroneous.
So, it all boils down to the family in which I am born, and my God and philosophy depends on that. So, the ultimate reality and truth is subjective!
Any question is answered with reference to Veda, Quran or Bible as proof. And each of them claims these texts are direct message from their respective Gods.
So, the start point of the entire belief system is believing that these texts are indisputable and absolute truth.
If one doubts this source and validity of texts, then all the messages, definition of God will become imaginary.
Someone has very rightly named it "Belief system", there's no right or wrong, truth or untruth. The moment we believe in something, that becomes our truth. The experience of God, philosophy starts making sense only if I believe, not by any other knowledge.
It's like choosing between Alopathy, Ayurveda or Homeopathy. Each of them works differently for individuals. If I believe in Ayurveda, it works for me, else it doesn't!
The experience of God itself is subjective. I see Krishna, I feel Krishna, I see goodness, I feel God, in every stone, beach, pristineness, rituals, people, language, calmness, smell, every colour, every stone, the ethnicity, the air at Udupi. While some experience God amidst a sea of people, scary crowds at Tirupati, Kumbh...some find God in books, some by listening to preachings and some get inspired by the rituals.
I see so many relatives of mine achieving spirituality by following rules, rituals, restrictions, Dos and Don'ts with all sincerity and conviction.
It might sound extrinsic, strange and crazy if I intend to start my own religion. But if we all introspect, each of us are already practicing our own religions. We twist rules, we customize philosophy, principles, morality, rituals, spirituality as per our own convenience!
