Someone asked why some people show religious symbols publicly and why could not they keep religious things strictly private. He believed that religion was a personal matter and should never come into play at a public level. And at the same time he has seen some great spiritual people never making a public display of their religion.
From what I have read - the reason could be that not all souls are on the same stage in their upward "journey". At lowers stages, the symbols, displays and rituals help; and as we go higher those are not needed. But if at lower stages we go and emulate souls of higher stages, it may also not work. For example, a beginner in religion may need to chant mantras aloud or keep fasts and sing bhajans. But a saint who has already attained spiritual heights may not specifically need to sing bhajans or chant names and mantras - he might just close his eyes and do the meditation to get same or better results. But if a beginner in religion behaves like a saint, one may go nowhere. So everything has a purpose and we should respect and let it be that way.
Then on the point of religion being a strictly private matter; I think it is only an idea or an opinion and one should not force it on others. Religion for some people can be a personal matter; for some others it can be public matter. We have freedom of thought and expression. No one can stop others from believing in what they believe otherwise there is no difference between the two sets. So whether religion should be kept private or a public display could be made - is again a personal choice and people are free to believe in whichever way they think is right.
- Rahul
No comments:
Post a Comment