Why Religion?

Religion is like a tool; it helps humans to evolve from an animal mind to a kindergarten human mind. If there were no religion, we wouldn't know how to behave like human beings.

Why do then we have so many religions?

The simplest answer to this one would be "variety". We, humans, love diversity. Like the many varied flowers that make the garden look beautiful, many religions make us culturally attractive and help us enrich the living experience.

Sadly, we don't recognize the beauty in this diversity; just like a child fighting for her toy's superiority, we are fighting for one-up-manship. And the purpose of human life is to evolve and expand the mind and its awareness; religion is the first step toward this higher understanding.

If one chooses to embrace religion and step up, the possibilities are endless. That's why the saints of Indus land for over thousands of years BCE, have researched and given guidance in the form of Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and Eteehaas.

Vedas are scientific frameworks for highly evolved human minds; a modern parallel would be equivalent to being a scientist. Upanishads in the form of philosophical concepts are for little less evolved human minds; again, the modern parallel would be equal to being a Ph.D. holder.

Puranas are divine stories for even lesser evolved human minds; a modern parallel would be masters in engineering / MBAs or equivalent, and finally, Eteehaas are human relationship stories for even lesser evolved minds; a modern parallel would be a high school level mind.

All of it is bound with the thread of the Vedic framework explaining the law of nature for minds in different mental states of evolution.

"Thousands of religions were created and will get started in all forms and shapes in the future in every age as a tool to uplift the animal mind to a kindergarten-human level mind, and only with self-effort will a human becomes capable of going through the school of human life in harmony with nature."

Was religion created to block us from reaching our spirituality?

Religion and spirituality are two sides of the same coin as discussed earlier. However, let us understand with an example.

Look at it this way; if we have to become extremely good athletes we have to follow certain rituals every day to discipline ourselves both physically and mentally, we have to have a certain diet to remain fit physically, mentally, and emotionally which is part of our ritual. The goal we are pursuing as an athlete is to become the best and reach the destination we have set for ourselves.

Similarly, before modern society evolved, the ancient societies were all anchored around the upliftment of Human consciousness to its highest experiences.

This means, if the destination is about experiencing the heights of human consciousness then certain rituals were created so that the human mind, body, and emotions can align themselves in a disciplined way to achieve this goal.

Thus, spiritualized religions are nothing but systems and processes in the form of rituals so that humans can reach and experience the destination of becoming the best version of themselves.

The word religion and its meaning are changed as per the context it is used. E.g. I can say, people who follow the brand Apple and its philosophy are religious and Apple is a religion for them because they have a strong affinity towards it.

E.g. People who follow the Hare Krishna movement, are on the path of pure devotion, and who live its ideology are religious.

E.g. People who practice the teaching of the Buddha, are on the path of deep contemplation and meditation. Buddhism is a spiritualized religion because they follow certain rules or rituals which allow humans to reach the highest experience. Likewise, we can see many religions in the times we live in.

In the Indus civilization, wise men divided spiritualized religion into four paths - Karma yog (path of mindful and selfless deeds); Jnana yog (path of right knowledge); Bhakti yog (path of devotion ignited by right knowledge); and Raja yog (path of deep contemplation and meditation).

Why segment religions into four paths? People are diverse and have different temperaments as well as are in different stages of spiritual evolution, hence depending upon one's mental, emotional, and spiritual development one can choose one over the other and move forward in the journey.

E.g. - Let's assume I am a young adult, I am attracted to knowledge-based spiritual experience; I am intellectually sharp and can understand deep and complex concepts, then naturally I will follow the path of Jnana yog or the path of right knowledge. While following this path I will start reading and consuming information, start contemplating and gain deep insights. I can evolve into a great spiritual intellectual in the process.

When I taste all four paths to some degree and understand the qualities of these paths and reach a certain maturity then I can say I am evolving.

Spiritualized religion plays a role in disciplining, establishing, and readying oneself for the real spiritual journey.

The goal of all these paths is "self-purification" at the physical, mental, and emotional levels. Once the mind is sufficiently purified by developing, strengthening, and expressing the qualities of the heart, only then the real spiritual journey starts.

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