What is religion?

-Today, the biggest problem is about correct meaning of this word? According to today’s intelligentsia, humanity is the biggest religion. The meaning of this sentence is that there are many religions, but humanity is the biggest among them. There is some goodness in all religions, but humanity, being supreme, is imbued with goodness. According to this sentence, following the good things of a particular religion should be considered good for humanity and following whatever is bad in that religion is against the religion of humanity. This means that none of the religions prevalent in today’s world can be followed alone.

-The general meaning of religion is NATURE. Just as the religion of water is to flow down, to cool et cetra, in the same way the religion of man is humanity. In no case, there can be more than one humanity. This means that in reality the religion of man is only one. The beliefs, which are known today as religion, are not religions but sects. If humanity is to be defined, then, every work that leads to the progress of man will come under the category of humanity. If not to behave with anyone, unjustly, speaking the truth et cetra are human nature, then, it can be said that it is the religion of every human being that he should not behave with anyone, unjustly, speak the untruth et cetra.

-If humanity is the only religion and all the sects of the world have precepts for both the progress and degradation of man, then, it becomes our duty to adopt true words of the sect, in which we were born in and reject the untrue things of that sect. Along with this, it is also our duty to accept the truths of other sects. No sect has a monopoly over truth. It is very difficult to do these things. But, our being human is meaningful only when, our aim is to imbibe humanity and this is possible only when, we have insistence for truth and only truth.  

-External signs do not make anyone righteous. Things like how to wear clothes or keep hair et cetra are based on country, time, season and interest. Wearing black or yellow robe, wearing garland of any kind, applying tilak, increasing hair et cetra have nothing to do with religion. In essence, every action that we like to be done towards our own selves is Dharma. For example, if we want others to speak truth to us, then, truthful-speaking is religion. Similarly, if we desire that others should not harm us unjustly, then, non-violence is religion et cetra. Likewise, every action which we do not like to be done towards us is adharma. For example, we do not want anyone to think badly about us and hate us, then, it is unrighteous to think badly about others and to have hatred towards others.

-When a person’s clothes et cetra do not reflect his religiosity, then, how does one know that a particular person is religious or irreligious? According to Maharishi Manu, a religious person does not lose patience in happiness, sorrow, loss, gain, honor, insult. The feeling of ‘doesn’t matter’ is embodied in all his works. He keeps his body and mind clean. He does not take substances of others even with his mind. He spends most of his time and resources in increasing his knowledge and intellect. He always diverts his mind from bad thoughts and engages it in good works. He is conqueror of attachment, lust, greed and anger.