A Dangerous Addiction
Amar Bahadur Shrestha
September 27, 2008
Man has three needs and all three have to be satisfied if he can lay claim to a balanced life. Or a full life. Physical needs are easy enough to understand and therefore attempt to fulfill. Emotional needs are more difficult to fulfill since these are after all intangibles and therefore goals are impossible to define. The third need basic to all humans in order to live a full life, is what is known as spiritual needs, but quite akin to emotional.
The law of the land is a phrase much used in history and everybody understands this to be the laws governing behavior in the land they live in. More difficult to realize is that there is another law basic to all humans in which- ever land they live in. This is the law governing our everyday actions as well as our thoughts and this is the law defined by our own conscience.
Even if one is a child there are certain things which are clear as daylight even if these have not been spelled out. And for a more mature human, wrongs and rights are really not so indistinguishable as some would have us believe. Trust our conscience to show us the difference.
Actually, this intangible power we have named ´conscience´ is for a true believer, the real and only religion. But since we humans need to put down all we want to believe in quantitative and tangible forms, we have very conveniently created religion. Religion is therefore not the end but rather the means by which our spiritual needs are satisfied to some extent.
At the same time we would be far better off if we could be aware of the fact that following our consciences´ dictates would ensure much better spiritual satisfaction. That we don´t, is of course the reason we look for substitutes to fulfil our spiritual cravings. But would anybody admit to this?
I guarantee not. Of course if I were to question as to why one has not done such and such an unholy act I would certainly get quite a few logical replies, but I can assure you that all the replies would be refuged in self deceptive excuses.
No, most of us would rather take the path of tried and proven, and in this, religion is the way. Religion cloaks people with the mantle of truth, of duty, and of goodness. But only for a short and frozen period. In fact many a time, religion gives one the freedom to feel secure from the tireless dictums of conscience.
So you can see that religion is actually an opium. Dulling our perceptions of the real truths and making us believe in self- defeating half-truths. Therefore, not to allow religion, which is actually a means towards a safe spiritual harbor, to act as an opiate, one must at all times realize the lurking dangers.
Religion is many a time called science by the articulate and by those who are deemed wise. It is true that anything that has to put up with a lot of systems in the process of doing things, even praying, can hypothetically be called a science of sorts. And isn´t it a fact that the sciences of astrology and that of astronomy are all too familiar ingredients of most religions?
Do miracles exist, do they really happen? These are the perplexing questions put forward in today´s times by even hard nosed news leaders whose art is based on realities, magazines like Time Incorporated. Does anybody doubt that miracles are the offshoot, and many a time, the stuff of religion?
Well it is beginning to look like the world is headed for another of those frightening religious eras. Take Islamic fervor for one, And then take Hindu revival for another. Maybe Time Inc. is only trying to bring Christianity into the picture before it fades from the picture. At least as far as further victories are concerned.
So it definitely is looking like religion is becoming a habit that will eventually become deadly addictive, the new LSD. And did LSD help anybody? Will Islamic fervor and Hindu revival bring any added benefits? Forget benefits, we better prepare ourselves for a return to the wilderness. Christianity will not be a passive onlooker either, were they ever, in history?
For an aware person religion cannot be allowed to be addictive. Be as religious as you like, just keep in mind that Buddha taught us about peace, tolerance, universal brotherhood, a millennium ago, and look where mankind is today. Religion has become one more from Pandora´s box to set man at man´s throat. And all those religious gurus must have envisaged religion salving the wounds caused by racism, caste ism, principal ism and countless other such things, even if all are not Isms. More likely, religion has spawned one more ism, that is, fanaticism.
Fanaticism - the most dangerous one of all. No ordinary human can remain immune to this disease. At least for AID, there will probably be a cure in the future, but for this dreaded disease called fanaticism the only cure is by exorcising the anger and the basic primal nature of violent humanity. Exorcising can be very painful, let me tell you. The bloodshed that follows will in fact force one to exclaim that this sort of exorcism is more like excision.
Therefore let not religion drug you and become your master. Be as religious as you like, after all there are spiritual needs to be fulfilled, but refrain from entering the portals of the gate where the atmosphere in caverns to follow inhabited by addicts of religion cause you to be compulsively trapped as one more addict.
Oh I know it's a blessed relief to believe that there is somebody up there. God, we all call him, and no doubt His is a blessed presence in our lives, but is there any need for anybody to go to the extents some of us do to gain his attention?
I would think not. Believe in Him with all your heart, it can only help, even if it is only insignificant you, you yourself are involved in this belief. But the fact of the matter is that most of humankind becomes trapped in the trappings of Godly, or holy, systems proscribed by supposed knowledge givers, read that as religious leaders.
It is not that one becomes a trapped frailty if one were to follow the dictums, in fact one should do so, so that there is less of uncertainty, what happens unfortunately is that one tries to if not outdo, then keep up with one's neighbor. As is natural when there is excessive competition, even if it is to show one´s greater holiness, although the frail one will say it is to gain more of God´s attention either for atonement for sins committed, or for future gains, it is still the truth that there is reached a point when newer and more complicated systems are brought into play. How else can one show the greater goodness, and that too spiritual, if the rules are all that simple?
No matter how much one shrieks that this is not the right thing; the things being done in God´s name, it is like a drug addict stating that LSD is no good for health.
So don´t be the religious addict, believe in your private God, it´s good for health, don´t join the flock, only remember you are one of the aware, do good, think good, stay good, that´s what Godliness is all about. But since we are still frail flesh and bones with a tendency to bleed horribly at the slightest injury, we need a spiritual superior to guide our thoughts, so believe in God.
If we die and find ourselves having to answer to the Almighty as to whether our preference is heaven or hell, isn´t it nice to be prepared? Why take the risk? Enact your life through as much goodness as is possible. And derive strength from your belief in your God, but don´t be an addict and don´t put yourself in a situation where you are likely to fall into the pitfall of bondage through religion.
The law of the land is a phrase much used in history and everybody understands this to be the laws governing behavior in the land they live in. More difficult to realize is that there is another law basic to all humans in which- ever land they live in. This is the law governing our everyday actions as well as our thoughts and this is the law defined by our own conscience.
Even if one is a child there are certain things which are clear as daylight even if these have not been spelled out. And for a more mature human, wrongs and rights are really not so indistinguishable as some would have us believe. Trust our conscience to show us the difference.
Actually, this intangible power we have named ´conscience´ is for a true believer, the real and only religion. But since we humans need to put down all we want to believe in quantitative and tangible forms, we have very conveniently created religion. Religion is therefore not the end but rather the means by which our spiritual needs are satisfied to some extent.
At the same time we would be far better off if we could be aware of the fact that following our consciences´ dictates would ensure much better spiritual satisfaction. That we don´t, is of course the reason we look for substitutes to fulfil our spiritual cravings. But would anybody admit to this?
I guarantee not. Of course if I were to question as to why one has not done such and such an unholy act I would certainly get quite a few logical replies, but I can assure you that all the replies would be refuged in self deceptive excuses.
No, most of us would rather take the path of tried and proven, and in this, religion is the way. Religion cloaks people with the mantle of truth, of duty, and of goodness. But only for a short and frozen period. In fact many a time, religion gives one the freedom to feel secure from the tireless dictums of conscience.
So you can see that religion is actually an opium. Dulling our perceptions of the real truths and making us believe in self- defeating half-truths. Therefore, not to allow religion, which is actually a means towards a safe spiritual harbor, to act as an opiate, one must at all times realize the lurking dangers.
Religion is many a time called science by the articulate and by those who are deemed wise. It is true that anything that has to put up with a lot of systems in the process of doing things, even praying, can hypothetically be called a science of sorts. And isn´t it a fact that the sciences of astrology and that of astronomy are all too familiar ingredients of most religions?
Do miracles exist, do they really happen? These are the perplexing questions put forward in today´s times by even hard nosed news leaders whose art is based on realities, magazines like Time Incorporated. Does anybody doubt that miracles are the offshoot, and many a time, the stuff of religion?
Well it is beginning to look like the world is headed for another of those frightening religious eras. Take Islamic fervor for one, And then take Hindu revival for another. Maybe Time Inc. is only trying to bring Christianity into the picture before it fades from the picture. At least as far as further victories are concerned.
So it definitely is looking like religion is becoming a habit that will eventually become deadly addictive, the new LSD. And did LSD help anybody? Will Islamic fervor and Hindu revival bring any added benefits? Forget benefits, we better prepare ourselves for a return to the wilderness. Christianity will not be a passive onlooker either, were they ever, in history?
For an aware person religion cannot be allowed to be addictive. Be as religious as you like, just keep in mind that Buddha taught us about peace, tolerance, universal brotherhood, a millennium ago, and look where mankind is today. Religion has become one more from Pandora´s box to set man at man´s throat. And all those religious gurus must have envisaged religion salving the wounds caused by racism, caste ism, principal ism and countless other such things, even if all are not Isms. More likely, religion has spawned one more ism, that is, fanaticism.
Fanaticism - the most dangerous one of all. No ordinary human can remain immune to this disease. At least for AID, there will probably be a cure in the future, but for this dreaded disease called fanaticism the only cure is by exorcising the anger and the basic primal nature of violent humanity. Exorcising can be very painful, let me tell you. The bloodshed that follows will in fact force one to exclaim that this sort of exorcism is more like excision.
Therefore let not religion drug you and become your master. Be as religious as you like, after all there are spiritual needs to be fulfilled, but refrain from entering the portals of the gate where the atmosphere in caverns to follow inhabited by addicts of religion cause you to be compulsively trapped as one more addict.
Oh I know it's a blessed relief to believe that there is somebody up there. God, we all call him, and no doubt His is a blessed presence in our lives, but is there any need for anybody to go to the extents some of us do to gain his attention?
I would think not. Believe in Him with all your heart, it can only help, even if it is only insignificant you, you yourself are involved in this belief. But the fact of the matter is that most of humankind becomes trapped in the trappings of Godly, or holy, systems proscribed by supposed knowledge givers, read that as religious leaders.
It is not that one becomes a trapped frailty if one were to follow the dictums, in fact one should do so, so that there is less of uncertainty, what happens unfortunately is that one tries to if not outdo, then keep up with one's neighbor. As is natural when there is excessive competition, even if it is to show one´s greater holiness, although the frail one will say it is to gain more of God´s attention either for atonement for sins committed, or for future gains, it is still the truth that there is reached a point when newer and more complicated systems are brought into play. How else can one show the greater goodness, and that too spiritual, if the rules are all that simple?
No matter how much one shrieks that this is not the right thing; the things being done in God´s name, it is like a drug addict stating that LSD is no good for health.
So don´t be the religious addict, believe in your private God, it´s good for health, don´t join the flock, only remember you are one of the aware, do good, think good, stay good, that´s what Godliness is all about. But since we are still frail flesh and bones with a tendency to bleed horribly at the slightest injury, we need a spiritual superior to guide our thoughts, so believe in God.
If we die and find ourselves having to answer to the Almighty as to whether our preference is heaven or hell, isn´t it nice to be prepared? Why take the risk? Enact your life through as much goodness as is possible. And derive strength from your belief in your God, but don´t be an addict and don´t put yourself in a situation where you are likely to fall into the pitfall of bondage through religion.
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