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Quest


Genuine religion is an endless quest to renew oneself every day, every moment.  It is a quest to understand reality more and more, the reality out there as well as the reality within ourselves.  Understanding leads to compassion.

The problem with fundamentalism of any sort is that it eliminates quest altogether.  Fundamentalism imposes truths on people.  Look at any country which has sought to build up religion-based governments and you will see how it has used propaganda effectively.  Truths are fabricated and imposed on people using various tricks and means.

Generally people don’t like to think.  They don’t want to think. They would rather have truths handed over to them on a platter.  Fundamentalism succeeds easily because of this.  Combine it with hatred of other people and the recipe is perfect.  Lies and hatred. Perfect combination for the masses hungry for readymade answers.

Spiritual truths can never be readymade.  They have to be discovered by ourselves.  Because spirituality is the harmony between the self and the universe.  Only the self can discover it.  Religions can assist in the process.  Gurus and other enlightened people can assist.  However, ultimately it is the result of a personal quest. 

Fundamentalism is the negation of all personal quests.  Fundamentalism is a straitjacket given to the believer in order to prevent him from making any quest whatever.  A people confined within straitjackets are the most pliable devotees (bhakts).  They are the ideal warriors armed with readymade truths and readymade hatred.

Release them from the straitjackets if they are to find their own truths.  Let the quest begin.  Let there be more questions than answers.  The stars waiting to be discovered.  The quest leads us to the stars.


Comments

  1. Pranju chakrapaniApril 27, 2017 at 9:01 AM

    Many of them, in fact, use this logic. Why trouble yourself with the pain of finding out the right path when we have a tailor-made road mapped out for you by our expert team.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalApril 27, 2017 at 10:09 AM

      "..history has shown that the most terrible crimes against love have been committed in the name of fanatically defended doctrines.”
      ― Paul Tillich, Dynamics of Faith

      If only people were willing to doubt a little, the world would be a much better place.

      Delete
  2. Jyotirmoy SarkarApril 28, 2017 at 7:58 AM

    Totally agree with your points and logic.
    Some age old games will continue forever and some people who does not have minimum consciousness cant be made conscious.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalApril 28, 2017 at 12:24 PM

      My own experience matches with what you say: some people can't be changed.

      Delete
  3. UnknownApril 28, 2017 at 8:35 AM

    Fundamentalism is a straitjacket given to the believer in order to prevent him from making any quest whatever.

    So very true.

    Damyanti

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalApril 28, 2017 at 12:24 PM

      Truth seekers are the biggest enemies of religion when religion is interested in power of any kind.

      Delete
  4. Ravish ManiApril 28, 2017 at 3:50 PM

    I completely agree that religion is about quest not commandments.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalApril 28, 2017 at 8:00 PM

      That's what it is and what nobody seems to understand.

      Delete
  5. UnknownMay 2, 2017 at 6:00 PM

    I like this piece sir. I have come to believe in two things which echo in this write up. "Navinam Navinam Kshane Kshane" - my prayer - Newness newness every moment. And never to believe in 'sampradaaye' but 'sampradaha' ! Burn down everything that comes in your way of truth.

    ReplyDelete

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