If you understand the essence of religion, violence will continue to diminish from within your heart!

 

If humanity has made the biggest mistake in understanding anything, it is religion. Humans are not comprehending the essence of religion in life, and as a result, violence prevails. Religion conveys the message of brotherhood, to live and let live. Those who fail to understand religion and spirituality have their lives entangled with arrogance, anger, greed, and attachment. Until they free themselves from these, they cannot be considered true humans. Recent events in the country have brought shame to the entire nation and humanity. It's evident that humanity has now fallen to a bestial level.

Religion teaches love and leads you towards liberation. It is essential to comprehend the philosophy of religion. Our scriptures guide us on how to live life. Just as there are peaks in the Himalayas and depths in the oceans, in the eternal religion, there is the height of the Himalayas and the depth of the ocean. To control the animalistic nature within humans, the first force is religion, followed by society. Those who don't heed the principles of religion and society are referred to as anti-social. The third force, governance or punishment, is employed to control them. These three forces collectively keep the animalistic nature within humans in check. Those who don't listen to these forces not only harm themselves but also cause significant damage to society.

Religion emphasizes living and letting live. Those who inflict cruelty upon others for their own gain are animals, regardless of whether they claim to follow any religion. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna said, 'O Arjuna, the Supreme Being dwells in the hearts of all creatures.' In reality, in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, the explanation of religion is centered around devotion. It is stated that the religion that doesn't manifest devotion towards God is not religion; it's mere labor. True devotion is emotional, while worship is more of a physical act. Devotion is about love for the Divine. Love for the Divine means love for all living beings. When you are filled with love for someone, you naturally strive to bring them happiness. The essence of love is that their joy becomes your own. If they are happy, you are happy. Therefore, you endeavor to bring them joy. This endeavor is, in a sense, worship. While worship is action-oriented, devotion is emotion-oriented.

A devotee is one who is united with their Lord, not separate. In other words, they are not distinct from their Lord; they are connected. Whether through devotion or worship, both are directed towards the same entity. The worshipped entity remains the same, but devotion is emotional, tied to a sentiment, while worship is active, linked to service. In the path of devotion, five types of sentiments are described: parental, romantic, peaceful, friendly, and servitude. According to your inclination, connect with that sentiment, and that will form your relationship with the Supreme Reality. Just as Nanda and Yashoda have a parental sentiment towards Krishna, Radha and the gopis have a romantic sentiment, Akrura's is a servitude sentiment. Yogis worship Ishvara with a peaceful sentiment. In this way, they connect with the Supreme Reality through different sentiments."