The Role of Religion in Transforming One's Life into Liberation
by
Geshe Gedun Tharchin
Such people are convinced that it is only their devotion, deprived of the critical thinking capacity, which they believe must be kept instead in the safe of religion, the key to which is conveniently entrusted to the appointed custodians, and that this will save them from hell or other lower realms, but this does not make one grow and kills the true humanity and any possibility of an authentic and beautiful life. Every religion is truly important in life and it is essential to offer its most authentic teachings in the education of children so that they may know that there is more to life than matter, and it is an excellent tool for the spiritual development of every human being, but on the condition that it becomes a teacher that liberates and not a jailer that imprisons the conscience.
Every religion should overcome the worldly obstacles so prevalent in society and have the courage to open itself to deepening and dialogue with the rich traditions of other cultures spread throughout the world. It must be able to rid itself of the acquired certainties that lead it to remain rigidly confined within the boundaries of its own single faith tradition, which is nevertheless the fundamental and primary root. Religion does not always need the direction of a leader, and above all it should maternally correct the immature devotion of its followers, never nourish it. Religion should fully express that intrinsic quality that serves to show the way of human evolution in goodness, justice, compassion, brotherhood, and a wise view of one's own and the common good, of the environment, recognizing the infinite beauty and gift of life on this wonderful planet, thus truly helping each individual to build a true life protected from psychological and physical threats.
The main purpose of religion is to educate and guide people toward a peaceful present and a beneficial future. It is believed that creating a peaceful existence and harmony in the present will lead to favorable circumstances in later life(s) according to one's beliefs and religious tradition. A fundamental principle of all religions is the importance of love and self-love, extended to one's family and friends, and ultimately to humanity and the universe as a whole. Love and benevolence are not learned behaviors, but innate qualities present in all individuals. Such qualities include the ability to love oneself, which is not a self-centered emotion. In fact, it is essential to cultivate a deep sense of self-love and self-compassion in order to love every other being.
Finally, it is necessary to embrace these feelings with sincerity and authenticity, recognizing them as a form of non-selfish self-care and acknowledging the inseparable interconnectedness with every being, with nature, which is our home, knowing that any wrong deed will not become a sin to be punished in the hereafter, but is concrete evil, We can easily see this by observing the dramatically unhappy faces that surround us, not only of those who suffer, but above all of the perpetrators of evil, it is a pain that is very present, here and now. The realization that the goodness and example of a loving regard for life extends from us to our nearest and dearest, to all of humanity and the universe, is indeed a source of deep joy.
by
Geshe Gedun Tharchin
The
process of transforming one's life into an act of liberation can be
achieved by changing one's mindset. The concepts of rebirth and karma
are two widely accepted beliefs in many spiritual religious traditions,
parallel to the existence of hell and heaven. Most religious traditions
teach a strict lifestyle of austerity, even if it is aimed at generosity
and especially motivated by the prospect of future rewards, a good
rebirth or paradise, but this renunciation of the present life in
anticipation of future rewards can be very limiting. In general, people
are so frightened by the prospect of being reborn in a hellish or lower
state that they fail to fully develop their humanity and live serenely
in the present. These people devote their entire lives to the pursuit of
future security, but they remain stuck in a sterile limbo that saddens
them and imprisons them in the prison cell of constant fear and constant
worry. These people are forced to invest a lot of time and energy in
thinking about the future, and yet they do not know how to resolve their
present worries, and especially their worries about future lives.
The illusion instilled in the individual that he must sacrifice this life in order to attain a state of paradise or pure land in the next life does not yield anything, and it is conceivable that the same attitude will be transferred to the next life, even if the individual is reborn in a higher realm. It is unfortunate that a significant percentage of followers of religions, by delegating the pattern of their religious devotion to others, renounce serious spiritual deepening, their ability to think, and are merely slaves to the concept of sin and all the terrible consequences that entails, the constant fear of being condemned to hell or other forms of punishment for transgressing the rules dictated by a rigid formality of innumerable prohibitions that cannot be ignored according to the directives given in various religious teachings. Most followers of a religion live like children, never learning to take responsibility for their actions in a constructive, humane and intelligent way, and remain paralyzed by fear for their future lives, in constant fear of sins and misdeeds or bad karma.
The illusion instilled in the individual that he must sacrifice this life in order to attain a state of paradise or pure land in the next life does not yield anything, and it is conceivable that the same attitude will be transferred to the next life, even if the individual is reborn in a higher realm. It is unfortunate that a significant percentage of followers of religions, by delegating the pattern of their religious devotion to others, renounce serious spiritual deepening, their ability to think, and are merely slaves to the concept of sin and all the terrible consequences that entails, the constant fear of being condemned to hell or other forms of punishment for transgressing the rules dictated by a rigid formality of innumerable prohibitions that cannot be ignored according to the directives given in various religious teachings. Most followers of a religion live like children, never learning to take responsibility for their actions in a constructive, humane and intelligent way, and remain paralyzed by fear for their future lives, in constant fear of sins and misdeeds or bad karma.
Such people are convinced that it is only their devotion, deprived of the critical thinking capacity, which they believe must be kept instead in the safe of religion, the key to which is conveniently entrusted to the appointed custodians, and that this will save them from hell or other lower realms, but this does not make one grow and kills the true humanity and any possibility of an authentic and beautiful life. Every religion is truly important in life and it is essential to offer its most authentic teachings in the education of children so that they may know that there is more to life than matter, and it is an excellent tool for the spiritual development of every human being, but on the condition that it becomes a teacher that liberates and not a jailer that imprisons the conscience.
Every religion should overcome the worldly obstacles so prevalent in society and have the courage to open itself to deepening and dialogue with the rich traditions of other cultures spread throughout the world. It must be able to rid itself of the acquired certainties that lead it to remain rigidly confined within the boundaries of its own single faith tradition, which is nevertheless the fundamental and primary root. Religion does not always need the direction of a leader, and above all it should maternally correct the immature devotion of its followers, never nourish it. Religion should fully express that intrinsic quality that serves to show the way of human evolution in goodness, justice, compassion, brotherhood, and a wise view of one's own and the common good, of the environment, recognizing the infinite beauty and gift of life on this wonderful planet, thus truly helping each individual to build a true life protected from psychological and physical threats.
The main purpose of religion is to educate and guide people toward a peaceful present and a beneficial future. It is believed that creating a peaceful existence and harmony in the present will lead to favorable circumstances in later life(s) according to one's beliefs and religious tradition. A fundamental principle of all religions is the importance of love and self-love, extended to one's family and friends, and ultimately to humanity and the universe as a whole. Love and benevolence are not learned behaviors, but innate qualities present in all individuals. Such qualities include the ability to love oneself, which is not a self-centered emotion. In fact, it is essential to cultivate a deep sense of self-love and self-compassion in order to love every other being.
Finally, it is necessary to embrace these feelings with sincerity and authenticity, recognizing them as a form of non-selfish self-care and acknowledging the inseparable interconnectedness with every being, with nature, which is our home, knowing that any wrong deed will not become a sin to be punished in the hereafter, but is concrete evil, We can easily see this by observing the dramatically unhappy faces that surround us, not only of those who suffer, but above all of the perpetrators of evil, it is a pain that is very present, here and now. The realization that the goodness and example of a loving regard for life extends from us to our nearest and dearest, to all of humanity and the universe, is indeed a source of deep joy.
This
form of love and kindness can be considered a religion in itself, as it
provides protection for oneself and others through the practice of love
and compassion. It is reasonable to think that a true sense of love
prevents the possibility of experiencing fear in any form. Such love has
the capacity to transform one's life, leading to a state of liberation
from all forms of worry. An attitude of love allows the individual to
become one with the universe and all of humanity. Any form of perceived
danger or fear is eliminated, including the fear of death and the
afterlife, in the context of loving-kindness.
It can be argued that religion is not primarily concerned with the fear of sin or bad karma, nor of future lives and the dead; its fundamental task is to direct and cultivate loving-kindness in the mind, which enables one to live in the present moment at peace with oneself and others, and in harmony with humanity and the universe. Religion can thus be seen as a way of opening oneself to the world and the universe as a whole through the practice of loving-kindness. It is really important to know the meaning and role of religion in human society in order to treasure one's inner religion.
Rome: 27.11.2024
It can be argued that religion is not primarily concerned with the fear of sin or bad karma, nor of future lives and the dead; its fundamental task is to direct and cultivate loving-kindness in the mind, which enables one to live in the present moment at peace with oneself and others, and in harmony with humanity and the universe. Religion can thus be seen as a way of opening oneself to the world and the universe as a whole through the practice of loving-kindness. It is really important to know the meaning and role of religion in human society in order to treasure one's inner religion.
Rome: 27.11.2024
