For last fifteen days, I'm touring various parts of Northern India. Travelling includes scenic places as well as religious places. I have been to the holiest Gurudwara of Sikhism- Golden temple in Punjab, largest and sacred mosque of Islam- Jama Masjid and mausoleum of one of the world's most famous Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya- Nizamuddin Dargah, both in Delhi, various sacred Hindu temples in Punjab, Haryana, This was a hectic but more than that an enriching experience.
One learns a lot through traveling. In the case of religious places, I re-understood that religion is still a very fundamental anchor for people. But another very important realization is that most of the people pray and follow the rituals out of fear. The fears are many- fear of failure in exam, fear of rejection, fear of not getting the job and what not.
Earlier many people used to worship God out of expectation of getting something. But in recent period religions, Gods are openly and very vehemently challenged and followers of God were largely seen as irrational and unscientific people. Also, it was seen that with the science, one can achieve even the impossible. So to get something, science, knowledge, information, money are needed and not the God. This posed a very critical challenge to religions, Gods among others. Thus to sustain in such situation, new kind of outlook was created. Thus it was imposed and said that rather than for getting something, following religion was seen as important to avoid the wrath. So now following the religion is not to get something rather it is risk- proofing measures by people to avoid God's wrath.
I respect true devotion and faith. But there is a wide difference between faith and fear. And true religion or dharma is based on faith, not fear. Thus devotion neither stems out of any expectation nor out of fear. It is mere gratitude towards the larger cosmic whole.
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