My Religious Identity

Religion is probably the most discussed topic in our country. Every day , there at least 3 articles relating specifically to some religious problem or argument. If a woman is molested is public then the media instead of condemning the horrific act, states the religion of the one who was molested and the one behind the incidence. Social media is filled with people who are displaying quotes like “I am proud Hindu” or “I am a proud Muslim”. In this competition of outdoing one another to prove who belief is better we are as whole breaking the country.

Let me start with myself. I am a born Jain, born and brought up in accordance to Jainism. I am personally a non-believer. I am not atheist. I just don’t believe in anything specific. I believe in equality of all. It’s my holidays and I have a lot of time to observe crazy things going around me. In my hometown, majority of population is Jain and hence my field of view is mostly limited to Jain practices.

Let us first begin by knowing the fundamental principles underlying Jain philosophy. Jain philosophy consists of 5 basic principles of life that are required to be followed. They are namely:

            1.   Non Violence

            2.   Truth

            3.   Not Stealing

            4.   Celibacy

            5.   Non attachment

These five vows are taken in order to be a true Jain. But what I am witnessing around me is not in any way in accordance to above stated principles. Instead what people do these days in the name of Dharma is their personal choice. They create organisation, create posters, have elections to choose the one who will be organizing more of these so called “religious” stuff. I don’t think this is any way near to the Jain principle of non-attachment. They are just winding themselves deeper in worldly matters.

  

Now we have to ask ourselves, what is the reason of this change? Why is ,so old a religion, losing is original philosophy? Why people tend to do things in fear of a higher entity instead of doing by their own consciousness? What are the reason as well as purpose of this rapidly changing philosophy?

According to me everything listed above can be explained by a simple answer, competition between different faiths. People nowadays are afraid of losing their religious identities. They are afraid that may be some other religion will gather more follower than theirs. Everything is explained to  them as “If you do this, you will go to heaven, if you do that hell will open its gate for you.”  And hence in the name of their beloved god they are trying to save their faith, in the name of saving this world.

We forget that religion was first created for keeping peace in this world. To help mankind to rise above it barbarism and be something better. To be able to guide itself to the ultimate salvation and have inner peace. But  now days instead of inner peace we try get salvation by making ourselves feel better by doing anything in the name of god. It may range from fasting to killing. Everything is forgiven in the name of God.

Welcome to the 21^st century.

A banner of for an example what these organisation are working on nowadays.