To understand concept of origination of various religions including Christianity and Islam… our indulgence in concept of dharma (righteousness) was necessitated. In India… it is primarily termed Sanatana Dharma… something that exists from times immemorial!
Going back to a time when not even Lord Krishna appeared on the scene! What existed? It was only dharma (precept of righteousness) that became guiding force of human life on mother earth! Let us call it tree of Dharma. A single stem going straight up!
Came Lord Krishna… an avatar of his era… a saviour, messiah! With coming of Lord Krishna… entire humanity was given certain established principles of life! The teachings of Lord Krishna contained in Bhagavad Gita had no parallel in mankind… following which any human being can gain enlightenment!
The tree of Dharma (righteousness) continued straight up. With passage of time… it developed a branch! Came Mahavira… 24th Tirthankara of Jainism (preceptor)! Mahavira followed some principles of Bhagavad Gita but not entirely. He developed his own teachings… his own lifestyle!
After about 77 years the tree of dharma developed another branch! Came Gautama Buddha on the scene! The teachings of Gautama Buddha also contained some principles of Bhagavad Gita but not entirely. He also developed his teachings and called them middle path.
After about 423 years the tree of Dharma developed another branch! Jesus Christ was born and he preached his own concepts of life! His teachings contrasted with teachings of Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita but not entirely. He developed his own faith… his own following!
Few centuries later came Prophet Mohammed… the tree of Dharma developing another branch! The teachings of Prophet Mohammed were also in variance from teachings of Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita. But primarily most teachings were in concurrence with Bhagavad Gita.
As the tree of Dharma grew… more and more branches, offshoots branched off. Even in Jainism… the branch of Mahavira developed offshoots! Jainism developed two sects… Digambaras and Svetambaras! With passage of time, as more and more people disagree with primary concepts contained in Bhagavad Gita … more branches and offshoots would follow!
Despite all… the values of life as detailed in Bhagavad Gita never changed! With passage of time… nothing in Bhagavad Gita diluted! All precepts of spirituality… everything needed to reach stage of enlightenment was contained in 700 shlokas verses of Bhagavad Gita… which was available for merely Rs. 40/= ($.60) from Gita press, Gorakhpur, India and that too with English or Hindi transliteration!
Still, people world over indulged in various scriptures of different religions of world to reach God! Read more on tree of dharma
By: Vijay Kumar “Atma Jnani”… The Man who Realized God in 1993 – (Ref 150806)
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