Before India gained independence in 1947 it was a conglomerate of above 600 princely states spread all over India. Different cultures, different upbringing, different beliefs all combined under one umbrella termed Hinduism religion. Primarily Hinduism religion must be called Sanatana Dharma something that exists from times immemorial. Sanatana in Hindi stands for eternal.
In present times Hinduism religion is limited by indulgence in rituals that carried no meaning on path of pure spirituality. For a true seeker who wanted to reach God in present life Hinduism always was a way of life. One was free to follow any belief, any path to God Almighty. There was a vast array of scriptures in Hinduism. Furthermore lot of faiths, beliefs made spiritual life more complicated.
For a follower of Shaivism, path to reach God was via Lord Shiva. For a follower of Vaishnavism, path to reach God was via Lord Vishnu. For a commoner, one from masses it became difficult whom to follow, who not. Inherently most seekers in India realized that God could not be reached via path of Shaivism or Vaishnavism. For reaching God in present life one needs following teachings contained in Bhagavad Gita.
It has rightly been said in Hinduism, as many human beings as many paths to God can there be. Hinduism religion does not refrain one from following a particular path, prime reason why Hinduism religion is termed a way of life. To reach God in India one could follow any path… path of Jainism, Buddhism, even Christianity or indulge in contemplation, the path followed by Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana. Precepts of spirituality can only be understood following path of self enquiry, logical reasoning.
If one followed Hinduism religion in present times it would mean following rituals of Hinduism to reach God. In the last about 150 years amongst 7 billion people existing world over only two spiritual stalwarts Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana finally succeeded in reaching God via path of jnana yoga (absolute wisdom). Both initially started in search of God via path of religion, path of bhakti yoga (total submission to God). But finding they could never reach God via path of bhakti yoga or karma yoga alone… both finally switched to path of jnana yoga (absolute wisdom) to reach God in their lifetime.
Path of jnana yoga, path of spirituality was distinct from path of religion (path of rituals). Path of spirituality and path of religion were two distinct paths of Hinduism, one dealing with abstract truths of life and the other manifest rituals. In present times one must indulge only in path of spirituality, never religion to reach God. As detailed in Bhagavad Gita enlightenment was not that easily achieved. God ordained a long journey of 1.1 million manifestations in human form to reach stage of enlightenment (kaivalya jnana). The hidden underlying precepts of spirituality contained in Bhagavad Gita can only be unveiled via path of jnana yoga (absolute wisdom) never path of religion (rituals).
By: Vijay Kumar “Atma Jnani”… The Man who Realized God in 1993 – (Ref 150918)
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