30th Nov, 2021
My concept of religion is very simple. When I do good, I feel good and when I do bad, I feel bad. Religion for me has always meant synchronisation between what you feel, what your heart says and what you do. This is my simple religion.
To illustrate what religion does for you, let me share a small story.
An old Farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading the scriptures. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to imitate him in every way.
One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa! I try to read the Holy scriptures just like you but I don’t understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Scriptures do?”
The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.” The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home.
Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough,” and he went outdoor to watch the boy try again.
At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house. The boy again dipped the basket into the river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty.
Out of breath, he said, “See Grandpa, it’s useless!”
“So you think it is useless?” The old man said, “Look at the basket.”
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.
“Son, that’s what happens when you read your Scriptures and pray. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of God in our lives”.
Just the reading of scriptures and chanting of the hymns helps cleanse our body and soul of all the negativity and promote brotherhood and righteousness.
All religions are a foundation for morals and beliefs; they help shape us and determine what we see as right and wrong.
Religion teaches you a set of practices to live by, such as being kind to others, telling the truth, or praying. Something that all religions have in common is that they are based on faith, which is being confidently sure about something even if you cannot see it.
Generally, religion is an instrument to bring mental peace and satisfaction, mental comfort with certain faith.
The role of Religion is like an anchor in your life. Religion helps in creating a moral and ethical framework.
Follow your religion and Stay Blessed forever.
(From the Chapter – ‘The Importance of Religion’ from my Book – ‘Dear Son..Life Lessons from a father’)