Book Title: Glimpses Of World Religions
Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Navbharat Sahitya Mandir

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 171
________________ Religion and Religious Fanaticism – An Analysis The terrorists are made to swallow the poison of Fanaticism Religion is an art of living. It is meant for mental peace. Dharma is the process of drying up (Nirjarā) the acts (Karmas) clinging on the soils of soul, while strolling along in the worldly life (Samsāra). Etymologically, that which sustains us is Dharma. It is the preventer of a fall in miserable condition on an unhappy route after death. In fact, Dharma is the nature of self. In the modern currents of time, fanaticism is associated with religion. Of course, from time immemorial, such a thing has been clinging to religion. Each side is obsessed with the belief that “what I do is religion. The opposite side is behaving irreligiously.' Then fanaticism makes its entry into Dharma. If we regard Yudhishthir or Rama as symbols of religion, Duryodhan or Rāvana are the symbols of fanaticism. The original nature of the soul or an object is 'Dharma’. Thus, Dharma is a disposition. Limiting one's own self to one's own religion, to observe real Dharma of non-violence and do good deeds is civilization and religious fanaticism is abnormality. Religion and religious fanaticism are two final ends on opposite 146

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228