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Spirituality

Do you know the difference between spirituality and religion? Do not think that I’ am criticizing gods or goddesses. Religion (in Tamil “madham”) means a group of people who have their own beliefs and has their own culture. In religion, ‘Bhakti’, devotion to gods or goddesses is being strictly followed and, to tell, it is a superstition.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy has once said about religions that the teachings of different religions may be different, but the essence is same giving an example that cows are of different colour, but the colour of their milk is same. Spirituality may be followed in groups or even by individuals, but in the same teachings. Its teachings are the essence of the teachings of religions. You might have heard of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Vivekananda. Ramakrishna is the teacher of Vivekananda. The teacher is a religionist as he worshiped goddesses Kali and the student is a spiritualist. Vivekananda needed only the essence, but he approached Paramahamsa for he was the nearest source of information. The student took only the essence from the teacher’s teachings and was successful in his life. He believed in himself and didn’t believe in others, even in gods!