Question: Sir, I want to know what is religion – an ideology, a community or something else?
Shri Prashant: There are a few things that are very simple. But a lot many complications, noise has been introduced around it, thus making it very much polluted. As for example, Love. It is very simple and beautiful but we have abused this word in every manner possible. Just pronounce this word and you will find numerous images floating around in your mind and the worst part is none of them has to do anything with the word ‘Love’. And so is the case with ‘Religion’.
When the word religion is pronounced, if you are a Hindu, temple bells start ringing and if you are a Muslim, you will start hearing the Azaan. The word ‘Religion’ does not say that you have to think of a temple or a mosque, Jesus or Allah, Ganesh or Ram.
That is the problem with our mind. It gives rise to images or ideas. As soon as I utter a word, the mind starts associating it with something. For example, the moment I say ‘parents’, you will find an image has been formed inside your mind. In fact, not one image but the number of people present in the hall multiplied by two. One for the mother and another for the father and it does not stop there. It goes on as one image gives birth to another and a never ending trail starts.
