Humanity: Supreme Religion
Religion is the ladder through which one can reach the Almighty! Immorality throws the being into lower yonis (forms of birth), making him an inhabitant of hell; this has been expounded by our holy scriptures, incarnates, saints, and prophets. We must carefully listen to what they say since our welfare truly lies in it. If we keep working within the confines of ego and attachment, we will achieve nothing but grief. It would be extremely foolish to bear long-lasting sorrow just for the sake of transitory pleasures. It is by God’s immense grace that we have received this human form; if we do not achieve our goal or at least walk a few steps towards it, it would be a great misfortune for us. Secondly, it is through His extreme blessings that we have also been granted the aegis of a ‘Poorna Guru’ (God-Realized Guru).
Our Revered Jagad Guru Ramanujacharya Swami Sudarshanacharyaji Maharaj always told us repeatedly that we would have the right to be called a human being only when we display the true qualities of a human being. If we do not possess the qualities of a human, then all our efforts of japa, tapa, yagya, and daan would have adverse effects and would be meaningless. Revered Guruji used to give the example of Ravana in this context. There would hardly ever be a person as knowledgeable, logical, and an ardent Shiva-devotee as Ravana in this whole world, but God destroyed his entire clan; there wasn’t anyone left to even cry after him. The only thing that he lacked was humanity. He was an egoistic, sinful, short-tempered, and self-centered man. Lord Shiva left no stone unturned in granting him all the possible materialistic pleasures. There isn’t another example in world history where the entire capital city was made of gold. The lesser-known gods and goddesses used to be in service in Ravana’s kingdom. Unfortunately, it was the lack of humanity in him that led to his doom, and none of the above good qualities could save him. If we put pure milk in a dirty vessel, it is obvious that the pure milk would also become impure. So, humanity for us is the most important thing in life. Humanity is the supreme religion!
Ever since the beginning of time when the world came into existence, saints and sages have been highlighting the qualities of humanity and evilness. All our holy scriptures bear extensive descriptions of the features of humanity and evilness, be it the Vedas, the Puranas, the Ramayan, the Gita, the Qur’an, the Guru Granth Sahib, or any such holy book. But the most surprising thing is that people, the world over, though they hold those great men and the holy books in high esteem, fail to follow their teachings. Almost all people all over the world have become ‘self-seeking’. There is a negligible number of people in the world who truly believe in their teachings and try to follow them. We must have faith in the teachings of our saints and Holy Scriptures, making a sincere effort to follow them. Lord Krishna has preached in the Gita that practice gradually helps us improve in our spiritual progression, and if some shortcomings remain while we leave this human body, the Lord gives us human birth again so we can make up for those losses. Not only does He grant human birth, but He also places such a person in a very pious family so that they can continue with their onward journey with ease. So, we must engrave this in our hearts that our supreme goal is to reach the Almighty, and that would not be possible without the qualities of humanity. We must start moving in that direction.
I wish to reproduce here a few excerpts as expressed by Shri Guru Maharaj in his discourses in relation to the comprehension of humanity.
‘In order to protect as well as inculcate humanity within ourselves, it is of utmost importance that we eat sātvik food, lead a pious life, and espouse a chaste disposition. Annev pranah: – Our body cannot sustain without food; so it is important that our food be pure. Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna in the Gita, “Dear Arjun! Food for human beings should be satvik (pure and delectable).”
We need to consume pure food items like milk, fruits, vegetables, etc. Our lifestyle should be pious and filled with morality. But on the contrary, we have abandoned the pure (satvik) food meant for humans and have developed a liking for non-vegetarian food. We have started consuming meat and have become non-vegetarian. We have stopped eating pure food. Instead of offering pure food to the Almighty and eating it in the form of prasad, we have turned carnivorous.
It is only the carnivorous creatures who have the right to consume meat. They have a different type of jaws and teeth, and their digestive enzymes differ from those of human beings. Their intestines are also different from those of humans. Their intestines are approximately nine to twelve feet long, whereas our intestines are almost thirty-two to thirty-six feet long. It is the saliva of these carnivorous animals that helps them digest all types of meat. We don’t have that kind of saliva in our jaws. Yet, we consume meat with great interest. My dear ones! Do contemplate on this; is this our humanity? One who does not consume food fit for human consumption, what right does he have to call himself or be called a human being?
He who possesses the virtues of humanity is a real human being. If your inner self is not pure, the exterior can never be pure; no amount of perfume, cologne, or body mist spray can change that; umpteen visits to the beauty parlors to give your body the desired form would be futile. Inner beauty and purity from within can only come with pure foods and pure thoughts.
God has provided milk, abundant fruits, and vegetables for human beings. By consuming milk, fresh fruits, and their nectar, you can live a very healthy life with an active, energetic mind.
Our modern society feels that liquor is a symbol of status in today’s world. People devour that bitter fluid and then find themselves lying in filthy drains. This is what is considered to be the symbol of affluence in today’s society. You may get offended, but if by speaking and hearing this truth you are resentful, so be it. I would not abstain from speaking this truth.
Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya cha dushkritam,
For the protection, upliftment, and deliverance of the good and virtuous, For the destruction of evil and annihilation of the miscreants, as well as for the reestablishment of Dharma (righteousness and principles of religion), I manifest myself in every era, millennium after millennium
Dharma-sansthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verse 8
My dear ones, He has said it quite clearly. We need to understand –
Leen manuj avatar!
Lord appears in human form
“I come to protect human beings and obliterate the demons.” If there is no humanity left in us, we would all become demons. We have all started moving from humanism to diabolism. Why would God protect us? He manifests Himself for the annihilation of demons! Ravana had his kingdom of Lanka made of gold, but see, what was his end? Even today, his effigies are being burnt, and children clap at the sight. He was knowledgeable, powerful, and wealthy, yet see the kind of fate he met in the end! Just try and recollect the fate of all those who have been captives of pride and ego, those who had opposed the Almighty or displayed demonic tendencies! There was no one to cry after Duryodhana; he was hit on his thighs, which broke completely; he could not even get up; no one came to his aid, and he just kept moaning and eventually died.
If you desire salvation, if you wish to get rid of this cycle of birth and death, if you want to avoid the cruelty of Yama, if you want to save yourself from imminent hell, and if you desire peace, you will have to imbibe the virtues of humanity. If our foundation itself is infallible, what could be our fate? So, it is of premier importance that we must attain humanity in its purest form as soon as possible.
What are the virtues of humanity? Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna in the Gita; He says, “Dear Arjuna! Speaking the truth, restraining anger, controlling one’s senses, praying to God, getting into the habit of self-meditation, showing reverence to our teachers, acknowledging our elders and seeking their blessings, getting involved in selfless service for the welfare of society and desisting from criticism of others – we need to attain all these virtues of humanity. We need to attain humility and simplicity. Humanity resides in simplicity. The moment we attain simplicity and adaptability, no one can dare to break our human virtues! Humanity, then, cannot be destroyed! When the flood strikes, huge trees, those that are tough and rigid, get uprooted, but a simple cane, which has flexibility, does not break; even though it may bend. In the same way, we need to adopt humanity, adaptability, and humility. If we are unable to adopt these virtues, we must realize that we are still lagging behind as far as true humanity is concerned. Saint-poet Tulsidas expresses this in a very simple language –
Simit simit jal bharahin talava,
Just as water gradually fills a pond,
Jimi sad-guna sajjan pehi aawa
So do good qualities naturally come to the virtuous
Tulsidas
What is virtue? Humanity itself is known as virtuousness. When a man imbibes and acquires the true virtues of humanity, he becomes a virtuous man. One who is drawn away from humanity becomes a malevolent person. While a malevolent man is drawn away from the eight siddhis (supernatural powers), a virtuous man starts acquiring these eight siddhis as well as nine niddhis (the treasure of Kuber, the God of wealth) and all other virtues. He also overcomes his unnecessarily argumentative nature.
God Almighty is considered to be there in idolatry; He is there in the avatar of abundance, and He is divinity incarnate! Idolatry – yes, God does exist in the idols; who says He doesn’t? Divinity Incarnate – yes, God is present in His divine form everywhere; He is the essence of every virtue. The avatar of abundance and supernatural powers – yes, Lord Rama and Lord Krishna’s incarnations were in this form. If there is true and pure devotion in the heart of the devotee, God Almighty responds with all His grace and love with a direct response. Doubting God Almighty and His Divine forms is being inhuman. Adopt humanity and become part of satsang (spiritual congregations), remembering the Almighty all the time. All the Holy Scriptures the world over talk about adopting the virtues of humanity and abandoning the vices of malevolence. Even the atheists recognize the virtues of humanity as great qualities.
The virtues of humanity have been abundantly and in detail described in Shrimad-Bhagavat Gita; virtues such as fearlessness, purity of inner self, self-control over one’s senses, worship of God and Guru, studying of Holy Scriptures, singing and praising God, simplicity of conscience, non-violence, sweet articulation, not getting angry with anyone who causes harm, relinquishing the idea of being a ‘doer’, mastering the art of composure, being non-critical, selfless benevolence, disengagement from worldly matters, gentleness, remorseful in behaving against the tenets of society and scriptures, energetic, peaceful, patient, truthful, compassionate, inner and outer wholesomeness, avoiding the feeling of enmity towards anyone, avoiding self-reverence, being non-hostile, selflessness, devoid of ego and attachment, feeling of equanimity in pleasure and pain, profit and loss, victory and defeat; forgiving, contented, firm belief in God, not feeling jealous of others’ progress, non-desirous and being impartial, etc. All other characteristics that do not form part of humanity come under the sphere of vices. These include arrogance, superciliousness, conceit, anger, unkindness, ignorance, inner and outer impurity, lack of commendable disposition, lack of truthfulness, being a non-believer, causing hurt to others, cruelty, lust, following bogus principles, indulging in corrupt practices, thoroughly engrossed in materialistic pleasures, overtaken by physical desires, amassing wealth through unfair means and vanity, ostentation, etc. They eventually procure evil births, i.e., are doomed to bear the extremities of hell! The virtues of humanity encourage man to move in the direction of the Almighty, who is a proverbial ocean of pleasure, peace, and joy, whereas the characteristics of evilness take the being to hell, where he is made to go through several kinds of grief, pain, and miseries. Vanity and attachment are the basic causes of all our sorrows. All vices emanate from these two. This is what is called maya (illusion) –
Mai aru mor tor jag maya
“I” and “mine” and “yours”—this is the world’s illusion,
Jehi bas kenhe jeev nikaya
Under its control are all living beings
Ramcharitmanas
All the incarnates, saints, prophets, rishis, sages, and spiritual masters have propounded humanity as the basic tenet of human existence. This is the one that gives pleasure and peace in both worlds. But it is a matter of great concern and misfortune that the very men who follow these prophets, spiritual leaders, religious masters, and incarnates, indulge in spreading hatred all around the world. Incomprehensible cruelty is being practiced in the name of religion. They spread hatred, get involved in the bloodshed of the innocent, rape, create havoc, chaos, and confusion in societies, and dwell in other evil deeds all for their own personal gain and benefits. They may call themselves the followers of those God Messengers, but their behavior is absolutely contrary to their teachings. All great men have always spread the message of love, but most of their followers end up spreading hatred. These evil-minded people do not hesitate in committing despicable sinful crimes. This is the reason that there is so much tribulation, violence, distress, and chaos prevalent in society in the name of religion.
There is only one God to whom this earth owes its existence. People call Him by different names; some call Him Lord Narayan, some say Rama, Krishna, God Almighty, or others say Allah, Khuda, Rahim, or Eternal Being. It is so surprising and highly unfortunate that those who believe in the God Almighty keep slitting each other’s throats and fail from refraining in the destruction of their religious places. They set each other’s houses on fire and get involved in vandalism. While Muslims are getting into the act of destroying temples, gurudwaras, and churches in the name of Allah and taking the killing of Non-Muslims as a service to God; those believing in other religions are busy destroying the mosques. Ever since my childhood, I have only witnessed bloodshed, rioting, rape, and other despicable crimes being committed in the name of religion. I distinctly remember the events of 1947 and 1984; other than these, there are so many incidents that have taken place on and off. I have never seen atheists getting into such disgraceful acts. This is highly surprising! However, what I intend to say here is that even though religious-minded people may have been getting involved in such devilish acts, the fact remains that every religious master has propounded humanity as the basis of every faith. Altruism, compassion, empathy, and virtuous disposition are the elementary components of dharma.
Lord Krishna says in the Gita –
Te prapnuvanti mam nityam sarva-bhuta-hite ratah!
All those who render selfless service and engage themselves towards the welfare of others, finally achieve me
Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 12, Verse 4)
Nonetheless, other ordinary people also think in the same manner as far as humanity is concerned –
Kisi ke kaam jo aaye, use insaan kehte hain
The one who helps others is called a human
Humanity is one of the main virtues that have been espoused by atheists too. Their basic principle is that every man must have food, shelter, and clothing. This is an important virtue of humanity.
Bertrand Russell, a famous philosopher, who was a great atheist, had written a book titled ‘Why I Am Not A Christian’, which clearly depicts that he indeed was an atheist. He had received a Nobel Prize for another book that he had written. During the Sino-Indian war of 1962, he put in all his efforts to bring an end to the conflict. He wrote several letters to our Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru at that time and Chinese Premier Chou en Lai explaining to them that war is a contemptible act against humanity. He even raised his voice against the mighty forces of the United States of America and held demonstrations against America’s policy of developing nuclear weapons. So whether one is religious or non-religious, it is absolutely imperative that both should strongly agree on the basic point that we are human beings and that we must adopt the virtues of humanity.
One of the basic virtues of humanity is selfless service. Anyone who is endowed with the virtue of selfless service automatically gets enriched and graced with the other qualities of humanity. And all his vices vanish on their own! It is impossible for a man to get into selfless service without discarding his vanity and attachment. One whose mind is pure, non-deceitful, ethical, devoid of jealousy, vile, lust, anger, and pride can only get involved in selfless service.
All those people who are even remotely interested in religion, the world over, are aware of the story of Ramayana. I would like to narrate a few instances from Ramayana itself so that we realize the importance of selfless service.
We all know that Shabri was an old woman who belonged to the Bheel (low caste) tribe. She was uneducated. All that she did devotedly was to serve the Ashram selflessly. She would bear God in mind and serve the Ashram. When Lord Rama reached the Ashram of Rishi Matang, He first went to see Shabri. He did not even hesitate to eat the berries which she offered to Him after tasting each one. There were many learned saints residing in that ashram, but Lord Rama went to meet Shabri first. In fact, He met Rishi Matang too only after meeting Shabri. This is the importance of selfless service, which is the main virtue of humanity.
I would like to draw the attention of my readers to two other such instances of the Ramayana that would explain how very important the virtue of selfless service is.
We all know that King Dashratha was a mighty Emperor. Lord Almighty Himself had taken birth in his house as his elder son Rama. He was no ordinary king! At the time of his death, King Dashratha had Rama’s name on his tongue. He left his body for the heavenly abode, grieving over his separation from Rama. It is expressed in Ramcharitmanas in the following words –
Ram Ram kahi Ram kahi Ram Ram kahi Ram;
Chanting ‘Ram Ram,’ repeating ‘Ram Ram,’ constantly uttering ‘Ram Ram’; the king, after renouncing his body in separation from Raghubar (Lord Ram), departed for the divine abode
Tanu parihari Raghubar birahan Rau gayeu sur dham
Ramcharitmanas
‘Surdham’ here means heaven. That means that King Dashratha went to heaven after leaving his body. This means that King Dashratha on his demise did not immediately get Moksh (salvation); this is written in the Ramcharitmanas. It is said in Ramcharitmanas that the short stint at heaven is followed by unlimited miseries and pain once the merit of good deeds (karma) has been exhausted.
In the Gita, Lord Krishna says –
Te tam bhuktva swarga-lokam visalam
Having enjoyed the vast heaven, upon the exhaustion of their merits, they return to the mortal world
Kshene punye martya-lokam vishanti
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 9, Verse 21
This means that when they have thus enjoyed vast heavenly sense pleasures and the results of their pious activities and merits are totally exhausted, the soul has to return to the mortal planet again, where it becomes a creature of any of the eighty-four lakh yonis (forms of births) that exist in this world. There is no rule that it would get back into human form again. This cycle of birth and death carries on!
In the same context, I would like to elucidate another incident. We all know that when Ravana was forcefully taking Maa Sita away, it was Jatayu, the vulture, who had seen them. With the sentiment of selfless service, he stoutheartedly went and put up a strong fight with Ravana with all his might! Ultimately, Ravana chopped off his wings, and Jatayu fell down on the ground! After some time, Lord Rama happened to be passing through that region as He was zealously looking for Maa Sita. Jatayu narrated the whole incident to Him and told Him that Ravana had taken Maa Sita in the south direction. Here is what needs special attention – it is described in Ramcharitmanas as –
Parhit bas jinke man mahin
Those who have others’ welfare in their hearts, for them, nothing in the world is difficult to attain. O dear one, abandon your body and come to My abode. Why do you still wish to fulfill any other desire?
Tinha kahun jag durlabh kachhu nahin;
Tanu taji tat jahu mam dhama
Deon kah tumha porankama
Ramcharitmanas
And thus, Lord Rama sent Jatayu, a creature of a very low species, to his abode, i.e., to the world of free spirits! He gave him salvation. Once a soul attains salvation, it does not come back to this perishable world; its cycle of birth and death comes to an end. The soul realizes extreme peace and bliss! No amount of disaster or catastrophe can affect such a soul. Lord Krishna says in the Gita –
Na tad bhasyate suryo na shashanko na pavakah;
Where there is no need for sunshine, moonshine, fire, or electricity because all the planets are self-luminous and where exists the divine light perpetually; that is My eternal abode, and any soul that reaches there does not return to the world of the mortals!
Yad gatva na nivartante tad-dham paramam mama
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 15, Verse 6
To reach that eternal abode is the only prime objective of this human birth.
Till King Dashratha did not realize and accept that his son Lord Ram was an incarnation of the Lord Himself and did not let go of the sentiment of attachment to Lord Ram as his son, he was not sent to the Lord’s eternal abode, but the Lord sent Jatayu, a creature of low birth, instantly after his death to His abode. Why? That is because King Dashratha left his body grieving with the feeling of extreme attachment towards Lord Rama as his son, not Lord Rama as the Lord Almighty in his last moments, while Jatayu gave his life performing a selfless act, with a sense of duty in his last moments. Except for selfless service, Jatayu had no other human trait. A vulture by nature is a carnivorous beast, which survives on the rotten meat of dead animals. Such is the distinction of selfless service.
Lord Rama says in Ramcharitmanas –
Anuj raj sampati baidehi, deh geh parivar sneh;
Lord Rama says that I love my brothers, my relatives, my kingdom, my possessions, my wife Sita, my own body, my family, and all my friends, but I love my devotees the most! Even if I were to say otherwise, it would be untrue
Sab mam priya nahin tumahin samana, mrikha kaheyo mor yeh bana
There are no words enough to express, no limit to describing the virtue of selfless service and devotion! It may seem unbelievable, but Lord Krishna, who is Lord Narayan in His Divine Form, Himself had picked up used plates during the ‘Rajsuya’ yagya of Yudhishthira. Man’s greatest enemy is his false pride and ego. Selfless service helps in overcoming one’s vanity. Though any kind of service is good, selfless service is superlative! It is the most hallowed and beloved of the Lord Almighty!
Summary:
The article stresses the importance of adhering to religious teachings and humanity to achieve spiritual enlightenment and avoid the lower forms of existence as described in holy scriptures. Revered spiritual leaders like Jagad Guru Ramanujacharya Swami Sudarshanacharyaji Maharaj emphasize that true spirituality requires one to possess and demonstrate human virtues, without which all religious practices like japa, tapa, yagya, and daan would be meaningless. The story of Ravana, who despite his knowledge and devotion to Lord Shiva, faced destruction due to his lack of humanity, serves as a powerful reminder that human virtues are paramount.
Furthermore, the article underlines the necessity of living a life filled with satvik food, moral behavior, and simple living as foundational aspects of humanity. It discusses how acts of selfless service, humility, simplicity, and devotion are essential qualities that align individuals with the divine and lead to ultimate liberation. The virtues of humanity, such as truthfulness, compassion, and non-violence, are highlighted as key to spiritual progression, whereas vices like vanity, attachment, and greed lead to suffering and rebirth. The stories from Ramayana and teachings from the Gita are used to illustrate these points, emphasizing the path of righteousness and selfless service as the way to God’s eternal abode.
Important Points:
- Adherence to religious teachings and humanity is essential for spiritual enlightenment and avoiding lower forms of existence.
- Humanity is considered the supreme religion, and without it, religious practices are futile.
- Satvik food, moral behavior, and simplicity are foundational to human virtues.
- Acts of selfless service, humility, and simplicity are crucial for aligning with the divine.
- Ravana’s downfall, despite his devotion and knowledge, highlights the importance of humanity.
- Selfless service is highly valued and leads to spiritual liberation, as shown by the example of Jatayu in Ramayana.
- Vanity, attachment, and greed are the root causes of suffering and repeated birth cycles.
- King Dashratha’s attachment to his son Rama led to a lesser spiritual outcome compared to Jatayu’s selflessness.
- The Gita emphasizes the virtues of humanity, including truthfulness, non-violence, and compassion.
- Practicing humanity in daily life is the path to attaining God’s eternal abode.
- Total surrender to God is the most secure path to spiritual success.
- Without human virtues, even the most devout practices can lead to adverse effects.
- Satsang and regular spiritual discourse are necessary to maintain and enhance spiritual focus.
- Religious teachings universally emphasize love, compassion, and selfless service.
- Achieving a human birth is a divine opportunity to progress spiritually and must not be wasted.
