Have you ever thought, “What is religion or what does religion mean?”
Religion is that which brings forth immediate results. Just as anger brings about instant results, so should the practice of religion. Param Pujya Dadashri affirmed, “That which brings forth results is called religion. When kashayas (the inner enemies of anger, pride, deceit and greed) decrease and eventually cease, that is religion.”
Relative versus Real Religion
Param Pujya Dadashri made a deeper distinction between relative and Real religion. He said:
“Religion that concerns the mind, speech, body, and any other aspect of the prakruti (non-self complex, or relative self) is considered a relative religion. Most people are practicing relative religion as they are engaged in the religion of the mind, speech and body….”
Param Pujya Dadashri then expanded the definition of “relative” to a subtler level, explaining:
“To make a false projection of being what you are not, to live ‘as the body’, to walk a path where good deeds are advocated and bad ones denounced, even just to maintain an obliging nature towards others…all falls into the domain of relative religion.”
What, then, did Param Pujya Dadashri consider True religion, or Real religion?
He said, “Sat Dharma (True religion) is the religion of the Atma (the Self, or Soul). Real religion is, in truth, your very own religion, the religion of your real Self. The religion of the Self is, in itself, liberation.”
He described that, in Atma Dharma (religion of the Self), there is attainment of Keval Gnan (Absolute Self-knowledge) and Keval Darshan (Absolute Vision) which, once established, results in Keval Charitra (Absolute Conduct).
Param Pujya Dadashri said, “Atma Dharma is the ultimate religion, and a path free of contradiction. If you pursue Real religion and realize your Atma even for a fraction of a second, that is liberation.” Param Pujya Dadashri explained that Real religion must be attained from One who is fully enlightened.
He said, “Acquire the knowledge of your real identity from a fully Self-realized person. A Gnani Purush is such a Self-realized person in whose heart this religion of the Self lives. His ‘lamp’ is lit and, if you touch the wick of your lamp to His, your ‘lamp’ also will be lit. The presence of a Gnani Purush is a very rare and precious occurrence and, when it happens, it is possible for you to realize your Atma, within just one hour!” This is exactly what you can experience even today by attending the Self Realization ceremony which also makes you achieve and practice True Religion.