Spirit of true religion

There is a strong misconception about what it means to be truly religious. We acquire a certain religion by chance and not by choice. For most believers religion means routine prayers, performing rituals, following the age old customs and traditions and sticking to the old dogmas.

Religion alone is not a passport to enter the kingdom of heaven. It is how we behave as human beings that will decide our fate. Our religion pays equal respect to all forms of life. A dog plays a significant role in the death ceremonies of Zoroastrians, his sight being considered beneficial for the soul. The varasiaji is revered and considered holy. If our religion shows such compassion for God’s humble creatures how can we believe that the same religion will profess that the mere sight of a person of another faith can cause harm and hinder the progress of the soul of a deceased person? All men are equal in the eyes of God. To deprive a friend, a relative or even a spouse or one’s own child from offering sezdo (last respects to the dear departed) on religious grounds can never be deemed right.

All saints and prophets have endeavored to rekindle faith. Gandhiji did not profess a new religion but revived and refreshed all religions and gave us an opportunity to taste the nectar of thoughts of many great religious thinkers, binding us together in a fresh religion of love and humanity.

Let us pray that our hearts are cleansed of pettiness and the circle of love widens to reach all His creatures. Let us solve the community’s religious problems with an open heart in the spirit of true religion.

PIROJA HOMI JOKHI