Religion and superstition

Religion and superstition are sometimes so mixed up that it is difficult to understand what true spirituality is. This is true not only in the case of Hinduism but also in other religions.

The most common case is the 'evil eye'. No matter what the religion of a person is, they mostly believe that some people have an evil eye.

Is it something connected with religion? No. If you understand the Bhagavad Gita well, none of the superstitions would matter anymore. The sad truth is that many do not even know the true essence of the Gita.

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Local cultural beliefs and customs shape the attitude of an individual. So, no matter what religion he or she may belong to, the opinion will be based on the upbringing which in turn was influenced by the local culture.

The evil eye is only just one example. Other superstitions include a cat crossing you, the first person you see on waking up, the type of vehicle you come across when you start from your house towards a destination, seeing a moon on a particular day, bringing an animal home, buying clothes on certain days, etc. The list is quite endless.

Birds and animals are also heavily involved in these superstitions. If a crow cries in the morning, it indicates that guests will arrive shortly. If a dog passes away, it will bring good fortune to the family.

Perhaps, these superstitions were formed over centuries and people propagated it from generation to generation. The true essence of religious textbooks was soon overshadowed and these took a firm grip so much so that people are now afraid to think differently.

Modern education does help in removing such superstitions but family circles will not allow one to think or act differently unless you block all family members on social media😁😂.

According to Lord Krishna, ignorance leads to superstition. So, the true spiritual seeker must overcome delusion, not go behind meaningless rituals, and strive to understand the self and rational thinking. Faith shouldn't arise from ignorance. Blind faith is not good.

     Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 4, Verse 39

       श्रद्धावान् लभते ज्ञानं तत्पर: संयतेन्द्रिय: |
       ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति || 

Translated means, "Those whose faith is deep and who have practiced controlling their mind and senses attain divine knowledge. Through such transcendental knowledge, they quickly attain everlasting supreme peace."
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