T: What is the difference in understanding of Spirituality and Religion? What is the difference between Spirituality and Religion?
A: It is a big question and I will give you a longer answer. Spirituality is described in sanskrit language as sanatana dharma.
Sanatana-dharma does not refer to any sectarian process of religion. It is the eternal function of the eternal living entities in relationship with the eternal Supreme Lord.
Sanatana-dharma refers to the eternal occupation of the living entity.
Great spiritual teacher Ramanujacarya has explained the word sanatana as "that which has neither beginning nor end".
The English word religion is different from sanatana-dharma. Religion usually conveys the idea of faith, and faith may change. One may have faith in a particular process, and he may change his faith and adopt another, but sanatana-dharma refers to that activity which cannot be changed.
In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated that the living entity is never born and never dies. He is eternal and indestructible, and he continues to live after the destruction of his temporary material body.
The word dharma refers to that which is constantly existing with a particular object. For example, there is heat and light along with the fire; without heat and light, there is no meaning to the word fire. Similarly, we must discover the essential part of the living being, that part which is his constant companion. That constant companion is his eternal quality, and that eternal quality is his eternal religion, and that is spirituality, because it relates to the eternal spiritual nature of every living entity, or every soul.
( To Be Continued )
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