What is Religion? The answer is quite simple: The essence of spirituality is religion. Religion is, in fact, another name for spiritual science. Whereas other sciences are external in nature, religion is a science, which studies the internal man.

Man has two facets to his personality - body and soul. Both need sustenance for their health and progress. Material things such as food and water sustain the body. If anyone is deprived of food and water for several days, his or her physical health will suffer. If such deprivation continues over a long period of time, he or she will be starved to death.

The same is true of the soul. Religion is man’s spiritual food for the soul. It boosts man’s inner personality and is a guarantee of man’s spiritual life. Without religion man would spiritually languish.

Everyone is in need of religion, whether rich or poor, powerful or powerless. Religion provides human beings with a starting point for their lives. One who is deprived of religion will also be deprived of the most important impetus in his or her life.

Religion is the answer to the question, who am I? Religion tells man the secret of creation. It provides man with the right philosophy of life. It is a guidebook of life, bringing man out of the darkness of ignorance and leading him into the light of reality.

Religion makes man a good citizen. It gives him a moral code, which helps him to lead his life in society as a truth-loving human being. It enables him to become a person who creates no problems for others. It makes man a giver and not just a taker.

Religion is man’s companion in times of difficulty. It saves him from becoming a victim to adversity. It is, in effect, the art of crisis management, from which he derives intellectual inspiration when in dire need.

Adherence to religion is a sign of intellectual health. It enables one to convert negative experiences into positive results; to change a minus into a plus; to see not just the thorns but also the flowers; to turn the enemy into a friend.

Religion gives us a sense of purpose. Religion regulates our activities. In short, religion serves as a divine guide for our daily life, at the individual as well as the national level.

Religion is not merely a set of rituals. Just by being born into a devout family or being associated with some pious group does not make one a religious person. These are all external matters. They are not the real essence of religion. The actual reality of religion is internal realization of God, which transcends all outward things.

Religion produces right thinking in a man. It enables him to see things, which are invisible to the physical ‘eye’. It enables man to learn lessons from the past and see the future in the present. It makes man a superman. In short, religion is the source of human progress.

There are two aspects to our world. One pertains to the visible world and the other to the invisible world. The visible world can be likened to an iceberg. Only a very tiny part of it is observable, while the major part of it remains hidden beneath the surface of the water. Religion enables man to see the major part of this iceberg, and then, as if he were able to dive beneath the surface of the sea and reach its deepest levels, he finds himself able to fathom the most profound levels of existence.

Repeatedly we find occasions in life, when man feels he is helpless. It is when he feels that his life has become rudderless and without direction, that religion appears to him as his saviour. It saves his sinking ship. At that juncture, religion becomes a source of courage and conviction.

Religion is the source of all moral standards. Religion gives man the power to forgive the offender. Religion raises him above greed. The feeling of envy is uprooted from him. He treats people with tolerance. He honours people without any discrimination. He saves himself from committing injustice, always adhering to the path of justice. He treats even his enemies with justice and fairness. In society he becomes a positive force for the good.

Religion makes one a man of principle. He becomes a man of noble character. It develops in him self-control and self-discipline. A religious’ man, by his very nature, is a predictable and therefore a dependable human being.

A religious person is a serious minded and honest person. Ever ready to look at himself critically, he develops within him a self-correcting mechanism. This quality keeps rejuvenating his personality.

How does religion produce these superlative qualities in a man? The reason is that the ends of religion are connected to God, Who is the source of all goodness. God is thus a source of inspiration for everyone. Religion produces God-oriented thinking. Man’s life then becomes a God-oriented life. A truly religious person enters into a profound communion with God. In this way, he becomes invincible.

Here I would like to quote an incident, by way of a metaphor, which shows the invincibility of a religious person - one who has complete faith in God, one whom even tidal waves cannot disturb.

Once a ship sailed from the American coast for Africa. It was still in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean when it was hit by a severe storm. The ship began to shake violently. All the passengers panicked. They began running hither and thither. It seemed that the ship would sink at any moment.

In this hour of panic one of the passengers caught sight of a child in a corner of the ship, playing with her doll. The passenger asked the child: “Do you know what is going to happen?” The child asked in all innocence, “What is the matter?” The passenger replied: “Our ship has been hit by a storm and it is going to sink!” Continuing to play with her doll, she replied: “You know, my father is the captain of this ship. He is not going to let it sink.”

This incident gives us a picture of a religious person. A truly religious person never falls prey to frustration. He does not become overwrought in times of crisis. He never loses courage. He always lives in hope. In every situation he is in a position to say:

“God Almighty is the captain of my ship. He is not going to let it sink.”