मानव-धर्म

Summary

The text argues that human society is held together by mutual exchange of rights and duties, rooted in a spirit of sacrifice. It emphasizes that even self-interest depends on altruism. The author finds joy in discovering unity among different religions and traditions, contrasting this with those who focus on differences. Citing Rumi, the Bhagavata, Sufi and Vedantic traditions, the text illustrates that diverse paths express the same underlying truth, much like seeing one's reflection in a mirror or recognizing a beloved in different garments. It uses metaphors of water in various vessels, light in different lamps, and fire in different fuels to convey that a single essence pervades all forms. The text references a Chinese custom where followers of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism praise each other's religions, declaring themselves brothers. It recounts how Prince Shotoku of Japan reconciled Shinto, Confucian, and Buddhist traditions by describing them as root, branches, and flower of the same tree. The author asserts that true scholars recognize a common human skill and intelligence across different arts and sciences. The text distinguishes between essential and non-essential aspects of religion, noting that outward forms change with time and place, as stated in the Mahabharata and the Bible. It quotes Rumi on separating the core of religion from its husk. The text concludes by defining religion (from Latin *religare*, to rebind) as that which reconnects individuals to each other and to God through compassion and love, with the constant remembrance of this unity being the essence of dharma.