Religion may give temporary relief

Monday, 06^th November 2017

Karl Marx wrote in 1843 that “Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.”

This famous quotation from Karl Marx is not against religion. But it shows the real nature of it. He explains that man starts believing in super natural powers, when he experiences the real suffering in life. (That is not the only occasion of worship. You worship as a sign of thankfulness for the rewards you received from Nature. And you also worship when you realize the psychological necessity of worship as well. Worship is mostly not for getting any things from the worshiped; but for the action of worship itself; because the attitude behind the action of worship is often fulfilling.) Karl Marx points out that many a man tries to get rid of suffering through religious belief, at the same time, the belief itself is an expression of their sufferings. In other words, they believe because they are suffering. How shallow that belief is! “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creatures..” The creatures are still oppressed. But they could make a sigh of temporary relief. That was the effect of religion. (Karl Marx understands the world as a struggle for power. He observed the power from outside; but his time, in Europe, was not matured enough to understand the power from within or psychological power. In fact the oppressed are oppressed because of their ignorance. When they get the right knowledge, their internal power helps them to come up.) “..the heart of heartless world..” The world is still heartless; but there found a hearty moment for a temporary relief. “..and the soul of soulless condition.” The condition remains as soulless still; but there found a temporary soul in religion. So instead of finding a permanent relief, man tries for a temporary relief through religion; just like using opium for temporary intoxication.

Karl Marx wrote about organized religion. But now a days, all religions are becoming more and more organized and religious fundamentalism is getting strong footage in the minds of devotees. So it is time for everybody to search for the truth behind the concept of religion.

People are very much anxious about their future. The anxiety makes them slaves to the superstitious believes. There comes the existence of all Multi National Religious Companies. Most of the people find out the easy way by believing in some religion or miracles and expect relief from their difficulties. Day by day, this will lead them to failure and, as a result of it, increased dependency to religion.

Only Wisdom can give permanent relief from suffering. Not God can save you, unless you take responsibility of your own life. Observe your mind and actions. Correct them to get rid of suffering. The actual wisdom is that “the suffering is quite natural in life and man cannot lead a life without facing sufferings in the world.” Accepting this reality makes each one strong enough to face any difficulties.

Sufferings come from three sources:

1. From other human being; like from enemies or Government etc.

2. From Nature; like natural calamities, flood etc.

3. From man’s own activities; as an after effect of your own action.

The reaction of an individual cannot be the same in all these circumstances.

Observe the situation and Manage it wisely.

Observe and Manage. (OM).

Realization is the best way to get rid of sufferings permanently.