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Human beings are the most thoughtful and sociable creatures. For this reason, they are able to feel the loneliness, the fears, and the sufferings, such as illness, getting old, diseases and death. On the other hand, they have their own plenty of desires, wishes and eagerness. Consequently, once they know any of theirs will not be fulfil, they suffer sorrows, worries and disappointments. Therefore, they look for something that they can rely on or that they can refuge on. This is the origin of "Religious".
According to the historians dealing with human history, man started his existence in lonely family which gradually developed into groups or a society. Anyhow we know now that in the remote past man was dominated by fear and reward.
It is true that human life has been full of fearful events (situations) and things that create desire and longing. For example, overflowing of streams and rivers due to tides, storms and other natural dangers, the harm of snakes, leopards, tigers, wild elephants, enemies, etc. are called dangers of living being, and there exist troubles of human existence itself which are painful to life such as illness, old age, disease, death. Seeing and experiencing all kinds of dangers and troubles, men began to have a sense of fear. And, consequently, in order to overcome such troubles and pains, man sought some kind of religion. They wanted peace and security. Hence out of fear and desire, man sought refuge. In the Dhammapada, Verse 188, the Buddha declares;
“When threatened by fear, many people seek refuge in many places – mountains, forests, groves, trees or shrines; but such are not safe refuges, not the securest refuge. Not by resorting to any of these in a man freed from all suffering.”
It is clear that wrong worship, wrong religions will not bring peace and security from life’s dangers. Such false beliefs and deeds will create endless rounds of repeated births and deaths known as “Samsara”.
In the past, human history records that people worshipped gods of rivers and oceans because they had to rely on them for livelihood. Those who earned their livelihood seeking food near mountains, hills, gardens worshipped gods nearby. Agriculturists and farmers put their reliance on sky-gods, rain-gods and others. Some prayed for sons at the feet of huge trees because they believed prayer and worship would fulfil their wishes and desires.
Such cases were common in the past history of man in many places of the world. So religion began as fear and desire, and the term “religion” means “reliance” on the unknown or the mysterious.
- How to Live as a Good Buddhist, Vol 1, by Dept. for the Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana.
- The article being edited.
Human beings are the most thoughtful and sociable creatures. For this reason, they are able to feel the loneliness, the fears, and the sufferings, such as illness, getting old, diseases and death. On the other hand, they have their own plenty of desires, wishes and eagerness. Consequently, once they know any of theirs will not be fulfil, they suffer sorrows, worries and disappointments. Therefore, they look for something that they can rely on or that they can refuge on. This is the origin of "Religious".
According to the historians dealing with human history, man started his existence in lonely family which gradually developed into groups or a society. Anyhow we know now that in the remote past man was dominated by fear and reward.
It is true that human life has been full of fearful events (situations) and things that create desire and longing. For example, overflowing of streams and rivers due to tides, storms and other natural dangers, the harm of snakes, leopards, tigers, wild elephants, enemies, etc. are called dangers of living being, and there exist troubles of human existence itself which are painful to life such as illness, old age, disease, death. Seeing and experiencing all kinds of dangers and troubles, men began to have a sense of fear. And, consequently, in order to overcome such troubles and pains, man sought some kind of religion. They wanted peace and security. Hence out of fear and desire, man sought refuge. In the Dhammapada, Verse 188, the Buddha declares;
“When threatened by fear, many people seek refuge in many places – mountains, forests, groves, trees or shrines; but such are not safe refuges, not the securest refuge. Not by resorting to any of these in a man freed from all suffering.”
It is clear that wrong worship, wrong religions will not bring peace and security from life’s dangers. Such false beliefs and deeds will create endless rounds of repeated births and deaths known as “Samsara”.
In the past, human history records that people worshipped gods of rivers and oceans because they had to rely on them for livelihood. Those who earned their livelihood seeking food near mountains, hills, gardens worshipped gods nearby. Agriculturists and farmers put their reliance on sky-gods, rain-gods and others. Some prayed for sons at the feet of huge trees because they believed prayer and worship would fulfil their wishes and desires.
Such cases were common in the past history of man in many places of the world. So religion began as fear and desire, and the term “religion” means “reliance” on the unknown or the mysterious.
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