A consideration of all these factors leads one to the inevitable conclusion that a religion does not flourish merely on account of the truth it proclaims.The key to the growth of a religion lies in the cause for its subsequent decay.In Mattavilaasa,written by King Mahendra varma,who is responsible for the rock-cut temples at Mamallapuram and other places,there is a reference to the licentious habits of the Buddhist bhikkus of his day and to their swerving from the high code of personal conduct laid down for them.The Buddha himself,when admitting women to his order of bhikkus,foresaw the inherent danger of having both men and women in the order.The decline of Buddhism was, therefore,due to the failure of its adherents,particularly those who have to set an example for others,to rigorously adhere to the precepts of that religion.Conversely, a religion will continue to flourish if it can claim among its adherents, particularly those who,by their personal example, are charged with the propagation and preservation of that religion,men of high spiritual attainments,with a large heart and without any blemish in their character.
While the initial impetus to any religion is given by its high-souled founder,its subsequent strength and popularity depend on the fervour, devotion, discipline and purity of succeeding religious heads, and the fidelity and character of its followers.Common people are drawn to a religion by the personality of the teacher,rather than by a firm conviction of the truth it teaches.The truth or otherwise of a religion is a matter of academic discussion, confined to the intelligent few. The reason why some religions ,though they had a long history,gradually and inevitably lost their hold on the people, and eventually disappeared can be traced to the decline in the standards of teachers.In his own life time, Gandhiji had to close down the Sabarmati ashram,when he found that its inmates deviatd from the strict rectitude he had imposed on them.
Therefore, if a religion is to be popular and powerful, its followers should observe its tenets faithfully and well.It is not in numbers or in demonstrations that the vitality of a religion lies.For that matter,Saankhya and Advaita are the least demonstrative of all religions.That in spite of the numerous and trying vicissitudes, the Vedic Religion the date of whose origin is still undetermined, survives today and has such a large following , is due to the fact that in it were born, from time to time, great souls, unselfish, pure and godly, who had deep devotion and earnest fervour, and who had deep devotion and earnest fervour, and who unswervingly adhered to the ordinances of its practices. And so, if we desire , as we must, that our religion should continue to influence humanity for all times, we, its followers, must be good and pious, pure in character, and continuously affirm its tenets in our thought and action.
SRI CHANDRASEKHARENDRA SARASWATHI
While the initial impetus to any religion is given by its high-souled founder,its subsequent strength and popularity depend on the fervour, devotion, discipline and purity of succeeding religious heads, and the fidelity and character of its followers.Common people are drawn to a religion by the personality of the teacher,rather than by a firm conviction of the truth it teaches.The truth or otherwise of a religion is a matter of academic discussion, confined to the intelligent few. The reason why some religions ,though they had a long history,gradually and inevitably lost their hold on the people, and eventually disappeared can be traced to the decline in the standards of teachers.In his own life time, Gandhiji had to close down the Sabarmati ashram,when he found that its inmates deviatd from the strict rectitude he had imposed on them.
Therefore, if a religion is to be popular and powerful, its followers should observe its tenets faithfully and well.It is not in numbers or in demonstrations that the vitality of a religion lies.For that matter,Saankhya and Advaita are the least demonstrative of all religions.That in spite of the numerous and trying vicissitudes, the Vedic Religion the date of whose origin is still undetermined, survives today and has such a large following , is due to the fact that in it were born, from time to time, great souls, unselfish, pure and godly, who had deep devotion and earnest fervour, and who had deep devotion and earnest fervour, and who unswervingly adhered to the ordinances of its practices. And so, if we desire , as we must, that our religion should continue to influence humanity for all times, we, its followers, must be good and pious, pure in character, and continuously affirm its tenets in our thought and action.
SRI CHANDRASEKHARENDRA SARASWATHI
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