Dharm Kaha Hain - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Dharm Kaha Hain?" by Sukhlal Sanghavi, presented in English:

"Where is Religion?" by Sukhlal Sanghavi

This Jain text, "Where is Religion?", penned by Sukhlal Sanghavi, delves into the fundamental nature of religion, differentiating between its outward form and its inner essence. The author posits that religion has two aspects: the visible and tangible (the body of religion) and the invisible and understood through the mind (the soul of religion).

The Body of Religion:

Sanghavi asserts that every religion, regardless of its size or sect, possesses a common outward structure. This "body" comprises:

Scriptures: Sacred texts that form the foundation.
Founders and Scholars: The individuals who authored, interpreted, and disseminated these scriptures.
Sacred Places: Pilgrimage sites, temples, and other holy locations.
Rituals and Practices: Specific forms of worship, ceremonies, and actions.
A Supporting Class: A group of individuals, often scholars or priests, who sustain and perpetuate these rituals and practices.

These tangible elements, while diverse and varying among different faiths, collectively constitute the physical manifestation of religion.

The Soul of Religion:

The "soul" of religion, on the other hand, is its consciousness, its life force. Sanghavi identifies this inner essence with virtues such as:

Truth: Adherence to honesty and reality.
Love: Compassion and goodwill towards all beings.
Selflessness: Acting without personal gain or expectation.
Generosity: Willingness to give and share.
Discernment: The ability to distinguish right from wrong.
Humility: Modesty and lack of arrogance.

The author argues that while the "bodies" of religion may differ vastly, the "soul" is fundamentally one and the same across all true religions. He draws an analogy to the human body, where various organs, though distinct and serving different functions, are animated by a single life force. If this is true for the individual, he questions why different religious sects, which are merely "bodies" housing the same religious "soul," engage in conflict, animosity, and rivalry.

The Decay of Religion and the Rise of Conflict:

Sanghavi attributes the discord and conflict between religious sects to the decay of the "soul" within the "body." He explains that when a sect becomes devoid of its spiritual essence, becoming like a lifeless corpse, its followers and leaders tend to become narrow-minded and view other sects as adversaries.

The author identifies the root of this decay in the actions of the scholars and ritualistic practitioners who, being the active agents within the religious structure, can fall prey to:

Misguided Attachment to the "Body": Mistaking the rituals, scriptures, and holy sites for religion itself, rather than recognizing them as vehicles for its true essence.
Seeking Comfort and Irresponsibility: Exploiting the guise of religion to live a life of ease, free from effort and accountability.

When these leaders fall into this trap, the "body" of religion begins to rot and emanate an unpleasant odor. If the followers are simple, uneducated, or lacking in discernment, they unwittingly nourish this decaying "body" instead of the true spirit of religion. The primary responsibility for this, Sanghavi states, lies with the comfort-seeking scholarly or priestly class.

The Role of Priests and Followers:

Sanghavi criticizes the priestly class for their desire to maintain a comfortable lifestyle and hide their own failings. To achieve this, they foster elaborate rituals and practices, and in fear of losing their followers, they constantly highlight the perceived flaws of other religious groups. This leads to a cycle of denigration:

Exalting Their Own Sacred Places: While praising their own pilgrimage sites, they ignore or even condemn the sanctity of sites belonging to other faiths.
Disparaging Other Scriptures: They refuse to acknowledge the importance of scriptures from other religions and even forbid their followers from touching them.
Rejecting Other Rituals: They may even prohibit their followers from adopting practices like wearing certain marks or tilaks prevalent in other traditions.

This mutual hatred and conflict between the "bodies" of different sects, Sanghavi argues, has historically fueled countless wars.

Two Reasons for Sectarian Conflict:

The text outlines two primary reasons for the ongoing conflict between the various "bodies" of religion:

The Inert and Comfort-Seeking Nature of the Sustaining Class: As discussed above, the reliance on a class that prioritizes ease over spiritual pursuit.
The Dim-Wittedness and Lack of Vitality of the Follower Class: If followers passively accept the divisive narratives of their leaders, they perpetuate the cycle of conflict.

The Responsibility of the Followers:

Sanghavi calls upon the follower class to take responsibility. If they recognize that many religious leaders have historically divided humanity rather than uniting it, it is their duty to take the "thread of religion" into their own hands and think independently. He acknowledges that within any sect, there can be worthy individuals, but the prevailing environment often discourages them from speaking the truth or adopting a more inclusive perspective, fearing repercussions from their peers.

The Disconnect Between Preaching and Practice:

The author highlights the glaring inconsistency between the teachings of religious leaders and their actions. While they preach universal love, equal regard for all, and selfless service, their behavior often reveals a stark contrast. They may utilize the hard-earned money of their followers for their own comfort and engage in wasteful, ostentatious rituals and celebrations, claiming these are religious acts. This, Sanghavi argues, is a perversion of religion.

The True Measure of Religion:

The text questions the validity of equating ostentation, wealth accumulation in temples, and adherence to specific rituals with genuine religiosity. If these were the true measures, then the one who performs more rituals or accumulates more wealth would be considered more religious. However, the leaders of different sects often deny this very principle when it comes to the practices and wealth of other religions.

Conclusion: The Ultimate Truth of Religion:

Sanghavi concludes that if different sects fail to recognize each other's practices as religious, then the logical implication is that something is fundamentally wrong. He asserts that anything that does not unite humanity and does not bring forth virtues that foster research and understanding cannot be considered religious.

The ultimate goal of religious education, he states, is to cultivate this discerning mindset in the followers, empowering them with the humble courage to express their convictions. Religion, he emphasizes, lies in its "soul" – a virtuous and ethical life. The "body" derives its value only when it contains this soul; without it, it is meaningless. The true spirit of religion can manifest in life without relying on the externally constructed "bodies" of different sects.

In this age of scarcity and hardship, the only way to unite and sustain humanity is to quickly shed the illusions and delusions surrounding religion and grasp its true meaning within.