Doctors prescribe different medications
to different patients, depending on the patient’s ailment. Similarly, the
appropriate spiritual practice* for each individual is different, because the
spiritual constitution is
different in every individual.
In a sect, the same spiritual
practice is advocated to all. This is similar
to a doctor prescribing the same medication to any and every patient, regardless
of the patient’s ailment. Sectarian spiritual practice goes against the
basic principle of Spirituality, which is, “There are as many temperaments
and corresponding paths to God as there are people.” Taking into account
the world’s population today, it means that there currently exist approximately
six billion paths of spiritual practice on earth. However, most followers of
sects feel that the sect they belong to is the supreme and only path to God.
Most followers of sects, be they of any religion, fall into this category.
An individual doing spiritual practice with a sectarian, narrow-minded approach
does not make the expected spiritual progress and very rarely gets spiritual
experiences, due to the various reasons mentioned above. This may lead to frustration,
and even loss of faith in God and spiritual practice. Worse still, the misconception
that one’s sect is the supreme and only way to reach God, can lead to ego.
Thus, sectarianism actually becomes contrary to the very aim of spiritual practice
which is to destroy ego. Rather than progressing towards expansive love that
the entire universe is one’s home, a sectarian individual distances himself
even from spiritual pursuits on other paths.
The following example illustrates this point vividly.
A particular Hindu sect frequently organizes programs of devotional songs and
conducts spiritual discourses in temples all over India. However, that sect never
discusses the teachings of a great Saint who lived during the formative years
of that sect. This is because the Saint did not belong to that sect. On one hand,
they accept the quote of their revered Saint that ‘the one who has realized
that the entire universe is his home, is ideal’ and on the other, they
consider other Saints as outsiders!
Sectarian spiritual practice mostly develops the mind, but hardly reaches
the soul, where real spiritual practice and progress occurs. While it is better
to do some spiritual practice, even if sectarian, than not doing any, it would
be best to do spiritual practice without a sectarian, narrow minded approach. |
