Not Just Rituals: The Silent Call of Dharma

These are not answers—just observations. Reflections from a mind on its way to discovering what’s real.

In today’s world, religion still holds power. At its core, in its purest form, religion is sacred. It’s meant to connect us to something eternal. But somewhere along the way, we began to mold it—shape it to suit our needs. We use it to feel pride, to chase fame, to earn money. We follow traditions blindly without ever questioning why they exist.

We chant mantras, light incense, go to temples, churches, mosques—not to seek truth, but to bargain. We ask for miracles. We trade devotion for blessings.

But if that’s all religion is, are we really walking the path of Dharma?

Dharma vs. Rituals: Have We Lost the Meaning?

There’s Lok Dharma—the social code of conduct that changes depending on time, place, and people. And then there’s the deeper Dharma—the unchanging principle that leads toward truth.

Yet today, Lok Dharma often takes center stage. Society tells us what to do, how to behave, what to believe. But very few pause to ask: is this truth? Or just repetition?

Our sacred texts—the Vedas, Geeta, Vedanta—they are not instruction manuals for rituals. They are mirrors, showing us the self. Yet even these, we twist. We interpret them to match our biases. We quote them for debate, not understanding.

Geeta and Ramayana: More Than Just Stories

The Geeta has been read for decades, admired by millions. But do we actually reflect on what it's pointing to?

Where is Kurukshetra? Is it just a battlefield in ancient India—or the battlefield within our own minds? Who is Arjuna? Could it be us, lost in confusion, unsure of our path? And who is Krishna—a friend, a guide, our higher self?

We love the storytelling. But the message? Often ignored.

Same with the Ramayana. People ask, “Did Ram exist?” But rarely ask: “What does Ram represent?”

When Lakshman falls, Ram doesn’t go straight to prayer. He calls for a vaidya—a doctor. The message? Use the tools of the world and the wisdom of spirit. Truth is practical, not theatrical.

Why Didn’t Krishna Perform a Miracle?

Think about it: Arjuna was broken, lost, desperate. If Krishna was God, why didn’t he just touch Arjuna’s head and change his thoughts?

Because that’s not how truth works.

Krishna preached. He offered knowledge, guidance, perspective. But Arjuna had to listen. Had to reflect. Had to choose.

We, too, wait for divine intervention. For a miracle to change our minds. But the real miracle is self-effort guided by light.

The Journey Must Begin Somewhere

So it’s time. Time to stop blindly following, and start seeking.

Use the sacred books—not as ends in themselves, but as maps. They guide the early steps. Eventually, you must walk the path alone.

Across ages, many have tried to wake us up: Krishna, Rama, the Upanishads, Adi Shankaracharya, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Ramana Maharshi, Swami Paramhansa, Vivekananda, Osho… the list goes on.

Why did they speak? Why did they hustle to communicate something that can't even be fully said?

Because they saw beyond religion, beyond tradition, beyond illusion. And they pointed—always pointed—toward the same truth.

If so many great minds arrived at the same place, then there must be something real there—something worth knowing before we die.

That’s not just philosophy. That’s the ultimate goal of life.

Ask. Read. Reflect. Repeat.

Here are a few questions to sit with—not to answer quickly, but to live with:

1. Why am I here? Am I just a machine to consume and produce?

2. What is the source of the eternal? Is God outside, in the sky—or within?

3. Who is the one inside, the observer who never changes, watching birth, childhood, adulthood, old age, and death?

4. What is it in me that remains untouched by time or thought?

5. Do I know truth—or do I only believe in what I’ve been told?

No one can hand you the truth. Not even the wisest sage.

They can point. They can guide. But you have to look. You have to walk. You have to want to know.

Let the scriptures start your journey—but don’t let them be your stopping point. Let the words of the wise stir something inside—but don’t mistake words for reality.

The real begins when belief ends, and seeking begins.