Listen to Swami Mukundananda, an IIT and IIM alumnus, discuss the difference between religion and spirituality. While answering Parth Mehta a Software Developer question "What is the difference between being religious and spiritual?", Swamiji gives various examples and quotes various prophets and saints from Jesus Christ to Prophet Mohammad; from Guru Nanak to Saint Kabir. He also quotes Shrimad Bhagavat Mahapuran and Ved Vyas and says, "You may follow externally form perfectly, but if it does not result in developing attachment to the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, that is a mere waste of time."
"To recite prayers in the temple is being religious while to develop a prayerful heart is being spiritual," says Swami Mukundananda. To wear kanthi mala is being religious while to adorn your mind with love for God is being spiritual. Religiosity will please your grandmother or your society. Spirituality will please God. However, Swamiji also says that this is simply a matter of semantics because different words mean different things to different people.
At the end, Swamiji reconciles both the aspect and says that the religious practices also have a great importance in society. "They keep the religious tradition alive generations after generations," Says Swami Mukundananda in this podcast.
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