Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Science of Being and Art of Living (pp. 213-219). MUM Press. Kindle Edition.
FULFILLMENT OF RELIGION
The fulfillment of religion lies in gaining for man a direct way to God realization and all that is necessary for making him a complete man, a man of fully integrated life, a man of great intelligence, creativity, wisdom, peace, and happiness.
The fulfillment of religion lies in gaining for man that for which the word religion itself stands. “Religion” comes from the Latin root “religare,” meaning “re,” back; “ligare,” to bind: or, that which binds one back*. The purpose of religion is to bind man back to his source, his origin.
If religion succeeds in bringing a man back to his source, in bringing the mind back to its source, in bringing the body and mind’s activity back to the source of all activity, religion succeeds in fulfilling its purpose. Mind is the pivot of life. If the mind could be drawn back to its origin, the whole of life would thus be drawn to its source and the purpose of religion would be fulfilled.
Religion is a way, or at least it should be a way, to raise the consciousness of man to the level of God Consciousness, to raise the human mind to the level of divine intelligence or universal cosmic mind.
The purpose of religion is to set the life of the individual in tune with the laws of nature and set it so that it naturally flows in the stream of evolution.
Religion should coordinate the individual life with cosmic life and improve all values of human life. Religion provides a practical way to the realization of the supreme reality brought to light by philosophy. Philosophy is descriptive, whereas religion has practical value in providing a direct way to God realization. It is a direct means of enabling human beings to evolve to the level of the Divine. Religion dictates the do’s and don’ts of life in order to channel the activity of the individual to attain the high purpose of human existence. All these do’s and don’ts of religion are meant to provide a direct way to the realization of the ultimate reality, or, freedom in God Consciousness. Religion serves a practical purpose.
*
https://www.etymonline.com/word/religionThis noun of action was derived by Cicero from relegere "go through again" (in reading or in thought), from re- "again" (see re-) + legere "read" (see lecture (n.)). However, popular etymology among the later ancients (Servius, Lactantius, Augustine) and
the interpretation of many modern writers connects it with religare "to bind fast" (see rely), via the notion of "place an obligation on," or "bond between humans and gods." In that case, the re- would be intensive. Another possible origin is religiens "careful," opposite of negligens.
