WHERE POETRY MUST BEFRIEND ILLUMINED REASON

WHERE POETRY MUST BEFRIEND ILLUMINED REASON

Shed superstition to be spiritual. Do not mix up mythological magnification with the history implicit in it. Separate the grain from the chaff. This is progressiveness in religion. Do not reject the beautiful narratives of the Puranas as so much irrational gibberish nor foolishly accept every bit of geographical hyperextension and superhuman attributes and attainments as gospel truth. There is a philosophical germ in every tale which lies hidden under beautuful literary cover composed of fantastic myths. It is this philosophy that has to be apprehended. 

The Puranas are wonder-books which clothe dry Upanishadic discussion with beautiful tales that form the body of the spiritual essence within. As such the Puranas are the evolutionary derivatives of the Upanishads and must be accorded philosophical respect in accordance. But superstition stemming from a selective acceptance of the literal meaning of the Puranas must be avoided. Else, every endeavour to practise religion along Puranic lines will be an exercise in materialism, in grossness, in superstition and in effect in futility. The discerning faculties must be made use of and enlightened discrimination, as opposed to shallow judgmental rejection of hoary narratives, must be the guiding light in our spiritual voyage of Self-discovery. 🕉 

Written by Sugata Bose