Jonathan Swift aptly said, ‘We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.’ It’s really ironic that as religiosity is on the rise, hatred and fights in the name of religion and god are also increasing rapidly.
Once Persian mystic Khaqani was eating dates during the daytime in the holy month of Ramzan. Seeing this, a holier-than-thou said, ‘What are you doing? You’re not observing roza, fast?’ He cursed and abused Khaqani and went away. The great mystic looked skyward and said, ‘I’m eating dates instead of fasting and thanking you. And there are people who abuse their fellow beings in the holy month. Oh Allah, tell me what’s holiness?’
Holiness and piety are two of the most sacred human traits that are independent of religion and god. A person once asked the Buddha, ‘Can humans be holy and pious without any faith in god and religion?’ The Buddha said, ‘My whole philosophy is based on this. You can be holy and pious without being religious and god-centric.’ Once you’re aware of your intrinsic holiness and piety, all hatred caused by religion will peter out eventually.