THE RATIONAL BASIS OF RITUALS
True Form with Spirit
WHAT is ritual? Ritual is a religious ceremony carried out in a prescribed order. They are a part of every religion. In their absence, religion becomes an abstract philosophy. Philosophy with rituals is religion and religion without rituals is philosophy.
Rituals are not simply a set of rites; in fact, they are the outer expression of the inner content of religion. Religion begins as an inner spirit but this spirit must always have an external manifestation. It is this externalization of the inner spirit which is called ritual.
Ritual without spirit is a diluted form of religion—like a nutshell without a kernel. True, the shell does also have some value, but the kernel is the most important part. To cite another example, you can say that rituals are important, but they are like a body which becomes lifeless when there is no spirit.
Rituals are not simply a set of rites; in fact, they are the outer expression of the inner content of religion.
There are two levels of religion. One is that in which spirit and rituals, or form, both have their distinct values. That is the ideal version of religion. The other level is that in which religion is characterized by rituals, without there being apparently any inner spirit.
Sometimes religion is in its ideal form, that is, ritual and spirit go hand in hand. But this ideal state cannot be maintained at all times. There can be aberrations in the state of religion.
Sometimes it happens that form or rituals are present but the spirit is absent, at least, temporarily. Religion in this latter state is at a minimum level. But this minimum state is not worthless. It also has its value and, indeed, has a very important role to play. It maintains the consciousness of religion and keeps one mindful of it.
This minimum role of rituals can be described as a reminder of spirit through routine. When you observe them at their prescribed times, it reminds you that rituals should be performed keeping in mind their inner content, that is, spirit.
Rituals are apparently a mere form but this is not so, for form symbolizes the inner spirit. If the inner spirit has real value, then rituals have symbolic value and both are equally important.
The role of rituals can be described as a reminder of spirit through routine. When you observe the rituals at their prescribed times, it reminds you that rituals should be performed keeping in mind their inner content, that is, spirit.
Rituals, the external aspect of the inner spirit, help maintain the inner spirit. Without them the spirit would be reduced to an abstract idea. In such a situation, ritual, or form, serves the role of a compulsory or a regular reminder.
There is a scientific relationship between the inner spirit and external rituals. The spirit, when externalized, is not an entirely detached phenomenon. It is very much attached to inner consciousness. Without inner consciousness, no one can perform external rituals. Both are complementary to each other.
It is difficult to understand the inner spirit without external form or external form without inner consciousness. Religion always begins from consciousness. This consciousness gradually, or sometimes even suddenly, expresses itself in the form of rituals. So, rituals stem from consciousness. Consciousness is the real source of rituals.
An important role that ritual plays is to give a religion an identity— without which religion would remain an abstract idea.