THE PURPOSE OF RELIGIOUS RITUALS
Spirit through Form
WHAT is ritual? Ritual is a religious ceremony carried out in a prescribed order. Rituals are 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 just a set of rites. In fact, they are the external 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. Rituals are important, but they are like a body which becomes lifeless when there is no spirit. 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.
Ritual without spirit is a diluted form of religion, like a nutshell without a kernel.
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 practice 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 less-than-ideal level. But this lower state is not totally 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 the rituals at their prescribed times, it reminds you that rituals should be performed keeping in mind their inner content, that is, their spirit.
Rituals might appear as a mere form, but one should understand that form symbolizes the inner spirit. If the inner spirit has real value, rituals have symbolic value, and both are equally important. Rituals, the external aspect of the inner spirit, help maintain the inner spirit. Without rituals, 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.
Rituals, the external aspect of the inner spirit, help maintain the inner spirit. Without rituals, the spirit would be reduced to an abstract idea.
It is difficult to understand the inner spirit without external rituals, or external rituals without inner consciousness. Religion always begins from consciousness. This consciousness expresses itself in the form of rituals. Consciousness is the real source of rituals. An important role that ritual plays is to give religion an identity, without which religion would remain only an abstract idea.
One’s initial feeling of
disappointment should quickly
transform itself into a greater
determination to try harder, and
to channel one’s energies more
effectively towards one’s goal.