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'Correct awareness'

When promoting 'Correct Awareness', especially regarding religion, activists, leaders, teachers, and educators, should bear in mind that the root cause of the misuse and exploitation of religion lies in our ignorance, and in our inherent tendencies to lead or to follow.
In most cases our faith, beliefs, or the religion we have are simply what we inherit from our parents. Blind faith, uncertainty, self-satisfaction, fear, hope, ethics, and a sense of security during times of uncertainty are some of the foundational elements that contribute to the concept of God and Religion. Unquestioned 'Faith' serves as the main pillar that sustains the existence of God and Religion.

Believers will need to realize that, in many cases, what we believe in, and the actions we take in the name of God and Religion, or in the preaching of teachers and gurus, are what we like and enjoy; and which may be totally contradictory, and in many cases abusive, to the teachings of God and Religion, and to the preaching of the real teachers and Gurus, that we follow.

Examples are:

1. Aberration of mind is prohibited by all Religions, as well the real enlightened teachers or Gurus.
   (Guru - a: a person that is generally recognized as a leader or teacher. b: a person with knowledge and expertise : expert.
   Etymology. from guru, a word in Hindi (the major language in India) meaning "Hindu teacher or spiritual guide," derived from Sanskrit guru (adjective) "worthy of respect").
   However, some of us believers can checkmate to our own religion, and to the preaching of our enlightened teachers and gurus, by approving and drinking alcohol and using tobaccos, while our other counterparts will ban alcohol whilst relishing tobacco and other such narcotic substances.
2. Another example is, that whilst Religions and the preachings of Gurus and enlightened teachers denunciate caste and creed, and encourage people to realize that all humans are one human race...the homo sapiens, paradoxically, we followers will often artificially create divisions and believe in caste, and will choose to separate from other humans who we see as 'not like us'.
3. So is the case in some of the followers of Buddha. While Buddha does not proclaim himself as God, nor does he endorse the concept of heaven and hell, followers will call Buddha a 'God' and will worship him as a deity. Human's traditional inclination to believing in God and Religion land them in doing activities that may be totally against, and in many cases a mockery to, their enlightened teachers.

The challenging task for educators is to help people understand the difference between teachings of the enlightened teachers and gurus, and the concept of God and Religion.

God and Religion can be likened to the use of Science, for example nuclear power. The proper use of science and nuclear power can bring peace to humanity, whilst its misuse has been a major cause of bloodshed, disasters, and human suffering; so too is the case for God and Religion.

It is essential for everyone to make a personal effort to investigate and properly understand one's own Religion thereby preventing its exploitation and misuse and preserving its sanctity.

Without hurting the faith and sentiments of individuals, campaigns that encourage people to pursue and attain 'Correct Awareness', termed and defined as 'Buddhi'*, can play a pivotal role in helping humans avoid sowing division, nurturing hatred, and inciting hostility in the name of Religion, and in the name of the preaching of Buddha and Gurus

* For more information on what is 'Buddhi', visit:
Buddhi - Free your mind