Religion, Temples and Philosophy

I came across this very interesting quote by Dalai Lama:

"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” -- Dalai Lama

My thoughts:

The subject of philosophy has its use if studied for enlightenment, with a clear understanding that ultimately enlightenment is a matter of direct realization and experience, and not just for intellectual jugglery. But kindness is your starting point 🙂. Without that, you may well burn all books of philosophy in the world, it won't matter 🙂.

Likewise for temples: Going to a serene, peaceful, temple and spending some time in quiet introspection and meditation is cool 🙂 - but temples becoming businesses and going to them to bribe God, or believing that God resides only in temples, or going just as a formality, or out of fear that you will be punished if you don't go, is all utter foolishness 🙂.

If you like going to temples, then by all means go for the right reasons.

But making your own brain and heart a temple is the first step 🙂. If these are corrupt, unkind, harsh, bereft of love and compassion, then just forget about temples 🙂. They will be of no use to you and God has no interest in you whatsoever 🙂.