[Recently (as in the past 3-4 years) a large Multinational has declined to support the spiritual knowledge dissemination activities (Jnaana Yajna) of CIRD, writing that “as a matter of principle, this company does not extend financial support towards any spiritual event.” Although they have not used the term “Religious Institution” in writing (perhaps because religious institutions will not have 80G sanction which CIRD has), they have been saying that if they help CIRD, they would have to help other religious institutions also.
When an ex-MD of a Group company wanted to take up the case with the Management, Swami Nirviseshananda wrote the following article on how CIRD is not a religious institution.]
CIRD is Not a Religious Institution
1. Centre for Inner Resources Development (CIRD) is not a religious institution. It is a Spiritual institution dedicated to the pursuit and dissemination of Self-knowledge and Universal values. Religion is based on our belief in a concept of God, but spiritual knowledge and its pursuit are independent of one’s religious, ethnic or any other identity, and are equally applicable to one who does not believe in God.
2. Contrary to the widespread misconception, Vedanta is not a religion, or not even a philosophy, but a science with sound logical as well as experimental (experiential) foundation. Its practice incorporates a complete knowledge-oriented evolution and fortification of our personality leading to individual fulfillment as well as sustained societal welfare. It is only because of this eternal treasure that our civilization has survived on this earth for thousands of years.
3. Spirituality, based on Vedanta and Yoga, is now welcomed and honoured universally. It is the noblest and greatest civilizational contribution from India to the world, and perhaps the best way to cultivate loftiest human values to create a unified Global civilization. Practices based on Spirituality now form an important part of Management discourses all over the world.
4. In fact, the extremely logical enquiry into the ultimate Truth and its final discovery took place in India in pre-historic times. It is a travesty that when all the liberal societies of the world are taking to Indian spirituality more and more seriously, and some of the western societies have started claiming Yoga and spiritual pursuit as their own innovation, many in India still banish their own cultural and knowledge heritage as “Hindu religion”. They feel to identify with this eternal treasure is below their “modern, liberal, secular dignity”.
5. Along with the knowledge of Spiritual literature, CIRD strives to encourage the knowledge of Sanskrit, which again is becoming more and more respected world over, though spurned by the Indians themselves.
6. We in CIRD expose all to the eternal values of our culture, in a non-religious, non-sectorial, rational manner. The discussions and the pursuit are such as to bring about inner enrichment, elevation and enlightenment. In fact, this is in adherence to the fundamental duty enjoined by our Constitution: to uphold the composite heritage of the country, and to promote a rational scientific temper in all matters.
7. The Workshops conducted by us for professionals engaged in business, administration, and teaching have been greatly appreciated by the participants.
8. The weekly Cultural Heritage classes held for the underprivileged children in the neighbourhood of our Centres have already had deep transforming effect in the society.
9. CIRD welcomes all sections of people to avail of the unique opportunity to discover and harness one’s own inner potentials and possibilities. When rightly understood, each will come to realize that our inner personality continues to grow till the last breath of life. Yes, sky is the limit for our inner growth and achievement!
10. All our programmes are free. It is high time that we recognize and value our own great heritage. And that is what CIRD aims to do.
Swami Nirviseshananda Tirtha
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