Radhasoami Faith and Chief Contemporary Movements
The nineteenth century brought about a great transformation in
the attitude of Indians towards religion and stirred the conscience of the
country to its depths. Religious movements of the time ushered a new approach
towards religion - rationalistic and practical. All such movements contributed
towards simplification of religion and infused new vitality in the age-old
beliefs and practices. The movement like Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Theosophical
Society and Ramkrishna Mission had gathered followings, but the esoteric
Radhasoami faith attempted to remodel Indian religion and led a spiritual
renaissance in the country.
Radhasoami faith was
open to all, irrespective of caste creed or nationality. Radhasoami faith
retained typical Indian character and believed in the innate values of Indian
culture. However,it is neither traditionalist nor progressive. It is purely
spiritualistic in true sense that attempted to revival devotionalism in modern
times with simple appeal and practical love.
Radhasoami
faith like Arya Samaj revolted against the malpractices in religion and society.
It denounced idol worship and acknowledged the fallibility of the Vedas on the
ground that the absolute spiritual truth could exist beyond the limits of
Vedas. The founders of Radhasoami Faith professed a path of love, revived
guru-worship and introduced spiritual practice - surat-shabd-yoga. Introducing
sweeping changes in the caste system and status of women, they propagated
education and philanthropic activities on spiritual grounds alone. They also
restricted on temporal and material activities in politics but limited their
sphere to socio-religious activities. They attempted a spiritual synthesis
proclaiming that on could persue the faith and yet remain a Hindu, Muslim or a
Christian. Radhasoami faith bears striking similarity to Theosophy as emphasizes
the esoteric mode of religious life. it endorsed the mystic revelations but the
method of spiritual practice in Radhasoami faith is more logical and
scientific.
Radhasoami faith revived devotionalism like
Ramkrishna Mission, but had remarkably synthetic outlook when it glorified love
and simplified religious dogma. It introduced novel concepts of Supreme Being
and His abode - Radhasoami Dham, a true and pure, all-spiritual region of love
and mercy. It believes in an inner urge and self-realization in human life and
laid stress on the personal and intuitive aspect of religion.
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