The Parasite of Belief in Spirituality

I am scared of the “belief” people. They are quite insidious.

Take the example of Hinduisim. The Vedas were written to illuminate the complexity of the universe and provide a framework for understanding it. Vedas were written to de-mystify the complex. Yet, the irony of modern spiritual discourse, driven by self-proclaimed gurus, is that it leans heavily toward mystifying even the simplest phenomena, diverging from the Vedic emphasis on clarity and rational inquiry.

Spirituality is not, and must never be, rooted in belief or mystery. Belief, in its very nature, is a perilous construct. It latches onto the mind like a parasite, creating illusions that distract us from the pursuit of truth. To believe or disbelieve is not a path to understanding, it is a detour into ignorance.

Let us dissect this with precision. Consider the question, “Do you believe you have hands?” The framing itself is flawed. You either have hands or you do not. If you know you have hands, that is truth. If you know you do not, that too is truth. The concept of belief, whether affirmative or negative, becomes redundant when faced with what is self-evident.

The real danger arises when belief replaces truth. To believe you have hands when you do not, or to believe you do not have hands when you do, is to inhabit a false reality. This is the trap of belief, a construct that blinds us to what is, replacing knowing with an unfounded assumption.

The Vedic tradition was never about belief systems. It was grounded in the principles of “I know” or “I do not know.” This dichotomy demanded intellectual honesty. It called for a relentless journey from ignorance to knowledge, from “I do not know” to “I know”, achieved through inquiry, debate, and rigorous validation. This is the essence of scientific ethos and the core of true spirituality.

The concept of “belief” as it is understood in modern contexts, accepting something as true without direct evidence, does not have a direct equivalent in the Vedas or in classical Sanskrit. The Vedic framework operates more on Jñāna or experiential understanding, logical reasoning, and alignment with universal truths rather than abstract faith or belief. The Vedas emphasize experiential and rational understanding, not mere acceptance. For example:

• Knowledge gained through personal experience (Pratyakṣa).
• Reasoning and logical inference (Anumāna).
• Scriptural testimony (Śabda)

as guidance, but not as blind belief.

Consider the incantation that comes from Rigveda Mandala 3, Sukta 62, Verse 10. The Gayatri Mantra. This mantra holds profound significance in Vedic tradition, spirituality, and philosophy. It is considered one of the most powerful and universal mantras for its spiritual depth and transformative potential

Sanskrit:
ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः।
तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यम्।
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि।
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्।

Transliteration:
Om Bhūr Bhuvaḥ Svaḥ
Tat Savitur Vareṇyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi
Dhiyo Yo Naḥ Prachodayāt

Translation:

• ॐ (Om): The primordial sound, the essence of the universe.
• भूः (Bhūr): The physical world or the earthly plane.
• भुवः (Bhuvaḥ): The intermediate realm or the mental and emotional plane.
• स्वः (Svaḥ): The celestial or spiritual realm.
• तत् (Tat): That ultimate reality or divine essence.
• सवितुः (Savitur): The Sun, symbolizing the source of energy and inspiration.
• वरेण्यम् (Vareṇyam): Worthy of adoration.
• भर्गः (Bhargaḥ): Divine radiance or spiritual illumination.
• देवस्य (Devasya): Of the divine.
• धीमहि (Dhīmahi): We meditate upon.
• धियो (Dhiyo): Intellect or understanding.
• यः (Yaḥ): Who.
• नः (Naḥ): Our.
• प्रचोदयात् (Prachodayāt): Inspire or guide.

Put together it translates to:
“We meditate upon the divine radiance of the Sun, the source of all energy, who is worthy of worship. May that supreme being inspire and guide our intellect and wisdom across all planes of existence that is earthly, mental, and spiritual.”

Remember that the Vedas were written in a metaphorical manner, employing personification and musical meter to facilitate faster memorization, retrieval, and the oral transmission of knowledge through repeated recitations.

This is an appeal to the divine light (source of knowledge) to provide us intellectual clarity, depth and wisdom to take us away from ignorance and into “the knowing”.

Spirituality, then, must be an evolution from unknowing to knowing. It should dismantle illusions, not perpetuate them. It must reject the parasitic nature of belief and embrace the transformative power of direct understanding.

Any individual or system that seeks to mystify, obscure, or propagate belief is an assault on the integrity of the mind. Such acts do not represent spiritual enlightenment but a regression into mental savagery. The path forward lies not in mysticism or blind faith but in unflinching clarity, intellectual rigor, and the courage to confront reality as it is.