The word Dharma is used to indicate religion but the word Dharma means Atma.+

The invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is all-pervading. How can that which rules over every tiny particle of existence, living and non-living, belong to any one religion?

Humanity must come out of the ignorance spread by religion. It is an immense misfortune that the populace the religion, and lineage, sectarianism have become synonymous in India and that lineage (sampradaya) has gained prominence over the religion (Dharma).

The word Dharma is used to indicate religion, but the word Dharma means Atma.

In Tattireya Upanishad:~ "satyaM vada. dharmaM cara ." Speak the truth, practice dharma. Now, if you want to practice dharma, you should first know what it means. (1.11.1)

The word “dharma “is found in the karikas, which means Atma in Advaita Vedanta.

Advaita is the nondual nature of the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

For example, the one who calls himself a Hindu, Jain, Jew, Christian, Sikh, Parsi, or Muslim feels satisfied merely performing traditional rites, worship, prayers, and rituals following the code of conduct prescribed by the religion he belongs to.

By accepting with blind faith without question the philosophy expounded by his inherited religion, he believes he is a very religious person.

Humanity has to awaken to the reality of its true existence by realizing the world in which humanity exists is merely an illusion created out of consciousness through Self-knowledge, or Brahma Gnana, or Atma Gnana.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana frees the Soul, the Self, from the cage of the dualistic illusion.

Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.

People dwelling in ignorance, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round by various blind beliefs and tortuous paths and practices, like the blind led by the blind.

Swami Vivekananda said:~ "The Vedas teach that the Soul is divine, only held in the bondage of matter; perfection will be reached when this bond will burst, and the word they use for it is, therefore, Mukti - freedom, freedom from the bonds of imperfection, freedom from death and misery."

The truth is very simple, but it is very difficult to grasp because of ignorance. You have to realize the world in which you exist is created out of a single clay. And that single clay is the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar