RELIGION AND HEALING

Abstract

Religion in its pluralistic forms implies the sacred relationship of mankind with some transcendental and ultimate Reality, called by different names and aesthetically conceived and expressed in diverse forms. Most of the religious traditions propose personalistic relationship of mankind with a personalizable Absolute God who seems to maintain a continuous creati ve indwelling presence in the universe and human community. The concepts of Shekina in the Jewish tradition, the Emmanuel of Christian tradition and the AntaryaminiAtman of the Hindu traditions are some of the examples of such immanetistic presence of the Divine in nature and humanity. This indwelling presence ofthe Divine is often awakened and experienced by devotees by means of a contemplative openness practiced in silence. This transparency experience of the Divine in the centre of one's being gives a person a sense of wholeness, security, rootedness, relatedness and intimate fellowship. Such persons normally enjoy constant serenity, peace of mind as well as certain spiritual and transcendent joy. They are said to be in proper psycho-somatic-pneumatic balance.