Transcendentalism Vs Religion

When I hear the words “Spirituality” and “Religion,” I think about “Spirituality.” I was never taught “Religion” nor was I interested in it. The closest I have ever been to feeling like I believed in something was when I learned about Transcendentalism. I see Transcendentalism as a way all living things connect. I believe Transcendentalism relates more to “Spirituality” than “Religion.” Although I don’t believe in a greater being, I do believe we all connect in more ways than one.

While it didn’t change my thoughts on “Spirituality,” Little Buddha did make me think about “Religion.” One scene in Little Buddha reveals who the reincarnation of Lama Dorje will be; but, instead of one person, said all three of the children became reincarnations

of Lama Dorje. I found such “Triangulation” surprising because I thought reincarnation would leave one person as Lama Dorje. By saying Lama Dorje reincarnated into three people, would the Buddhists still be following their “Religion”? This scene made me realize that “Religions” may not be as structured as I had thought.
The films Siddhartha and The Razor’s Edge both follow the theme that while it may be easy to follow a materialistic lifestyle, one cannot find meaning in money and fancy clothes. The Razor’s Edge does not relate mortality to “Religion” as much as Siddhartha does, which can be difficult to understand if one does not know much about “Religion.” In The Razor’s Edge, Larry Darrell, traumatized by his friend’s sacrifice in World War I, begins to question the “meaning of life.” The thought of death coming at any moment leaves Larry realizing he must use the time he