Name of the subject may raise some eye-brows. It is quite natural.
A large volume of literature is written on spirituality by many saints and authors expressing their views. All of them may be correct according to their own perceptions based on their own logic and experience. These perceptions were made, generally, with all good intentions.
One such popular perception is that initially there was nothing. Not even ‘nothing’. Every thing was then created out of ‘nothing’. It is just like that a ‘zero’ can be split into infinite positive and negative numbers so that the total algebraic summation of all of them is ‘zero’. In other words, it means that the whole creation is merely like a ‘dream’. During sleep, every thing is created out of nothing and it merges back into it after awaking. A new seeker of truth is thus confused in the jungle of philosophies. The more he studies such literature without a proper guidance, the more his confusion.
We must boldly face a fact that no one including saints and scientist, know with certainty, the origin of the universe and the magnitude of God’s powers. There will be no contradiction if we state that the concept of spirituality is very simple to understand provided our mind is unbiased and open to simple plain logics.
Therefore, let us, for a moment, put aside our natural curiosities like origin of God/Universe and steer clear of related controversies, and venture into acceptable areas of commonalities. It will then be easy for us to grasp the true meaning of spirituality and we would be able to live without much difficulty a harmonious, peaceful and blissful spiritual life, which is the ultimate desire of all of us.
By application of simple logic, it is not difficult, for an unbiased mind, to arrive at the following widely accepted norms for living a blissful spiritual life:
- There is ‘One’ and only ‘One’ ‘Intelligent energy Field’ ever existing in entire ‘time’ and ‘space’.
- This very field, which we usually address as ‘He’ or ‘GOD’ is, therefore, birth-less. There being no ‘Second’ (non-dual), He has no envy and is, therefore, fearless.
- HE is thus Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent.
- His inherent nature is ‘Sat’ (ever existent), ‘Chit’ (pure consciousness) and ‘Anand’ (blissful).
- The entire ‘creation’ is the result of His inherent nature being active. This resulted in manifestation (creation) of a tiny part of this very infinite ‘Entity’ into matter and non-matter, including plants, animals & human beings. The human-beings are the most developed among them.
- This ‘creation’, therefore, is nothing but His Divine Play. The substratum of His ‘creation’ remains the same infinite ‘Energy Field’ i.e. ‘He Himself’.
- The working of the entire universe, including our own body, with such utmost precision can by no stretch of imagination be accidental and is, therefore, a willful act of an infinitely intelligent entity.
- The entire ‘creation’ works automatically and is governed by the ‘Laws of Nature’ in case of matter and by the ‘Laws of Karma’ in the case of non-matter. These laws are self-actuated and inbuilt integral part of the whole system and are auto-controlled by Him alone.
- The ultimate purpose of the whole arrangement in the ‘creation’ is for every element of it to mutually enjoy without any mutual attachment. Attachments, if any, will make you suffer.
- Small doses of pains and sorrows, which exist in the system are the results of the Law of Karma” and are desirable for better appreciation, by way of comparison, of the inherent bliss present in HIS ‘Creation’. Such an arrangement of things helps to break the monotony of bliss, if it existed all alone by itself.
- These doses of sorrow are lesser in number but being painful in nature, they appear to be bigger and more in number.
- Any correction required for the smooth working of His creation is done by His intervention through His divine forces or through any of His selected messenger or by any of the so many other alternative means available to Him, which may be best suited to a situation at any given point of time.
- The ‘creation’, after finishing its role, merges back into Him from where it originally sprang up.
- His ‘creations’ are cyclic and may be repeated at ‘His will’ in the similar, modified or a new pattern.
- We must also understand that a mere knowledge of spirituality will not be of much use if it is not put into practice by actually living by the path shown by the acquired knowledge. Putting into practice the knowledge of spirituality is not as difficult as it is generally feared.
Devotion (Bhakti), actions/rituals (Karmas) and knowledge (Gyan) may or may not be essential to graduate to the level of spirituality. But once the level of spiritually is reached, all the rituals drop automatically and effortlessly. Most of the rituals performed by spiritually elevated ‘swamis’ are merely indicators for the benefit of seekers to guide them n the path of spirituality. Any such ritual is thus just only a means and not the goal by itself.
If we understood the real meaning of spirituality, we will love all others including plants and animals. There will thus be no scope of doing any action which may be harmful to others, who are in fact an integral part of us, parts of the one WHOLE. We shall then be fearless and therefore, blissful which is our intrinsic nature.
The path of living spiritually is, therefore, not only easy but is an enjoyable journey of playing our role in His ‘Divine Play’. Nothing can go wrong if we live our life by just remembering that we are not human-beings having a spiritual experience but are spiritual-beings having a human experience”.
(The author is a retired Indian Air Force Officer with an engineering background. Has held important posts in the private sector, too. Deeply spiritual, he has keen interest in social activities) |
