Introduction
Growing up in a Hindu household, I have always held deep reverence for both Temples and Gurudwaras. Fond memories of my paternal grandmother taking me to Gurudwaras as a child are etched in my mind. Even at the tender age of four, I found myself questioning the rituals and practices of different faiths. I distinctly remember asking my grandmother, “Why do we bow before an idol in the temple and before Shri Guru Granth Sahib here?” Her patient explanation, rooted in the teachings of the last Sikh Guru, Sri Gobind Singh Ji, left a lasting impression on me. She emphasized that the holy Guru Granth Sahib embodies the presence of the Guru for the Sikh community. Though I struggled to fully comprehend her words back then, as I grew older, I began to ponder the deeper significance behind these rituals.
Reflecting on my journey, I find a parallel between bowing before the Sri Granth Sahib and the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva. Both symbolize a rejection of ignorance and an embrace of profound knowledge. Just as Nataraja’s cosmic dance signifies triumph over ignorance, the reverence shown towards the teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib represents a commitment to embodying its profound wisdom in daily life.
In a recent discourse, I heard an insightful perspective on Lord Krishna, known as Yogeshwar, who imparted the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita. True disciples, it was emphasized, are those who not only pay homage to his idol but also strive to live by the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
Similarly, I stumbled upon an intriguing connection of lineage between Luv son of Lord Ram and Guru Nanak and Kush-second Son of Lord Ram and Guru Gobind Singh, as proposed by Devdutt Patnaik. While I lack the means to verify this claim, it underscores the rich tapestry of connections between the spiritual traditions.
Yet, amidst the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment, there exists a lamentable reality of selfish and divisive tendencies that threaten the essence of interconnectedness. This dichotomy forms the crux of our exploration: the noble quest for spirituality as the guiding force of the universe, juxtaposed with the divisive influences that seek to undermine its essence.
In this blog, we embark on a journey to explore the notion of following a religion unquestioningly versus forging one’s own spiritual path. We delve into the essence of spirituality as a motive force for life, examining its role in fostering unity, understanding, and compassion amidst the complexities of our world.
The Essence of Spirituality:
Spirituality transcends religious affiliations and dogmas, encapsulating universal principles of love, empathy, and interconnectedness. I harbour no reluctance in visiting any temple or place of worship that cherishes these principles and dispels ignorance. It acts as a beacon, igniting the quest for meaning, nurturing inner tranquillity, and forging connections with entities beyond our individual selves.
Moreover, spirituality serves as a unifying force among varied cultures, nurturing a shared sense of harmony and collective stewardship for the welfare of all beings and our planet.
Spirituality as the Motive Force of the Universe:
At its essence, spirituality catalyzes the evolution of consciousness, propelling humanity towards elevated states of awareness and unity.
- It inspires individuals to embody compassion, empathy, and altruism, thereby enriching the collective welfare of society and the global community.
- Through disciplines like meditation, mindfulness, and introspection, spirituality empowers individuals to nurture inner serenity and balance, consequently fostering harmony in interpersonal relationships and broader communities.
Selfish Divisive Forces:
In a previous post titled ‘Celebrating Spirituality,’ I explored the insights of notable thinkers such as Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, and Wayne Dyer, who contend that organized religion frequently fosters division and discord among people. These rifts often stem from divergent beliefs, practices, and interpretations. It seems that religious leaders, in their quest to expand their followings, craft varying interpretations of worship, creating an illusion of diversity. Yet, in my view, this resembles a marketing strategy where each salesman attempts to peddle the same product in different packaging. They capitalize on people’s ignorance in various ways, but can one genuinely sell consciousness, a realm of personal experience that necessitates individual effort to cultivate? Temples and places of worship are meant to provide an environment conducive to awakening consciousness, yet instead of fulfilling this role, they frequently perpetuate ignorance, offering superficial solutions and endorsing ritualistic practices aimed at material gain—a stance vehemently opposed by enlightened figures like Swami Vivekananda.
Numerous learned individuals have articulated their perspectives on religion and its tendency toward dogmatism and blind adherence:
- Deepak Chopra suggests, “Religion is belief in someone else’s experience. Spirituality is having your own experience.”
- Albert Einstein posits, “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.”
- Wayne Dyer observes, “Religion is orthodoxy, rules, and historical scriptures maintained by people over long periods of time. Generally, people are raised to obey the customs and practices of that religion without question.”
- Oprah Winfrey asserts, “I’m a free-thinking human being. I do not adhere to the dogma of any religion. I have deep respect for all religious and spiritual practices because I respect that people have their own paths to what they call God.”
- Eckhart Tolle emphasizes, “The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it. Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking.”
While the overarching goal of organized religions has been to propagate the message of divinity and spirituality, thereby serving humanity as a unifying force transcending religious boundaries, selfish and divisive forces often emerge. Motivated by ego, greed, fear, and ignorance, these forces seek to fragment humanity along lines of race, religion, nationality, and ideology, perpetuating conflict, inequality, and suffering.
Throughout history, religious factions have engaged in strife and warfare. In Hinduism, theological disparities between followers of Shaivism and Vaishnavism led to centuries of polarization, diverting attention from the core principles of spirituality and self-realization. Similarly, within the Muslim community, the first Fitna, a civil war following the assassination of the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, resulted in enduring divisions. In Christianity, the Great Schism of 1054, sparked by theological disputes and political aspirations, separated the Eastern Orthodox Church from the Roman Catholic Church, initiating centuries of discord.
The genesis of these conflicts can be traced to unchecked materialism, consumerism, and the relentless pursuit of power, overshadowing spiritual values and fostering disconnection, emptiness, and disillusionment.
This prompts us to ponder how to remain steadfastly spiritual amidst the lure of ignorance driven by others’ ambitions.
Top of Form
Navigating the Contrasts:
In the face of divisive forces, nurturing and embodying spiritual principles becomes imperative, serving as a counterbalance to selfishness and discord. This necessitates the cultivation of education, dialogue, and empathy, indispensable tools in bridging divides and fostering mutual understanding among individuals and communities. Many revered figures have articulated invaluable insights to navigate these contrasts:
- Jiddu Krishnamurti emphasized the significance of self-awareness, questioning authority, and transcending conventional religious and spiritual frameworks.
- Ramana Maharshi, renowned for his teachings on self-inquiry and the path of Advaita Vedanta, urged seekers to delve into the nature of the self to realize their true essence beyond rituals and external practices.
- Paramahansa Yogananda, the founder of the Self-Realization Fellowship, advocated the practice of Kriya Yoga for spiritual realization and inner awakening, emphasizing direct experience over mere ritualistic observance.
- Sri Aurobindo championed integral yoga, which seeks to harmonize all facets of life—including the spiritual, mental, and physical—in the pursuit of divine consciousness, transcending external rituals.
- Osho (Rajneesh), renowned for his provocative teachings and dynamic meditation techniques, encouraged individuals to forge their own path to spiritual awakening through self-awareness and inner transformation, eschewing dependence on external rituals or dogma.
It is evident to me that all of them advocate embracing spirituality over religion. By embracing spirituality as the guiding force of the universe, we can transcend divisive barriers, fostering a world founded on love, compassion, and harmony.
Inspired by these profound insights, I composed a poem in Hindi entitled ‘Ruhani Safar,’ or the journey of the soul which emphasizes to seek spirituality with patience, commitment, and perseverance.
Both the Hindi and English versions of the poem are presented below:
Top of Form
Hindi Version:
रूहानी सफर
बेखुदी की डगर पर
अपने रूहानी सफर पर
भटक कर संभल कर
रुक रुक के चल कर
कभी इधर कभी उधर
कभी बिगड़ कभी संवर
बस हर सुबह हर सहर
अब उसी से बात कर
मंज़िल लगे दूर अगर
बेशक चल ठहर ठहर
वक़्त ज़्यादा लगे अगर
फिर भी तू परवा न कर
बस बार बार याद कर
लम्बा है रूहानी सफर
बस छोड़ मत अब डगर
चल जो पड़ा इस राह पर
– विजय कुमार
English Version:
The Journey of Soul
On the path of ecstasy,
On our spiritual journey,
Straying a bit yet recovering,
Stopping, correcting, and treading.
We get it right or wrong at first,
But must practice dawn and dusk,
Follow the Essence and the theme,
Keep communicating with the Supreme
Should the destination seem too far,
Travel you must though you can pause,
Worry not for the delays,
As long as you are on His way.
Just remember time and again,
Unwavering faith brings ultimate gain,
With zeal continue your quest,
When your perseverance is put to test.
Conclusion:
In concluding this blog, my intention is not to propose definitive solutions, as I acknowledge my limitations in knowledge, foresight, and capacity. Rather, I aim to document thoughts that can be deliberated upon, researched, and advanced in the pursuit of understanding spirituality. Nonetheless, I aspire to document thoughts that can be deliberated upon, researched, and advanced in the pursuit of understanding spirituality.
In this endeavour, it is crucial to dispel dogmatism, ignorance, and the allure of charlatans posing as spiritual guides.
Takeaways:
The key takeaways from our discussion are as follows:
- Chart Your Own Course: Delve into the wisdom of spiritual thinkers and chart our own course rather than being led by others, as the attainment of spiritual freedom is an individual journey. True worship of revered scriptures like the Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta and Sri Guru Granth Sahib does not lie in mere symbolic reverence but in embodying their teachings in our lives. This transformation must be a personal endeavour, as no teacher or preachers can impose it upon us.
- Seek knowledge and challenge dogma by contemplating and embracing the spiritual path that resonates with us personally.
- In this pursuit, gather wisdom from diverse sources, akin to selecting high-quality seeds for cultivation in our own fields, nurturing and developing them at our own pace.
This exploration has led me to focus on spirituality rather than religious understanding. I acknowledge that a single lifetime is insufficient for this pursuit, yet I am not rushed. The Bhagwat Geeta addresses this concern:
“पूर्वाभ्यासेन तेनैव ह्रियते ह्यवशोऽपि सः।
जिज्ञासुरपि योगस्य शब्दब्रह्मातिवर्तते॥” (Bhagwat Geeta 6:47)
Interpretation: By the practice undertaken in previous lives, one is inevitably drawn back into spiritual pursuits, even if not consciously chosen. One is naturally inclined towards spiritual pursuits and self-discipline, even if efforts are temporarily hindered. Even someone with a mere desire to explore and understand the path of yoga transcends mere intellectual knowledge and delves into the realm of spiritual realization.
This verse underscores the notion that sincere efforts put into spiritual practice, even if not fully realized in this lifetime, will not be in vain. Thus, I embark on this exploration with the belief that spiritual progress, however modest, continues across lifetimes, evolving from where it left off in the next life. It underscores the resilience of the spiritual journey and the inherent inclination of the soul towards higher truths and self-realization.
In the eternal interplay between spirituality and selfish divisive forces, the choice ultimately rests with everyone and society. By acknowledging the intrinsic interconnectedness of all beings and aligning with the motive force of the universe, we can transcend selfishness, division, and conflict, fostering a world where spirituality illuminates the path towards unity, peace, and collective well-being.
Inspire Positivity 