A Runway to the Path of Spirituality

 

A Runway to the Path of Spirituality … Let me lead you there!

~ Amritbir Kaur

When it comes to thinking about oneself and taking care of one’s own needs, it’s not at all difficult to be selfish, especially taking into consideration the prevailing materialistic world around us. But there’s a difference between thinking just about oneself and taking care of our self with the aim of understanding the self. And herein is where devoting some time to spirituality is equally important. 

Spirituality has a different meaning to different people, but from a positive psychology perspective it can be defined as, “a deep sense of belonging, of wholeness, of connectedness, and of openness to the infinite” as put by V. Easvaradoss and R. Rajan in their research article, ‘Positive psychology spirituality and well-being: An overview’ published in the  Journal of Positive Psychology in 2013. 

Joe Wilner has very aptly put forward five benefits of developing your spiritual nature. Before I take you through a journey, I would like to share them here with you. 

1. Hopefulness

If there is one thing that spirituality can add to our life it is a sense of hope and optimism. Spirituality strengthens our outlook for a better future, he says. “Spiritual growth enhances our ability to deal with life’s ups and downs and bounce back from those difficult experiences”.

2. Compassion and Understanding

It is easy to look at others with judgment and criticism, but when we start to grow spiritually we realize how much healthier it is to cultivate compassion and understanding for others instead. Deepak Chopra said, “Spirituality is meant to take us beyond our tribal identity into a domain of awareness that is more universal.” 

3. Sense of purpose and meaning

A feeling that our life is worthwhile and that we aren’t just here by some random mistake can make a major difference in the trajectory of our life. We are alive for a reason and are meant to contribute something to the world – one must always remember that. According to an editorial in the International Journal of Children’s Spirituality, “In a modern world that is consumed with materialism, which moves at a frantic pace, and which is frayed by cultural, racial and religious divisiveness, the yearning of the human spirit to connect and find meaning is sometimes overlooked.” Hence, without a sense of spirituality, we can lose sight of what is really most important and meaningful.

4. Inspiration and appreciation

Joe Wilner was of the view that life is full of inspiration when we are looking for it. There is also much to be grateful for despite the struggles and challenges we face. Through spiritual growth we can learn to see the beauty and wonder in our day to day life. The things we often take from granted can start to offer us greater inspiration and joy.

5. Peace of mind

Part of spirituality is connecting to a higher power. Whatever name or label we give to this spiritual source is irrelevant in my opinion. The important thing is the sense that there is something greater than ourselves, and that we don’t have to carry the entire burden alone. When we learn how to “let go” of the emotional baggage we carry it really adds to peace of mind.

Keeping in mind the various aspects, we all undertake this journey in our lifetime. It’s as Maslow rightly mentioned ‘Self-actualization’ that’s the topmost in the hierarchy. And that’s exactly why it is always lonely at the top because a large majority would not reach that level. This journey is a lonely one as William Shakespeare depicted in his masterpiece ‘King Lear’ in the character of Lear, when he undergoes the process of transformation of being a human from being a King. In general, the journey is a movement from the external to the internal. 

With a view to make this journey a bit easier for them, we gave the students a task of attempting to understand themselves a bit more than just superficially and come up with their experiences in the garb of words. Let’s be a part of their journey!

*Joe is a life-transition coach and a Licensed Master Level Psychologist (LMLP) in the state of Kansas. He is the creator and editor of the personal development blog Shake off the Grind which provides digital content, coaching, and products to help people with personal growth, emotional wellness, and spiritual development. He is also an advisory board member for the American Institute of Health Care Professionals (AIHCP) and is a certified meditation instructor.

Parenting in teen years

Raising a teenager can feel like a wild ride. That sweet kid you knew is now figuring things out, dealing with big feelings, and navigating friendships. It can be tough, but it's also a time of huge growth, and you still matter a lot.

One of the best things you can do is just talk openly. Not like you're a detective, but more like creating a safe space where they feel they can share what's on their mind without getting lectured. Listen more than you talk, and when you do talk, try to see their side, even if you don't agree. Simple questions like, "How did that feel?" or "Tell me more," can help them open up. If they're quiet, it might just mean they need time to think.

As they want more freedom, it's important to give them some space while still having rules. It's a balancing act. Let them make choices about small things, like clothes or weekend plans, and how they manage their time (as long as schoolwork and chores get done). Letting them make decisions, and even mess up a little in a safe way, helps them learn to think for themselves and be responsible. But clear rules about safety and respect are still key. Maybe even let them help set some rules – they're more likely to follow them.

Expect big emotions and friend drama. Teen years are full of ups and downs. Be understanding, even if their worries seem small to you. Help them find healthy ways to deal with stress, like hobbies or sports, or just be there to listen when they need to vent.

Tech is a big part of their lives. Talk openly about being safe online, being smart on social media, and the problems with cyberbullying. Set clear limits on screen time and encourage them to hang out in the real world too. Try to know what apps they're using.

Finally, remember your role is changing. You're less of a boss and more of a guide and supporter. Your teen is figuring out who they are. Your love and understanding are super important during this time. There will be bumps, but being there with open ears and a willingness to adapt will make your bond stronger and help them grow into confident young adults. You've got this!

Francis Bacon 'Of Marriage and Single Life' - an analysis

 

Francis Bacon, (1561-1626) is the most persuasive and ingenious English author of his time. He expertly utilizes various sorts of scholarly gadgets like conundrum, saying, peak in his expositions. He generally utilizes the consolidated sentences with profound concealed clarifications. We likewise discover a pinch of the real world and reasonableness in his works. Presently we will talk about his perspectives.

The paper Of Marriage And Single Life was distributed in the second release of Bacon's Essays (1612). In Of Marriage And Single Life the writer have given a similar report between the qualities and attributes, ideals and indecencies of wedded and unmarried people.

"OF MARRIAGE AND SINGLE LIFE" is an average result of Bacon's adaptable virtuoso. It shows Bacon's propensity to give a subject every one of its advantages and disadvantages. He advances a monetary record of benefits and liabilities of wedded and single life. We see the splendid use of maxim in his papers. In the article "Of Marriage and Single Life", he aphoristically expresses his perusers the advantage of spouses. In his very own discourse: "Spouses are youngsters' special lady; allies for middle age, and elderly people men's medical attendants." It can be said that, Bacon alluringly utilizes various kinds of sayings and extra-common story system which increment the quality of his compositions. He, in his simple, precisely uncovered his perspectives and contemplations to the perusers. His expositions are additionally the hand-book of common sense knowledge full and reasonableness just as advanced with proverbs.

From the earliest starting point of the article, the buildup of thought quickly catches the consideration of the peruser. "He that hath spouse and youngsters hath offered prisoners to fortune."

A spouse and kids are hindrances, which keep a man from going in on any extraordinary direction whether it is for a respectable end or of a hurtful sort. Any eager thoughts must be curbed on the grounds that he can't go out on a limb, which may influence destructively the welfare of his family.

Bacon contends that it is the single and childless men who have done a lot for society. They give a great deal of consideration regarding people in general and utilize their cash and assets for open advantage, in this sense they can be viewed as having hitched the general population everywhere and believing it to be their youngsters. General society is a solitary man's family and he gives his affection and cash to it in Bacon's perspective.

Propelling his contention upon the point, Bacon says that a few men see spouse and kids as money related liabilities to be maintained a strategic distance from. Other absurd and covetous men pride themselves upon the way that they have no youngsters. They feel that they would be thought rich by others on the off chance that they had no kids on whom they needed to spend more.

 

Bacon further says that solitary men demonstrate to be closest companions, better bosses and workers. Be that as it may, they are not in every case productive members of society, as, being rootless and without duty. They think that its simple to leave the nation. Bacon says a fascinating thing as:

"A solitary life doth well with churchmen; for philanthropy will scarcely water the ground where it should initially fill a pool." Bacon appears to be very directly in his announcement. It is better for a pastor to stay single. On the off chance that he has a family, a greater amount of his consideration and friendship will go to it and he can't be relied upon to give full focus to his kin. It is to be noticed that saying to represent the thought is well-suited and has scholarly appeal. Identifying the benefits of wedded life Bacon says:"Certainly spouse and youngsters are a sort of control of humankind."

A spouse and youngsters are a sort of control on a man and he builds up his gentler sentiments. A solitary man is altruistic as he can stand to be so yet he is more pitiless and brutal than a wedded man is. Having no family he comes up short on the chance to practice his delicate and warm emotions.

Being an utilitarian, Bacon identifies a bit of leeway of wedded life that in youth, spouse is the object of sentimental love; in middle age, she is esteemed for her friendship; in mature age, she fills in as a medical caretaker. Bacon is so a lot of utilitarian that he disregards the passionate intrigue and eminent joy of wedded life. He considers ladies as object of utility not as living animal having equivalent right as his own.

There can be no uncertainty about Bacon's enormity as a writer or an exposition craftsman. The article Of Marriage And Single Life obviously exhibits Bacon's forces and gifts. Bacon was a researcher, a man of sound conventional and incredible functional intelligence. H was a researcher by demeanor, a judge by calling, an extraordinary Parliamentarian with an astute and attentive eye. Bacon misuses every one of his ascribes to the most extreme to accomplish his motivation. He has exceptionally sharp understanding into human character id undertakings. He has the uncommon ability of talking about everything from different edges and pennies of view. He communicates his thoughts and perceptions successfully and strongly. His contentions are sensible and persuading — the vast majority of them are dull from regular daily existence. The selection of his pictures is likewise glad. His representations and exchanges are incredible to the point that they never neglect to accomplish their motivation. Bacon is a researcher and a handy logician who theorizes about typical subjects and causes them to charge and lifted up with his treatment. Profound quality, on the off chance that it suits the motivation behind useful utility, has a spot in his plan of this. His ability for buildup (epigrammatic quality) is additionally utilized to advantage here—"for philanthropy will barely water the ground where it should initially fill a pool."

The typical characteristics of Bacon's style are in bounty in this exposition. Numerous sentences in this paper have aphoristic quality and without a doubt, they are the insight embodied. Bacon's adoration for inferences, citations and Latin expressions is shown in this exposition. Generally speaking, in the article "OF MARRIAGE AND SINGLE LIFE" there is absence of feelings yet the contentions are superbly consistent and in this manner, persuading.

Mantra of Success

When do we fail?

Life has been called a unique combination of success and defeat. In fact, both complement each other. If a person has not tasted defeat, he will not be able to enjoy his success. Another aspect is that the bricks of a person’s success are laid on the foundations of the other person’s defeat.

Sarcasm: Can you take that bit?

In conversation with anyone, we often come across situations in which we can't ignore the person whose naive comments are ceaselessly ruffling us or the brain finds itself confounded by an impetuous comment. A situation of that sort can be averted by using a pretty handy tool, although the caution is that the aftermath of an inappropriate usage or timing of that tool could prove to be bleak for the individual.

Sant Maskeen Ji: In his own words (translated from Punjabi)

Journey of life

In his own words

I was born to Mata Ram Kaur ji at S. Kartar Singh ji’s house in Banun district, tehsil ‘Lucky Marravat’ in 1934. My birth place was Banun that was a part of the state of Sirhind (Frontier) that had six districts. The rest five districts were – Hazara, Mardaan, Peshawar, Kuhaant and Dera Ismail Khan.

In my childhood I went to our village primary school. It was with God’s grace that there started emerging in me a poet. At times I uttered such phrases that my friends playing with me were so taken aback and they enjoyed listening to them.

The state of Sirhind was such where the Hindu and Muslim lived together peacefully and they were all so full of respect and love for their religion. That is why every child took it upon himself as his duty to go the gurudwara twice a day. Every child wanted to listen to Rehras Sahib being recited and chanting the Aarti loudly. The child, who did not go to the gurudwara was not taken as a good child.

I too became a part of a group of children and without fail I daily recited Japji Sahib and with much eagerness listened to recitation of Rehras Sahib and chanted Aarti. Playing, studying and observing daily Gurbani routine were the things that were a part and parcel of my childhood.

After passing out from class fourth from Khalsa primary school, I took admission in Government High School. With God’s grace I remained a topped there also, due to which I was as always made to sit in front only. I was receiving affection and encouragement from each of the teachers and the head master.

Things were sailing smoothly with love and encouragement, when something happened. The country was divided. There were four of us in the family – mother; father; sister Sujan Kaur, who was two years elder to me; me and one younger brother – younger brother had succumbed to the chicken pox two years back. I must have been around twelve years old when India’s partition happened. The announcement of the formation of Pakistan had still not been made but Suba Sirhind witnessed dacoities, fires and murders in every nook and corner.

The partition of the country had been effected on the basis of religion. Leaving Laki Maravvat was very painful. I was not attached to this place just because it was my native land, rather I had a host of other memories too associated with this place. I used to go to river Gambhila to bathe there daily. The river was known by two names – the place where it originated it was called ‘Tochi’, but at our place it was referred to as ‘Gambhila’. Further ahead this river joined the Sindh river in the Indus valley.

After bathing in the river, I used to sit by the river side and recite Gurbani. I still cherish those wonderful days. There used to be handpumps at our homes from where we could draw out water. In case we required a larger quantity of water we used to draw it out from the river and then needed an ox or the small horse to carry the load home. Hence, a large number of people went to the river to take a bath. I too went there in the morning and then after reciting Gurbani for a while there, I came back home and after having breakfast, took my bag, and then after paying obeisance at the gurudwara reached Khalsa Primary School. Bhai Pairhha Singh was the headmaster of the school, who was a very religious-minded man. His affectionate behaviour still fills me with fresh vigour and courage.

Finally I had to leave my native place. I secretly wished that we would be able to come back to my place of birth after a few days. But that was not to be. We reached Delhi after a few days and from there we were sent to Alwar in a train.

A letter to Santa

pic src: Letter to Santa

I decided to write a letter to Santa Claus this Christmas with a list of my demands. Here it goes:

Dear Santa

I too am here with a wish or rather wishes. How about something different this time! I hope you help me fulfill those, pleaseeeeee! I have made a list actually, just have a look and give me all those things please:

1. Give me the satisfaction of doing some good for at least one person each day.

2. Let me not be ashamed of myself at the end of the day.

3. Let me see myself eye to eye when I glance at the mirror.

4. Let me make people happy with my disposition.

5. Let my words heal others’ wounds and not have the piercing effect.

6. Give me the courage of conviction so that I can move ahead with confidence.

7. Give the strength to accept my fate, whatever it is.

8. Make my belief in God so strong that no adverse condition is able to shake it.

9. Give me wings to fly, so that I can enjoy a flight of fantasy when things become unbearable.

10. Give me the hope to surge ahead with faith in the time to come.

11. Colour my dreams so that I have a strong reason to look forward to brilliant future.

12. Let me see the light at the end of the tunnel.

13. Give me the courage so that I realize my dreams.

14. Give me the will power so that I have belief in my dreams.

15. Let my efforts not fall short of my targets.

16. Let my prayers be stretched to include the whole of the mankind.

17. Let me not be selfish and greedy restricting the positive vibes only to myself.

18. Help me to spread the message of joy and safely preserve the sorrow deep within me.

19. Give me the gift of truth, honesty, self-determination, sincerity and genuineness.

Is it too much to ask? If that gave you a feeling that ‘all I want is everything’, then please make me a bit less demanding too!!!

While I was typing, I didn’t realize that the list was so long…I was just wanting to be a bit more human…that’s all.

Regards

A being wanting to be a human!

The Bond the better

‘Love among the Bookshelves’: Ruskin Bond - Reviewed by Literary Jewels

Penguin/Viking

Rs. 299

Pages: 185

 “It wasn’t a bookshop, or a library, or a great-aunt’s hoard of romantic novels that made me a reader; it was the week I spent in a forest rest house, in what is now the Rajaji sanctuary, between Hardwar and Dehradun.”

READ THE COMPLETE REVIEW HERE:

'Love Among the Bookshelves' by Ruskin Bond


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