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.

That One Moment

Since times immemorial, man has divided time into three entities, namely past, present and future. But have we ever racked our brains in trying to define present? Amongst these three states of convenience probably the toughest to define is ‘present’. Past and future can be very conveniently bound in few words of description. Present has the shortest duration. It is just a fleeting moment. ‘Time goes by my friend, we stand put’. It is an age-old principle of a happy life put forward by the philosophers that we must live in the present. Now what of us who want to spend a lifetime in that one fleeting moment?

Robert Browning, the famous English poet and a confirmed optimist, wrote:

Act, act in the living present

Let the dead past bury its dead.

Trick lies in making the most of the living present. Even in spiritual terms, present has been given the utmost importance. If our aim is realization of God, the time is now. All the basic spiritual keywords of every religion like ‘Om’; ‘Waheguru’ etc. are uttered in just one breath, that is, the present. Herein lays the essence of the ultimate realization. Also this fact gives boost to the special position that present holds. Therefore, we can say, that the journey to the ‘Brahm’ is of a moment. It might sound easy but on the contrary, it is the most difficult thing.

Delving deep into the past and travelling too far away into the future is a very casual experience that we all do in our daily life. Capturing the fleeting moment is a Herculean task to do. A striking balance of mind, full concentration, rapt attention and a clear-cut focus is what is needed for this one moment journey of a lifetime.

God is not to be found somewhere in the forests. He is not an external entity. He is inside all of us. He is everywhere, in every speck, in every nook and corner. This is because he is not a physical being. He is a spirit, a power, a feeling, a sense of faith, a sense of our firm belief. He is there when we believe in Him. So all it takes a true heart and a moment to seek his blessings and to have Him within our reach.