SPIRITUALITY - The True and Deeper Meaning

    Spirituality is one such concept that is widely used, which is broad and multifaceted. Before writing about this topic, I had thought for a while whether to express my ideas here or not. Spirituality is a concept often overlooked and misunderstood in contemporary society. Many associate it with disciplined practices, detachment from worldly pleasures, rigid rules, and certain hypothetical beliefs which lead to a lot of hesitation even to speak about it. Sometimes, people mix in superstitions, making things even more confusing.

    Spirituality covers a wide range of beliefs, practices, and experiences, and it can mean different things to different people. Often for many individuals, spirituality is about connecting with something greater than themselves, a supernatural being up there. Sometimes it's about getting into extreme practices like meditating in the mountains, sacrificing worldly pleasures, strict rituals, or exhibiting vows or ex-votos. Many young folks think spirituality is just nonsense. But in this blog, I want to clear up some misunderstandings and show why Spirituality is worth embracing. There's a deeper wisdom to spirituality that goes beyond religion or supernatural ideas. Let's explore together and discover the true meaning of spirituality.

Before heading, I want to clarify that I'm not attempting to dismiss or misinterpret anyone's beliefs about God. My intention is simply to offer a perspective on connecting with that higher power in a way that resonates with you personally. Spirituality extends beyond simply reaching out to a distant, supreme power. It's primarily about forging a profound connection with our own SELF — embracing one's inner wisdom, values, beliefs, and untapped potential. It's a journey inward, toward self-discovery and personal growth. Instead of blindly adhering to spiritual practices, it's essential to understand the underlying reasons or the "WHY" behind spirituality is very crucial.

Here are some practices for which we can give a perfect meaning. Providing meaningful explanations for certain practices can enhance our understanding and appreciation for our Spiritual practices.

 

Fasting

Fasting is often associated with fulfilling wishes, desires, or religious observances. Fasting on certain days or certain periods is believed to facilitate the manifestation of these desires. Eg: Fasting on Sankasti to remove obstacles in life. Saturday fasting is to avoid defects of planet Shani.

Meaning: However, fasting extends beyond mere wish fulfillment; it carries a deeper significance for self and body care. Through fasting, we aim to rid the body of unwanted toxins, allowing it the time to remove them. Moreover, maintaining an empty stomach during fasting is associated with heightened energy levels. Your performances, physical activities, also your mental power of focus, and concentration are highly optimal during fasting. Opting for a weekly fast or concentrating on a diet of raw fruits, vegetables, and water proves to be a beneficial choice for overall health.

Offering

Presenting fruits, flowers, coconuts, ghee, incense, oil, lamps, candles, monetary contributions, and more, serves as a gesture to foster a connection between devotees and divine entities, spiritual beings, or ancestors.

Meaning: Offering symbolizes a gesture of gratitude, reverence, and acknowledgment towards higher powers. Its primary objective is to cultivate the virtue of generosity. The act of giving not only strengthens benevolent qualities within oneself but also fosters kindness, compassion, and goodwill.

Prayers: 

Recitations of slokas, bhajans, and prayers are often expressions of praise and gratitude towards the divine. In some traditions, they may also be viewed as essential daily rituals.

Meaning: 

The essence underlying all verbal expressions of spirituality revolves around the utilization of mindful and potent words. These are often referred to as Switch words or Bheej mantras. Words carry energy, enriching our spiritual state. For instance, the Ganapati sloka: "Om shreem hreem kleem glaum gam ganapataye varavarada sarvajanamme vashamanaya svaha." Each word encapsulates powerful meanings, conveying concepts of abundance, wealth, vitality, growth, happiness, and prosperity. Repetition of such powerful words daily can elevate our energy levels. This underscores the importance of mindful communication and the transformative power of words. Therefore, it's imperative to use positive, empowering, appreciating language in our speech.

Meditation: 

Many young individuals tend to dislike this aspect of meditation, finding it dull or irrelevant to their generation. They find it as a harassment to sit still and concentrate on the breathing or specific points of the body, like the tip of the nose or the space between the eyebrows.

Meaning: 

Meditation is like a tool for exploring ourselves. It helps us to connect with our feelings, thoughts, and deeper spiritual side. It's like taking a journey inside ourselves, where we learn to pay attention to the present moment and be more aware of what's happening right now. In our daily lives, we often carry around worries about the past and fears about the future. Meditation teaches us to focus on the present and let go of those worries. It's also about asking ourselves important questions and finding answers from our inner thoughts and feelings. Our minds hold a lot of wisdom from our experiences and even from our ancestors. When we meditate and calm our minds, it helps us see things more clearly and find direction in our lives through those inbuilt wisdoms.

Sacrifice: 

Across history, we've witnessed individuals turning towards monks, sadhus, and spiritual gurus through significant acts of sacrifice, such as renouncing worldly pleasures, leaving behind their families, shaving their heads, and adopting simple attire.

Meaning:

Sacrifice is essentially about embracing simplicity. Living a life of simplicity is what COVID has taught us. Sacrifice teaches living with less and finding fulfillment in minimalism. Another aspect of sacrifice involves embracing discomfort and challenges, stepping beyond comfort zones to fully experience life to the fullest.  It is believed that Growth and success happen outside the comfort zone. Emotional sacrifice includes releasing attachments to specific emotions through forgiveness and letting go of toxic relationships. Ultimately, sacrifice leads to simplicity, liberation from unhealthy relationships, fulfillment,  letting go of unwanted emotions, transcending ego, and undergoing inner transformation.

Vows/Ex-Voto:

 Vows /ex-votos are basically seeking divine assistance to fulfill our deepest desires or overcome underlying challenges. Often we make offerings such as coconuts, jaggery, gold, and silver, and engage in rituals like circumrotation (so-called ಉರುಳು ಸೇವೆ -Urule seve in Kannada), or fasting, all in the hope of manifesting miracles in our lives. It's like saying, "Hey, God! If you help me with this problem, I promise to offer you..." It's somewhat like making a business deal with the Divine (haha).

Meaning: 

Ex-votos represent a symbolic commitment to surrender or give up specific aspects of our lives in exchange for the fulfillment of our desires. The basic idea of such sacrifice is to be prepared to let go of elements within us that no longer serve our lives. For instance, one might say, "I will offer my earnings(rice/coconut/jaggery/gold/silver) to make my wishes come true", OR 'I am willing to give up non-vegetarian food if my financial issues are resolved,' or 'I am ready to eliminate anger in exchange for the removal of illness in my family.' These rituals serve as a gesture of dedication, demonstrating our willingness to release certain elements in pursuit of our aspirations.

    Spirituality can mean different things to different people, whether it's feeling connected to nature, the universe, God, consciousness, or exploring the depths of their own inner selves. It's not just about religious rituals but also about finding meaning and purpose in everyday life experiences, like moments of reflection or acts of kindness towards others. Spirituality is all about personal growth and self-awareness, whether through meditation, prayer, or simply reflecting on one's beliefs and values.

    It's important to understand that spirituality is a unique journey for each individual. Some may find it through yoga or mindfulness practices, while others may explore it through religious rituals, creative expression, or community involvement. Ultimately, spirituality is about finding a sense of connection and fulfillment, nurturing our souls, and gaining a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

"Spirituality is more about oneself than divinity"

"Through Spirituality, one can have a Purposeful living"

"Let's Embrace and appreciate every religious spiritual practice."