Spiritual Or Not

I have heard so many people say that they join the spiritual bandwagon because it offers them peace of mind, happiness, tranquility and spiritual knowledge.
Then they join some classes or weekend retreats where they have to do all sorts of meditations, hatha yoga,listen to some devotional songs and discourses, sing songs, eat good food, work for a little while tending to nature or the kitchen, go for long walks or hikes and so on.
So what do these weekend retreats offer to them? All those mentioned above and additional benefits like a diary full of contacts and great camaraderie. Its a great experience from the material worldly point of view. Great stress busters and healthy lifestyle and you are rejuvenated back into your world.
If that is what spirituality is offering then a spa can offer the same at a price for all those who do not believe in the spiritual. So whether there is God or no God, the physical frame of mind can be recharged by any physical or material method.
There are no need for religious dogmas to get to that state of tranquility or peaceful state of mind. Meditation is also not a religious activity, neither are body contortion exercises. Then what is the need for going to a religious or spiritual weekend retreat for getting all that?
I can get the same at any shrinks place,a motivational workshop, a short trip to some place in the sun, a family get together, friends sorority or some other cultural bash also. These are great rejuvenators of mind and body also.
Now the crux of the matter is this-then why get into spiritual dogmas and join such a group when you can get it at some better place where you do not have to meet some religious fanatics.
Spiritual is not about getting all those things mentioned in the first paragraph.
Spiritual is all about getting to know your true Self or the path of Realization and Liberation from the mundane world. It is about understanding your true essence and the relationship with the material world.It is about dropping all our material wants and getting back to a blissful state which is your true being. The need to have a spiritual guide is very essential since the path is unknown and being an unknown destination even those in the know are difficult to find.So just keep your antennas receptive and get into that world for these unknown things and have no other aspirations except what I told you about, otherwise you will be disillusioned.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I just wrote a para about going tos such a class and I stumbled upon this post of urs. :)
I agree with what you are saying but for many of us who do not know how to self realize, these classes are a blessing, a place where we get to contmplate. In The routine life where we have to do our duties, we hardly get to contemplate and these classes are often a guide. Am I wrong?
December 26, 2010 at 10:43 PM
Unknown said…
Not at all Bhagyareema. Sitting in the company of smokers, one can get cancer too-but the chances???You write about contemplation which happens to one and all. That would be like a text book being taught to a student of 10th standard by his teacher about Theory of Relativity but will the student really understand that? If Einstein were to teach that, then the knowledge would be astounding, right? The difference lies in the True Masters teachings versus the mundane ones. I hope you find yours soon. God bless you.
December 28, 2010 at 7:07 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I Don't Like What You Do!

I was very surprised to see this comment in my inbox yesterday and it was written by one of my dearest friends. He said that he did not like what I do! In spiritual! So why did I join the spiritual bandwagon and what is it that makes me write such stuff on this topic? He truly seemed flabbergasted and wanted to know the whys and the wherefores of it! Spiritual does not happen to a person the way you may get married or pass your school or college. It is mentioned in the holy texts that urge and desire to know God or Self comes about very rarely. Every individual knows about God from his own parents or relatives or friends. His knowledge is as trivial as theirs. None of these are qualified to talk about God. Since no one has seen or experienced Him, how can anyone talk about Him? The knowledge that they profess to have is as trivial as their forefathers since neither of them have experienced Him ever. The knowledge of Self or the longing for liberation happens to someone by the
Keep reading

Success & Failure

Yesterday one of my disciples came and asked me to say some words for her future. She was celebrating her 20th birthday. Though I speak on spiritual I told her that I will talk about her career and other such opportunities. I asked her what she would like to do after she completes her studies and the answer was-I don't know! I told her that it is useless playing football without the goal posts and opponents, so she better have a goal in life. The next was whom would she like to emulate in material worldly success and the immediate answer was Mark Zukerberg, Bill Gates, Mittal and the like! They are highly successful people in this world. Then I asked her whom she would not like to emulate or whom does she consider the most unsuccessful person in life? That was difficult to say. I prodded her! Unable to pin point anyone, I told her the people I would not like to emulate or copy are my parents! That shocked her completely and immediately the heckles stood up. But frankly look a
Keep reading

Torito De Pucara in Peru

Image
And we believe that Indians are the only ones who are very superstitious...here are two examples of roof tops of houses in Ollantaytambo, Peru. These are symbols put up atop houses and are called Torito de Pucara. Two bulls, a Cross, A cock, Jugs, flowers, bottle of wine, etc. These are symbols of fertility, prosperity and wealth.
Keep reading