I have always maintained that God is too huge to be confined within the boundaries of religion. To me God is the all pervading, omnipresent, benevolent being – the supreme power that makes the cosmos go round. By surrendering myself to this I focus my energies to my goals, calm my jittery nerves and continue with the business of life.
Being spiritual to me is not necessarily being religious. One need not go to a temple or a church to be in sync with his or her spiritual self. It is something that each one has to realize in his or her unique way. Suffice to say, it helps.
In these fast days with abnormally stretched work timings, crazy workloads and huge stress levels. everybody needs a release, a catharsis. And alarmingly, the catharsis too has to be instant, in keeping with the times. Instant gratification, be that in inter personal relationships or substance and alcohol abuse. The everyday routine of slog-drink-binge-sex-sleep during the week and splurge-drink-binge-sex-sleep in the weekends is pushing many a youngster to the brink. People who, unknowingly are becoming slaves of a lifestyle, that is quietly corroding their souls, pushing them slowly towards the inevitable destruction.
I have with a great amount of success used tools of spirituality with individuals and groups like these. Going to a place of worship is un cool for these youngsters. Perish the thought. Explain the fact that they are now living life in one dimension catering to the basic, physical urges. Tell them that there is a higher plane of life, that they should aspire to live life for the soul and that by doing so, should try to elevate their existence to the next level, that of spirituality.
One phrase that always works is that life is not a lounge bar for you to chill out. There is much more to it. Go out. Discover yourself. Take up a hobby. Do a good deed. Help someone in need. Plant a tree. Spend time with the family. But above all, try to ask yourself what is the purpose of whatever you are doing. And then, concentrate on the job on hand and give it your everything – heart and soul.
Meditation also helps. I had this group meditate for just a few minutes before work for a month. No prayers, no chanting, nothing religious. They were asked to relax and rid their mind of all thoughts. Initially it was difficult as most had already slipped into the work mode mentally with the processors in the mind busy tackling the work to be done. But slowly they learnt to, what one of them called, “detoxify the mind” and be at peace with their selves. Most of them called it a spiritual exercise that helped them focus better which led to a dramatic improvement in the performance levels.
I have also seen dramatic effects of chants and hymns – irrespective of religious moorings. I had once exposed a certain heterogeneous group to Buddhist chants. Nothing. Just close your eyes for five minutes, switch off your mind and relax. There is no need, even to consciously hear the chants. Just relax and be one with the cosmos. Everyone in the group wanted copies of the chants for use at home and for friends, such profound was the impact.
When in trouble, the first thing that we do is instinctively pray “Oh God, help me.” All is say to everyone is embrace the feeling in your daily life. Do everything that you act upon in consultation with your God. He will help you do the good deeds better and stop you from committing the wrongs. And in the process, help you become a better human being. If that is not spirituality, then hat is?