Spirituality is a deeply personal journey, one that evolves with time, experience, and introspection. For me, as a child, God was Krishna, Ganapathi, Shiva, and the other Hindu gods and goddesses who were the protagonists of my grandmother’s stories. I looked up to them and drew inspiration and security from their tales to face my next day at school. As I grew up, I was exposed to other religions, castes, and the many labels that we choose to divide ourselves by. Just when you think there can’t be further divisions, there are more. It’s like we are constantly trying to tell ourselves we are part of a very exclusive group that’s better than every other person on this earth.
Becoming an ATHEIST
I hated how we found ways to divide ourselves. So much so that I started to run away from labels. I tried to embrace all religions, cultures, etc., but eventually, it led to frustration as I didn’t fit anywhere. I felt isolated, like nobody understood me. Prayers never brought me peace, and my life was making no sense. It was the emptiest I had felt in my life, leading me to conclude that probably there was no God. It was like I had lost my best friend!
The Shift: Evolution of Spirituality
As I grew older and drifted apart from real-life best friends who got busy with their own lives and I… continued trying hard to find my purpose. One random day, I had a dream featuring a Sanskrit shloka:
Asato Ma Sad Gamaya,
Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya,
Mrityor Ma Amritam Gamaya,
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.
I had to Google its meaning: “From untruth to truth, from darkness to light, from death to eternity. Peace, peace, peace.” The exact thing I wanted… Peace. That one shloka made me try to understand the depth of many prayers and shlokas, which turned out to be positive affirmations of oneself and a means of connecting with everything around.
This realization made me see that spirituality was not just about connecting with a higher power but also about connecting with oneself and others. It is about finding meaning and purpose in everyday interactions and experiences. This broader perspective allowed me to see spirituality in the beauty of nature, the depth of human relationships, and simple acts of kindness and compassion.
The Transformation: Connecting with People
The most significant transformation in my spiritual journey happened when I read the Bhagavad Gita. Even though I looked up to Krishna as a kid, it took me many years to discover his knowledge about life. The Bhagavad Gita, rich with philosophy on how to live life, left me with two points that have stuck with me the most: “Keep doing your work, don’t worry about the rewards,” and “Karma” – what you do, you will get back. Even the scientific side of me couldn’t dismiss these philosophies.
The first principle – doing work without many expectations – proved true in my experiences. When you do something without focusing on the rewards, you do enjoy it far more. As for Karma, it mirrors Newton’s third law: “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.”
So, work on yourself without putting yourself under too much stress. Enjoy every day and appreciate everything and everybody around you. See what you can add to their lives. It’s about recognizing the divine within each individual and valuing the interconnectedness of all life. This approach to spirituality has enriched my life, making me more aware of the shared human experience and the importance of nurturing relationships.
Conclusion: A New Journey
My journey from viewing spirituality as divine worship to embracing it as a connection with people has been one of continuous growth and evolution. This broader understanding has brought a sense of balance and fulfillment, allowing me to see the sacred in everyday life. Spirituality, for me, is now about fostering deep connections, practicing empathy, and contributing to the collective well-being of humanity.
As we navigate our individual spiritual paths, it is essential to remain open to change and growth. Spirituality is not a static concept but a dynamic and evolving journey that can lead us to deeper connections with ourselves, others, and the world around us. By embracing this holistic approach, we can find greater meaning and purpose in life, enriching our own lives and those of others. Embracing the diversity without losing our own self….
What has your spiritual journey been like? Please share your experiences; they would go a long way in adding to my own understanding!
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