Embrace spirituality in all phases of life

Spirituality is not something you resort to when nothing is happening in your mundane life or when life is overwhelming.

What is spirituality?

Spirituality is being ritual with your spirit. If a ritual is a series of actions performed then the same ritual performed to your own spirt is nothing but spiritual. In simple words, it is contemplating on one Self. Spirituality is not something you resort to when life is distressed or when life is overwhelming. It is a way of life that has to be embraced irrespective of what’s happening in your life either in abundance or shortage.

A skilled gardener doesn’t wait till the plant goes rogue. He knows when to prune the plant. Neither will he withdraw from the act – by the sight of the beautiful, tender light green branches nor by the sick branches. Only when it is pruned, it promotes the plant growth in a manner good for the plant.

How to handle Everyday challenges through spirituality?

Similarly, when life throws challenges at you or a grand party, treat them with awareness. The awareness that this particular experience is NOT permanent. This awareness awakens through regular spiritual practice. This practice shall make you ready for the stones or flowers awaiting you that day and act as a shield keeping you in control. This is one way of approach. The other way is to go with the flow without any control. While the former is action, the latter is reaction. Action is premeditated. Reaction is unintentional. Choose wisely. Since you have chosen wisely, that establishes a need for spiritual practice.

“The pain of discipline is uncomfortable but the pain of regret is unbearable”.
“The 6AM discipline prepares you for the 9AM reality”.

SB Keshav Swami(ISKCON)

How to embark on a Spiritual practice?

Ancient literatures of different religions prescribes various forms of practice. The Bhagavat Gita prescribed various Yoga across 18 chapters. If you have read it and digested it, there is no need to read this post further. For the people of Sai path, you are already in safe hands.

For a beginner – it is important to keep it simple. In a world swamped with information, it is important to choose the practice that works for you.

• Meet the Master – It will be great if you have come across a master who can initiate you into a practice. Having a master always has its own merits. I’m blessed and lucky to have one from various lives. He is Sai Baba. I didn’t choose him. He chose me. To know more about Baba, Sai Satcharitra is a good book to start with.
• Meditation – In easy words, it is an act of observing ones own breath. It will have a calming effect and has a phenomenal chance of transforming your life. Through practice, at a next level, anything you do with a concentrated mind will eventually become meditation.
• Chanting – Sound has tremendous energy on our lives. Why does a particular song brings back age old memories from no where? Chose a Mantra to chant on a daily basis and see the positive changes. It can be from any religion.
  • Hare Krishna Mantra
  • Gayatri Mantra
  • Panchakshari Mantra
  • Astakshari Mantra
• Reading – Daily reading of any scripture that strikes a chord with you. Gita, Quran, Bible etc. Remember ,the book you choose should match your persona ,keep you craving for more and contemplate more on what you read.
• Worship – Daily worshipping your favorite GOD by offering flowers, fruits, Incense stick, Candle etc. anything within your capacity. GOD doesn’t need pomp and circumstance.
• Listening – Listening to spiritual podcasts, lectures and discourses is one easy way to be engaged on a daily basis. You can listen to them while commuting in a car.

These are the few pointers to begin with. It is important to be consistent with time of the daily practice. Mornings are preferably good since the mind will be a clean slate. If you are already in spiritual path and want to up the ante, consider what needs to be done. Remember that this is a continuous activity till the last breath of your life.

Initially, you feel the journey.
Later, you become the journey.

Writer