“Here and How” of Spirituality: Focusing Global Mental health

1. “Here and How” of Spirituality: Focusing Global Mental health Prof. KAILASH TULI IILM Institute for Higher Education New Delhi, INDIA Email kailash.tuli@iilm.edu

2. Spirituality • Human beings exist at various levels • They are the bodies • They are the mind • They are the spirits • They are the Social creatures • They are product of their cultures • They function at physiological plain • They are the functions of age • They have Emotions • Their geography influences them • Their climate influence them • They are part of infinite system

3. Spirituality • But They Have a Soul • Each one of Us has a Soul • Body with Soul is Living • Body without Soul is Dead • Soul is the indicator lamp of the Body • Spirituality is the characteristic of the Soul • Version of spirituality and soul have few variations in different religions • According to Myers, “There is spiritual hunger in the age of Plenty“ • “Spirit rises, Matter falls”

4. Spirituality and Religions • Most of the religions rely on the soul (mystical in nature) phenomenon. Sounds enigmatic • Various religions differ in explanation of the soul • Yet there is some convergence in their explanations • Spirituality is more closer to mysticism • Scriptures often induce spirituality • It is highly experiential in nature • Concepts in religion are often not questioned • Truth may be accepted but normally without questioning • Counter questioning is not a common norm

5. Scientific Spirituality • It is the activity of the brain which gives riser to MIND ----Penfield • Best example of scientific spirituality is of Albert Einstein interpreted the Universe with Theory of Relativity, Energy mass relationship E=mc2 etc. • The scientific interpretation of environment is equally spiritual experience • Knowing the truth is always fascinating • Focus is on exploration, sharing, disseminating of knowledge and truth • Everyone having quest can join in the race for unfolding the mysteries of Knowledge & Truth

6. Spirituality and modern world • Spiritual thinking modes help in creating peace, harmony, order and Gestalt • If in turbulent world people consider spirituality, then that can inculcate global harmony • Technology has brought many comforts but at the cost of mental calmness • Materialism in the age of plenty eventually makes many people insecure • “Spirit rises, matter falls” That can be panacea for various human materialistic problems • A balance need to exist in material desires • Beware of GREED and its fallout

7. Happiness Index • According to Jigme Wangchuk, The king of Bhutan, “Gross national happiness is more important than gross national product”. • Happiness is not always dependent upon material comforts • Happiness is an inner state of mind and spirit • Materialism brings comforts but is not a guarantee to happiness • Giving, sharing, communing with others, brings new joys, satisfaction, contentment and hope • “Caring for poorest of the poor” was the life Motto of Mother Teresa, the angel like lady, The Nobel Laureate, who kindled millions of lives

8. Seductive Technology and Greed • Materialism seduces people. • “Affordance” is the quality of material objects to mentally “catch-hold” the people • Greed is root problem of many sufferings • Mahatma Gandhi said, “Nature has provided for everybody’s needs but NOT for Greed” • Need and Greed need to be differentiated with wisdom and self analysis • Prudence is required to stop vicious circle of needs and greed • Check when greed is superseding need • Greed can eventually be killing self or others

9. Civilized Man’s Eight Deadly Sins • Konrad Lorenz visualized eight grievous blunders of mankind. These are: • 1) Overpopulation, • 2) Devastation of Environment, • 3) Man’s race against Himself, • 4) Entropy Feeling, • 5) Genetic Decay, • 6) Breakdown with Tradition, • 7) Indoctrinablity, and • 8) Nuclear Weapon Proliferation.

10. Peace Inducing Activities (PIAs) • Peace in Global context is both at Micro and Macro level • One Vedic hymn pray about peace in ALL domains of Universe like water, air, fire Earth, flora and fauna and everything in Universe • PiAs are a way of life to create culture and civilization of peace on Earth • If every individual wishes and conceives for peace then finally world peace can emerge • PIAs can include activities like Prayer, health care, Mediation, Loving and caring for the poor, spreading messages of peace and harmony, coexistence, forgiving and forgetting

11. Spirituality, Gestalt and Yoga • Spirituality has correlates like Yoga, Meditation, Prayers, Gestalt, • Activities which have synergies with each similar philosophy are good to follow to achieve the major goals of world peace • Yogic practices by Mahesh Yogi (like TM ) and Swami Ram Dev have such kind of impact on large segments of population • Spiritual leaders like Dalai Lama, Ramakrishna, Sai Baba, Ninh Thanh have great impacts • Combining Yoga , Gestalt and Spirituality has good impact in Counseling & Psychotherapy

12. Concept of Time & Space • Meditating on Time dimension is very unique exploration of the inner psyche • Imaging that human race is in continuity, yet no one is living for ever • Imagining the vastness of this planet and beyond is wonderful and spiritual experience • While flying one gets a glimpse of this vastness • Powers of Ten by Charlie and Ray Eames will demonstrate this (To show 9-minutes video) • Meditate on this experience in terms of infiniteness of time and space (Brief activity workshop). Attain calmness-Think collectively

13. Conceptualizing and loving the GAIA • Gaia is the Greek word for Mother Earth • Human existence on this planet is very delicate balance of numerous variables • Excessive tampering will harm the Gaia • It is like the huge organism and if anything worst happens to it then it may not survive • Earth’s death means the death of everybody living on that • Everybody has a global responsibility • We can be good to Mother Earth if wee are loving fellow human beings • Sound mental health is essential to have loving attitude

14. Journey towards Utopia • Human race needs a clear future vision • To think of Sustainability in times to come • Promising future are good to dream but require commitment to achieve • Threats of war, violence and Terrorism need eradication and these thoughts leading to horrendous acts lie in minds , which require sound MENTAL HEALTH • Sound mind in sound body on sound society • Spiritual humanity can dare to achieve UTOPIA • And Thinking positively it will be achieved

15. Spirituality Works! • There are many instances in which spiritual people have bailed out the world from dire consequences • Consider the preaching and holy messages of great people • History tells, after every act of war and violence on Earth, only peace has provided balm effect • Consider the contributions of 95 Nobel Laureates and 20 organizations who were conferred the Nobel Peace Prize • Evaluate what great scientists and inventors have given to this world, which makes our lives amazingly comfortable. Express your Gratitude

16. What Envelopes Us? • Watch the places in which we live. • Our three environments are: • Nature • Man-made • Social • These three are simultaneously enveloping each one of us • Keeping a balance is essential • From timer to time watch this envelope, which encases everybody on this Earth • Honoring Gaia is essential for sustainability

17. Summarizing in Mirage form • Paths of Knowledge and enlightenment is never-ending and infinite • We can always look for reality but it never reaches so easily • Keep exploring, questioning, investigating • Quest for truth is enlightening intellectually • Objectivity in spiritual matters will bring us closer to spiritual reality ***************************************************** THANK YOU *****************************************************

18. RabindraNath Tagore’s Gitanjali quotation • Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure. This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again, and fillest it ever with fresh life. • This little flute of a reed thou hast carried over hills and dales, and hast breathed through it melodies eternally new. • At the immortal touch of thy hands my little heart loses its limits in joy and gives birth to utterance ineffable. • Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these very small hands of mine. Ages pass, and still thou pourest, and still there is room to fill.