Importance of Spirituality in Life

1. Importance of Spirituality in Life Compiled from books written by Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya Founder All World Gayatri Pariwar

2. Outline • Understanding Spirituality • Science versus Spirituality • Is spirituality a curse? • Some misconceptions • What is true spirituality? • Its importance • Basic principles

3. Successes of Science • An endless list: • Wealth of knowledge, unraveling mysteries • Disaster management • Means of Communication • Means of Conveyance • Means of Comfort • Medicine and surgery • ….

4. Limitations of Science • All aspects of science deal with matter and physical forms of energy • Cannot answer many questions: • Why do we take birth and why do we die? • What is happiness and what is sorrow? • What are feelings and emotions? • What is the tendency to sacrifice for others? • How to solve social problems? • How to transform an ordinary being to a great man? Science is important but not everything

5. Two aspects of creation: matter consciousness (‘chetana’/soul) Two methods of study Science – study of matter, physical forces/energies that influence matter Spirituality – study of consciousness and its evolution/progress About Science and Spirituality Consciousness is superior to matter … so spirituality must be superior to science! Is it really so?

6. Science Deals with what can be perceived by sense organs/physical instruments Scientific method: hypothesis, followed by experiments for verification What is proven by hard evidence is true Spirituality Deals with sublime unperceivable concepts like consciousness Hypotheses cannot be verified in physical terms in any laboratory Truth known only through self realization! Comparison of Science and Spirituality

7. Highly universal: scientific statements have no ambiguity Science accepted and used by all Spiritual concepts and methods have huge variations across different sects/religions, even contradictory Intellectuals have ignored, expressed doubts and ridiculed spirituality Comparison of Science and Spirituality

8. Scientists Earned success: understood physical matter and energy and used them to reap rich benefits Earn respect, high positions and wealth Contribute to betterment of society through technology development “Spiritualists” Most are failures: flights of fantasy, magical powers that they cannot demonstrate, talk of concepts that cannot be proven Most are poor, uneducated untalented Most are dependent on society for even daily needs Comparison of Scientists with “Spiritualists”

9. Is Spirituality Really Superior?

10. Or is Spirituality a Curse? Wastage of time at religious gatherings and pilgrimages Wastage of resources on grand occasions

11. Is Spirituality a Curse? Vices everywhere! Fundamentalism

12. Is Spirituality a Curse? Religious songs and discourses : a new very popular mode of entertainment!

13. Is Spirituality a Curse? No!!! • Achievements of truly spiritual persons of past era • Innumerable qualities and great talents. • Supernatural powers • Love and sensitivity for all beings • Blessings could fulfill all wishes • Solutions to all problems of mankind, could create a perfectly harmonious society • Deciphered the hidden forces of Nature • Understood vital spiritual energy (life force-prana)

14. Endless Contributions of Indian Spiritualists: • Ved Vyas’s Literature • Nagarjuna’s Chemistry, Charak’s Botany, Sushrut’s Surgery • Yagyavalkya’s research on Yagya • Vishwamitra’s Science of Mantras • Parashuram’s fight for uprooting injustice and vices • Dadhichi’s donation of his bones for the construction of vajra • Bhagirath’s devout ascetic endeavor • Panini’s Sanskrit Grammar • Patanjali’s Yoga • Vaiseshik’s Atomic Science • Arjun’s mastery in battles • Chanakya’s establishment of Nalanda • Guiding kings like Ram, Chandragupta Maurya, Rana Pratap, Shivaji. • Shankaracharya, Vivekanand and Dayanand’s efforts to restore glory …

15. What is Spirituality ? • It is a pathway from smallness to greatness • Method to attain happiness and fulfillment – self, society, world • Its capability and dignity is much greater than science. • Spirituality: establish best qualities into every aspect of one’s life • Problems are due to misconceptions

16. Some Misconceptions That Must be Removed • God is a fish that can be enticed! • Prayers, offerings, rituals • Lofty desires

17. Some misconceptions … • Spirituality means run away ! • Life in solitude

18. Some misconceptions … • Holy fire (dhuni) • Ash, beards, attire • Strange weapons

19. Some misconceptions … • Pilgrimage and holy gatherings

20. Aim of Spirituality • Understand consciousness (research) • Put the understanding to good use! • Creating happy and contented lives • Discovering hidden talents • Removing pain and sorrow • Solve social problems • Supernatural powers for benefit of all

21. Importance of Spirituality • Personal level: • Health • Stress • Create harmony with self, family, society • Know purpose of life … • Global level • Materialism and selfishness – creation of all problems • Spirituality – love, kindness, equality – solution to all the problems

22. Very Basic Concepts of Spirituality

23. Basic Principle : • Right achievement at the right price – spiritual achievements are reserved only for those who have proven their worth • Promotion • Scholarship

24. More examples …

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27. Basic Principle: • Spiritual achievements possible only when we increase our own worth • Understanding our hidden worth • Refining our personality • Purity in beliefs • Purity in thinking • Purity in actions

28. Understand who we are: • Amazing human body

29. Understand who we are: • Five subtle dimensions of consciousness

30. Understand who we are: • Science understands only 7% of capabilities of brain • What does the remaining 93 % do? • Contains hidden supernatural powers – superconscious mind

31. Refining Personality • Why are these powers hidden? • Evolution of soul

32. Two steps to a refined personality • Tap (cleansing) & Yog (instilling good qualities)

33. Tap (cleansing) • Establishing complete control over self • Tap in modern times • Indriya sanyam (control over senses) • Arth Sanyam (control over finances) • Samay Sanyam (Preventing wastage of time) • Vichar Sanyam (learning how to restrain the thinking process)

34. Yog • Attach oneself to One who represents all the best human qualities • Sincere effort to awaken within ourselves qualities like: • Selflessness • Love towards all • Courage • Independence • Determination … • Create a symbol • Become one with that - Upasana

35. To conclude - • Science and spirituality – two methods to search for truth • Religious communities have neglected spirituality • Spiritual progress means: • Realize we are much more than physical body • Search for ill-tendencies and bad qualities • Remove them with deliberate effort (Tap) • Fill in good qualities (Yog) • Spiritual achievements reserved for those who become worthy and put sincere efforts

36. References: • Understanding Spirituality: • What is Spirituality • Meaning, Purpose and Benefits of Worship • Prepare Yourself to Excel • Jivan Sadhana • Human Body • Wonders of Human Bioelectricity • Astonishing Power of Biophysical and Subtle Energies • Manavi Kaya Kitni Vilakshan

38. Guru Vandana