President, International Academy of Ethics ethicsacademy.co.in
Επιμέλεια: Εύα Πετροπούλου Λιανού
This speech was delivered by Dr. Jernail S. Anand, President, International Academy of Ethics, at Matica Srpska, Novi Sad, Serbia, during his recent visit to Serbia
As soon as we think of spirituality, a sage appears in our view, who is living on the bare minimums, and accosts us to leave this material world, and look for bliss in renunciation and meditation. These people are considered to be close to gods, and also, who know more than ordinary people and can look into the past as well as the future of men.
The world ‘spirituality’ comes from the Latin word “spiritus”, which means “breath” signifying life. Spiritual means relating to people’s thoughts and beliefs, rather than to their bodies and physical surroundings. Brene Brown, a US scholar, defines spirituality as recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion.
According to Hinduism, spirituality is the science of the spirit. It is also called Atam Gyan [Self-Awareness]. There are three ways of spiritual practice: Jnana, the way of knowledge, Bhakti, the way of devotion, and Karma Yoga, the way of selfless action.
Four principles of spirituality in Hinduism: Dharma, [Righteousness] Artha,[Prosperity, economic values], Kama [Pleasure, love, psychological values & Moksha.[Liberation, spiritual values, self -realization etc.] Thus, they can act ethically and lead morally upright lives. Moksha means salvation, from worldly cycle of life and death, which is possible by good karma only. Indian philosophy provides for Relationships, Values and Life Purpose as the three pillars of spirituality.
According to Sikh religion, Guru Nanak whose birthday falls today [14/11/2024], he said that “Truth is higher than everything else, yet there is one thing higher than truth itself. And it is Truthful Living”. It is the conduct o man with his fellow beings which finally matters, and which is the beginning of the philosophy of ethics.
Science of the Spirit
I believe it is the study of the spirit which underlies every object created in the universe. It is this spirit which unites the entire cosmos. It runs through every object, every being, animate or otherwise. Everything has the stamp of the creator. The things which seem different are different only in bodies and shapes. Essentially, the same life, the same current, the same spirit pervades every being. This spirit is deathless. Death comes to the shapes which are controlled by time. Anything that is born on this earth is trapped in time. It has a certain life. It is born and then it fades away. Death relates only to the forms. Spirit is deathless. In this way, spirituality is the science of the deathless. Spirituality belongs to the Deathless One.
Religion and Spirituality
Religions attempt to explain the essential reality. They are expected to connect man with the invisible forces above. But unfortunately, religions have come to focus only on the outer garments of the spirit. Religions lay heavy stress on what to wear, how to wear, how to act, how to pray, what words to use. These are formal affairs only. If you wear everything according to religion, and ‘look’ perfect, it is all well even if you indulge in moral corruption. Unfortunately, religion has been reduced to formal living, and it is now being used to cause divisions among mankind.
If I am perfect in wearing a dress prescribed by a religion, but my actions do not correspond to the prescriptions of that religion, will you call me religious?
Knowledge versus Wisdom
Our civilization is built on knowledge. Satan was specifically interested in knowledge. That is why he made Eve and Adam to violate the divine command and eat the forbidden fruit of knowledge. Knowledge destroyed the innocence which is the essential attribute of human creation. Knowledge has been used by men to destroy nature. Knowledge has led to an empire in which peace, happiness and joy have gone on long leave. Bliss is absent from this world. The reason once again is our overemphasis on Knowledge.
Why Satan wanted Adam and Eve to go for the fruit of Knowledge? It means it was Satan who wanted men to have knowledge. And today, we are doing his behest because we are only after Knowledge, not after the wisdom, which is required to lead this life successfully.
Religion and Knowledge both have conspired to keep human race away from Innocence, the basis of Bliss, Happiness and Joy.
Moreover, gods have earmarked a certain essential intelligence for every being. If we try to garner more knowledge, it becomes counter-productive. And we can see, our civilization is at the height of human knowledge. Technology has helped man in a thousand ways to live comfortably. But, in spite of everything, happiness eludes mankind. It is simply because the people have gained more knowledge than was good for them.
If I come to know what Mr. A thinks of me and others, is this knowledge good for me? Knowledge to a limited degree was good for mankind. Knowing more is disastrous for us.
Spirituality Versus Knowledge
Knowledge defines and studies the phenomenon, [the physical endowments], whereas spirituality focuses on the essential wisdom behind the phenomenon [the inner spirit]. To understand the reality of the phenomenon, knowledge is not enough. We need wisdom to interpret what is happening.
Difference makes No Difference
Spirituality studies the phenomenon from its inside, and brings man to the realization that difference makes no difference. There is essentially a singular universe, and diversities only enrich its emotional fabric. We are different, but this difference makes no difference. We are sent here to perceive this unification between our little selves and others as well as with the cosmos bearing the traces of His presence in every form.
Spiritual Mafia [Babas]
The prevailing idea that saging and seering is related to spirituality has led to creation of a spiritual mafia of corporate ‘babas’ who believe in accumulating physical assets of the world. They indulge in gathering wealth and power, and mislead millions with false promises of ‘bliss’. Men cannot be blessed by the words of these ‘fake-ers’. Yes, you can encounter all types of crimes done under the hide of religiosity.
[You know .. the word .. ‘fake’. From fake.. I can make a word … Fakeers… these Corporate Babas are fakeers, nor fakirs]
Tip of the Iceberg
The life that we encounter is tip of the iceberg. Religions deal with this tip, whereas spirituality looks for the iceberg, which I call the Life berg.
From Religion to Cosmic Harmony
Spirituality relates to freedom of the spirit whereas religiosity is a branding activity. People go to the extent of calling them heretics who do not believe with them. A religion is an order, which sets our thinking in a pattern. How much freedom water has when it enters a tunnel? Religions are tunnels which make life flow in a particular discipline but how many have passed over to heaven is a matter of conjecture.
In fact, what we need are men who are in harmony with the cosmic forces. And this is possible only through spirituality.
The Golden Dust
Spirituality is the golden dust sprinkled over the objects of nature, so that they radiate the glow of divinity. A religious person prays for his own tribe but a spiritualist prays for everyone, and this everyone includes animals, birds, waters, winds and mountains.
A religionist works for the salvation of mankind but a spiritualist takes into account the life systems which support life. How is human life supported? Obviously by the vegetation, animals, birds, winds and waters. Should we not pray for them? Only a lover of spirituality would understand.
Renunciation & Spiritual Activism
Spirituality is not a creed of the renegade. Spirituality is the science of leading life in a harmonious way, transcending borders and tensions of religious divisions and generic divisions of earth. It is a creed which brings together under one umbrella everything created and treats every one with love. There is no space for hatred and distrust. As spiritualists, we must carry forward the tribe of the best men who believe in cosmic joy.
[Guru Nanak met the ‘Sidhs’ who live naked on the mountains, and asked them why they are living here. They said that they are living away from the dirty life of the people, in meditation of the Supreme Being. Guru Nanak asked them, if those people are dirty, why you go to beg alms from them? The Sidhs had no reply to this question of the great Guru Nanak].
Spirituality lies, not in relinquishing this formal world, and going to the riversides, and then, indulge in godly prayers, but in plugging on to the world, and realizing our duties, and performing them with passion, and finally, giving back to mother earth what we have got from it. It is in essence, The realization of Human Duty. Running away from duties, renunciation, and saging and seering is all amiss. A spiritualist understands his duty towards himself, his family and the bigger family Vasudevam Kattumkam which incudes all the living and non-living forms of life .
Detachment
According to Lord Krishna, man must act with detachment because, every action has a fallout and man is trapped in it. He has to suffer the consequences of his actions. This is a great philosophy because it makes man responsible for his actions. If men are suffering, we very often ascribe it to angels. God has no role in it. How can a father who is kind punish you?
It also needs to be understood that we are closely monitored by gods. Millions find themselves in trouble. We accuse gods. It is not fair. Man suffers because of his own wrong decisions. God is like GPS. He is a guide, it is up to you whether you accept the cosmic advice or chart out a path for yourself. Human will has a limited role to play, because, human destiny controls everything.
Destiny
In my opinion, destiny is nothing external to man, nor is it imposed on man by the godly powers. Man is controlled by his actions, and destiny is the sum total of his own actions, in which he is trapped. Only detached action can deliver him, whose final outcome is not in the hands of men. It is a universe which is caught in the principle of cause and effect.
How to Spiritualize the Common Mass?
In their passion for the self, they are drifting away from their responsibilities as cosmogens?
The Fall from Innocence to Ignorance
If a grownup has no idea of his relationship with the things that support him, and he is out to destroy the systems that sustain him in life, it means he lacks wisdom which could provide him illumination. Knowledge has destroyed our innocence and filled us with ignorance so that we do not see the obvious. Now, a supreme variation of knowledge AI threatens us in the face. Losing innocence was tragic for mankind.
The Tree of Wisdom: Ethical Alphabet
Instead of the Tree of Knowledge, we have to introduce the idea of the Tree of Wisdom. For this the International Academy of Ethics believes that we need to re-craft the Alphabet all over again. Let A stand for Almighty. B for balance, C for compassion, D for dreams and E for ethics.
The spiritual and the ethical imperatives go together. We need to navigate human life away from religious tantrums and refocus man’s priorities on the spiritual geography of the human soul. We are not individuals, we are a whole. Let us act as gems, not strategems.
I am proud to be an individual
Who has a soul.
But I am not alone,
I belong to a whole.
I am the tip,
Of the Life berg great
Which lies in wait
For me to script a grand fate.
I am a descendant of god
I must be great,
However wise,
I cannot be otherwise.
I cannot renounce
My duties,
And turn to mountains
In search of a selfish salvation.
I am a part of the Golden dust
And the shining morning dew
A cosmic citizen
A lover of the ethereal brew.
Dr Jernail Singh Anand, President of the International Academy of Ethics, is author of 170 books in English poetry, fiction, non-fiction, philosophy and spirituality. He was recently awarded Seneca Award by the Academy of Philosophical Arts and Sciences Bari. [Italy -19/10/2024]. He also won Charter of Morava, the great Award by Serbian Writers Association, Belgrade and his name was engraved on the Poets’ Rock in Serbia. He was awarded Doctor of Philosophy [Honoris Causa] by the University of Engg and Management, Jaipur. Recently, he organized an International Conference on Culture, Values and Ethics at Pune. His most phenomenal books are Lustus:The Prince of Darkness [first epic of the Mahkaal Trilogy]. And Philosophia de Anand, a work of philosophy which has under one roof, ten of his philosophical works. [Email: [email protected] Mobile: 919876652401[Whatsapp] [ethicsacademy.co.in]
Link Bibliography:
https://sites.google.com/view/bibliography-dr-jernal-singh/home
