What do we want to get from spirituality? (Wikipedia’s article weighs nicely the various definitions of the term.)
Possible benefits are of two kinds: internal and external. Of internal benefits, we hear much from sources like Vivekananda and the Bhagavad-Gita — texts such as these come across as considering internal benefits as the highest type. Of external benefits, there is not as much said.
I don’t think that we, as college students, are at a stage in our lives where we can focus solely on what is internal. I say this because I don’t even understand what it means to focus on what is internal.
I know that I turn to spirituality with external benefits in mind. For instance, the control of emotions through detachment, or the development of concentration, or constructing a sense of driving purpose — all aiming at external ends.
So I ask — why do we spend our time on spirituality, asking these questions?
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For one, I think we enjoy discussions where we can’t be wrong. I also see spirituality as means to an end for now, rather than an end in itself. Sometimes I just enjoy uncluttering my mind by turning to spirituality, and at other times I use it as a tool for concentration.
I’m still trying to determine to what extent my faith is a part of my identity. Sometimes discussing that with you all, like at the Sunday discussions last year, helps shape my own beliefs & identity.
So for me, it’s partly intellectual, partly social, and partly for personal growth.
Hey, just to introduce myself, my name is Vikaas Shanker and I’m Rohan’s childhood friend from Naperville, IL.
It is an interesting thought of what to ideally perceive in meditation, prayer, and thinking. I think that “internal” and “external” benefits are not the right terms to be used in the context of what you have put forth Saketh. I think that these go hand in hand. A supreme example can be Nirguna and Saguna Brahman. Nirguna is formless Brahman and Saguna is with personal attributes such as Visnu, Shiva, Shakti. Nirguna represents the eternal state of unlimited peace, bliss, and perfectness. Saguna represents the best qualities within us. Qualities such as humbleness, forgiveness, and acceptance.
It is imperative that we get these qualities into our lives to ensure our success in the material world, however it is even more important to pray on the Nirguna aspects of Brahman to attain unlimited bliss and peace. The way I understand it is that praying to Saguna Brahman will bring you these material successes, but will not bring you the eternal bliss everyone is truly seeking, but meditating on Nirguna gets you to this state and in effect, all material successes fall in place. Just by looking at some of the great Rishis that spread Sanatan Dharma: Adi Shankaracharya, Swami Chinmayananda, Swami Vivekananda, Paramhansa Yogananda, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Srila Prabhupada, and countless others, it is apparent that they all emphasize love-meditation on Brahman as the greatest form of bhakthi and bliss. It seems then, that the “internal” also includes the “external”, but the “external” does not complete the “internal”.
But anyways, I consider the ultimate humbling action is bhakthi. When I pray to Hanuman Ji, I pray to Sri Rama, and when I do this with nothing but love in my heart for Sri Rama and Hanuman Ji, I get a short taste of that bliss. And I think the Bhagavat Gita has taught us most that bhakthi is the easiest and most practical way to achieve enlightenment and unlimited happiness in this age of Kali Yuga. When we get to this stage, everything else follows including material success.
Focusing on the internal does not require one to reach a particular age. Focusing on internal means to listen to the inner voice, which serves to guide you. All of us do receive messages but we do not recognize them. To know and understand ‘Why Spirituality” this article which I found on the net is very interesting…an eye opener..
http://www.spiritualgrowth.org.in/spirit.htm
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