By Dr. Pramila Srivastava

In modern times, seeking spirituality is an extraordinary phenomenon with the given splurge of books in stores on various mystical practices. The many contradictory perspectives pose a dilemma for todays seeker: What to believe? The question becomes all the more complicated with an influx of media and them broadcasting the number of spreading religious gurus and their ethics, adding another question: Whom to follow? This becomes all the more complex with us believing everything that we hear, read, and see as the gospel truth. When in such a situation, we must keep a genuine sense of inquiry: How will this teaching affect me and others? Is it leading me to greater kindness and understanding? Am I reaching a state of higher peace and freedom?

We need to understand that not all journeys to spiritual enlightenment are as exotic as Elizabeth GilbertsEat, Pray, Loveexploration or Buddhas quest from dis-attachment to tree. Initial enthusiasm causes us to practice and follow all. But, we need to realize that each of these undertakings, teachings of books, maps, and beliefs, are a mere signpost pointing towards what someone received. In order to make spiritual practice come alive for oneself, we must discover within ourselves our own way of becoming conscious, to live a life of the spirit. Acting to be spiritual is not becoming spiritual. We try and seek an outer form of perfection, which we believe is leading us to spirituality. However, in doing so we are merely acting spiritual. It is our very search for perfection outside us that causes our suffering, said Buddha. One should never seek perfection, for a very perfect moment or thing too will change or lose its shape moments later. Therefore, it is the freedom of the heart that we seek and which should seek us for its the real spiritual experience.

Liberation arises when we are able to deal with non-perfection without anxiety. The world is not supposed to be perfect according to our ideas. People come and go with ideas to change and perfect the world, yet liberation is rarely found in doing so. Whether we seek illumination in a community, through different states, or in our everyday lives, we will never come to it for we seek perfection. Spiritual enlightenment arises when we are able to see ourselves, the world around and the beings within with same compassion and honesty.

There are several questions which become important for a person seeking spirituality: What ideas do we hold of ourselves, and of others? Are these images/ideas who we really are? Is this our true nature? Realising these or nearing to solve these questions aid in spiritual awakening too. Liberation comes not from trying to improve oneself body or personality. Instead it is a process in which we discover a different way of seeing the world, rather than viewing things with our usual images, ideas and perspectives. This leads us to a radical way of being where we learn to see with the heart, which loves, rather than with the mind, which compares and defines. So, in order to achieve this one needs to let go of oneself, indulge in knowing more and more, aspire wisdom, challenge your body and soul to grow through meditation and yoga, broaden ones vision. Letting yourself to be free to know everything and be curious about everything. When you empower yourself to explore outside of your comfort zone and take action to experience new things, you find yourself on an eternal exploration a journey led by spiritual breadcrumbs that guides you to another enlightening experience, and then another.

Finally, the only rule to seeking ones spirituality is that you read all, see all, hear all, but make your own rules to enlightenment. It cant be the same for all. Discover things that serve your soul, make your spirituality sing, make you feel liberated, and follow them. Listen to yourself, listen to your soul. Free your consciousness, and most essentially, remain open to all, judgemental of none, and soak every experience that life throws at you in the way of your spiritual journey.

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Seeking Spirituality - New Delhi Times