by Sri Ajit Halder
We all want to lead a peaceful life. Spiritual living gives us the inner moral strength to face all of life’s problems and difficulties and enables us to enjoy life with a tranquil state of mind.
Spirituality is a concept that includes a sense of connection to something holier than ourselves and it is a state in which we are connected to God. Being aware of God and living in God- consciousness empowers us spiritually and contributes to our overall joy and happiness.
There are various paths leading to a spiritual life. One can experience spirituality by being a member of a ‘satsanga’ group of devotees (assembled to listen to a religious discourse given by a religious Guru or to render devotional songs), reading inspirational literature such as the Ramayana or the Mahabharata, listening to a recitation of hymns or better still by reciting stotras. Any of these activities touches our soul, and we experience a spiritual connection with the authors of sacred books or the singers of devotional songs and receive the divine message.
Some may find their spiritual life to be intricately connected to the temple of their ‘Ishta Devata’ (chosen deity) as they regularly visit the temple to receive the blessings of God. Spiritual practices may include prayer, meditation, and the reading of sacred text like the Gita. The spiritual approach helps one to see beyond outer appearances and improve one’s vision of the divinity.
One of the main teachings of spirituality is to look within oneself and gain awareness of the fact that the inner soul is a reflection of the Supreme Soul (which is eternal and deeply profound). This feeling is significant, and one finds a higher, nobler meaning and purpose in one’s existence. Often we find ourselves lost, confused and feeling dejected. Spirituality helps us to have Faith in the Lord as a source of inner strength and have confidence that God will never forsake us in times of distress.
Modern life is busy tackling worldly matter and we may be so engrossed in mundane affairs, that we hardly find time to engage in activities leading to a spiritual living. We however need not feel downcast for the Internet can help us cultivate spirituality in many ways.
The
Internet is the ‘window’ to the world of knowledge, offering one ready access to
spiritual discourses and wise thoughts. It is available 24 hours a day, and one
can repeatedly access the selected source thereby ensuring that knowledge eventually
grows on us. Anyone
wishing to lead a life of spirituality can use the Internet to:
- Read scriptures and holy sermons;
- Listen to the recitation of Gita’s verses and devotional songs;
- Join in teleconferencing (satsanga on the airwaves) and improve on spiritual knowledge by exchanging views and learning from other like-minded devotees;
- Undertake virtual pilgrimages by visiting the sites of popular religious shrines on the Internet;
- Receive news of religious events at home and abroad and to request religious offering to one’s chosen deity in temples sited on the Internet;
- Establish new contacts or renew contacts of already known devotees (via e-mail) – you feel as if you’re in the company of fellow devotees and are never being left alone;
- Access applications like ‘Skype’ or ‘Facetime’ to send and receive videos on spiritual discussions and to listen to the ‘Prabachans’ of distinguished speakers on religious matters;
- Realize that there is a captive creator trapped within each one of us. If we realize God within us, we are spiritual. It typically involves looking within ourselves and reaching higher levels of consciousness to find the meaning of life.
The use of the Internet enables us to achieve what has been discussed above.
A final word about the Internet bringing individuals situated far apart, closer by conquering space and time. These two entities have been in existence long before humans appeared on Earth and are always singing the glory of God. This thought adds to the important concept and practice of Spirituality, the linking of human spirit with the Universal Spirit facilitated by the Internet use.
- Read scriptures and holy sermons;
- Listen to the recitation of Gita’s verses and devotional songs;
- Join in teleconferencing (satsanga on the airwaves) and improve on spiritual knowledge by exchanging views and learning from other like-minded devotees;
- Undertake virtual pilgrimages by visiting the sites of popular religious shrines on the Internet;
- Receive news of religious events at home and abroad and to request religious offering to one’s chosen deity in temples sited on the Internet;
- Establish new contacts or renew contacts of already known devotees (via e-mail) – you feel as if you’re in the company of fellow devotees and are never being left alone;
- Access applications like ‘Skype’ or ‘Facetime’ to send and receive videos on spiritual discussions and to listen to the ‘Prabachans’ of distinguished speakers on religious matters;
- Realize that there is a captive creator trapped within each one of us. If we realize God within us, we are spiritual. It typically involves looking within ourselves and reaching higher levels of consciousness to find the meaning of life.
The use of the Internet enables us to achieve what has been discussed above.
A final word about the Internet bringing individuals situated far apart, closer by conquering space and time. These two entities have been in existence long before humans appeared on Earth and are always singing the glory of God. This thought adds to the important concept and practice of Spirituality, the linking of human spirit with the Universal Spirit facilitated by the Internet use.
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