What Does A Spiritual Journey Mean To You?

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For me, the need for spirituality and the beginning of my spiritual journey has its roots in science. The scientific theory of evolution explains that survival is of utmost importance for every organism. From unicellular pathogens to giant mammals to human beings – at the end of the day, it is all about survival. And to survive, not only do we need to procure the resources necessary for sustaining ourselves, we also need to figure out ways to ensure we do not get eaten up (literally or metaphorically) by beings who are stronger than us. In other words, we need to protect ourselves from predatory attacks.

Now, for us humans, these attacks seldom come from another person or animal or pathogens, as compared to the attacks from our own negativity. It can happen in one or more of the following ways – hunger, poverty, cruelty, violence, hatred, suspicion, self-loathing, jealousy, and many more. Many of these we may have experienced personally, while some of them we may have known from a distance. But nobody can deny the power and potential of these harmful phenomena. That is why we are always trying to protect ourselves – be it physically, mentally, emotionally or psychologically.

We are constantly creating strategies that will save us from getting hurt and systems of security that will guard us from harm. But just as pathogens evolve and develop resistance to mechanisms designed to exterminate them; similarly, negativity and all its associated phenomena keep evolving and we find ourselves constantly having to update our strategies, rework our plans and redesign our systems of security.

Even then, we continue to get hurt, and we fall into harm’s way. Clearly our plans are inadequate. And this is where we need spiritual guidance. When our intellect fails to protect us, we turn to a higher power to understand what is it that will really save us?!

In simple words, the realization that I do not know everything I need to know in order to survive or protect myself from being eaten up by negativity (in any of the above-listed ways) – made me decide to undertake a spiritual journey. And this journey is one of surrender!

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Negativity can only be countered by positivity, and that requires trust. Just as young children know no fear because they have full faith in their parents, who is that someone we can trust upon for our safety and well-being who is sure to protect us from all harm. Only an enlightened being can do that for us – a Gnani, who knows the path and who is willing to guide us to that place of eternal bliss and fearlessness, where He constantly dwells in.

Once we surrender to the Gnani, a sense of relief replaces all the anxiety within. We are no longer susceptible then to getting hurt, as long as we sincerely follow the Gnani’s instructions.

So, for me, spirituality is not a choice; it is an evolutionary necessity, backed by logic and an instinctual need to survive, and supported by an unconditional faith and surrender in the the Enlightened One!!!