From being a fashionable substitute for religion to a sophisticated synonym for being a good person, and many things in-between, spirituality can mean anything. But what does it really mean? Why should we know what it really means? Is spirituality mere intellectual entertainment? Isn't it enough to be a good person and let rationality guide life? Understanding Spirituality... and living it 24 x 7 answers all these questions and more, in a language that is clear, simple and easy to understand. Using examples from everyday life, it shows how spirituality can bring joy, peace and fulfillment to individuals as well as make the world a better place to live in.
Dr Ramesh Bijlani, a Professor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi till 2005, has been basking in the Light and Love of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother at Sri Aurobindo Ashram Delhi Branch since 2007. This book is the result of his having conducted workshops and spiritual retreats for students, teachers, doctors and visitors from all over the world. He is a gifted teacher, an inspirational speaker, and a prolific writer: he has more than 30 published books to his credit.
Understanding Spirituality... and Living It 24x7 Real Questions, Rational Answers is a lucid, reader-friendly straightforward account of a subject that is often made very abstract and philosophical.
In the first chapter on Who Am I? the author outlines the multidimensional beings we are: a living body, a mind with feelings and thinking, and a soul and psychic being. Our psychic being is "an infallible guide" to right and wrong in every situation. Heeding that "still small voice" can put us on the right path. These dimensions of the person are explained in accessible language, telling examples and transformative stories.
The next chapter on The Purpose of Life opens with the author distinguishing mental consciousness from mystic consciousness. While mental consciousness is consciousness of the sensory world, mystic consciousness sees a deeper or divine dimension that is present within, behind, and beyond all created things. If we heed the "voice of the soul" or "psychic being" then we begin to develop a consciousness that is rooted in the Divine. As we develop this deeper consciousness it brings joy, mental and physical well-being, and a sense of fulfillment. And in Sri Aurobindo's teaching this "approaching mystic consciousness or spiritual growth is the purpose of life." The author asserts that spirituality "enriches, enhances and ennobles worldly life. It brings joy, peace, and fulfillment to individuals as well as makes the world a better place..."
The third chapter, No Stress to Manage, builds on the insights and wisdom gained of who we are and what the purpose of life is, and addresses the issue of stress in our lives. While stress is part of all our lives, it can be overcome. There are insights and practices that can move one toward this goal. Here the author first urges us to relax since obsessing about stress only makes it worse. Secondly, we should understand that stress arises from "the gap between the way things are and the way we would like them to be." And if we can't change the situation, then our only option is to change ourselves. That involves getting a new way of seeing others they too have the Divine in them and seeing Reality. Once we become aware of the divine presence in and underlying all things, then we should realize that every event or situation is not either "good or bad" but an opportunity for further spiritual growth. The author illustrates this process of internal transformation through many examples and stories. Seen in that larger perspective, he argues that stress evaporates.
In the next chapter, New Wine in Old Bottles, the author outlines the significance of spirituality for education, psychology, and health. It leads to integral education, to integral psychology, and to integral health, education, psychology and health that address the fullness of the human being as understood by Sri Aurobindo, especially the soul/psychic being. Integral yoga is also introduced to underscore how spirituality is relevant to the whole of human life. Again, the author makes his case with many examples and experiences of transformative events.
The Epilogue: Personal Reflections for Public Consumption is the author's own story. It is fascinating, and recounts a personal spiritual journey.
The Appendix on Obsessive Compulsive Spirituality is a welcome little cautionary tale.
Understanding Spirituality is a gem. The author, Prof. Ramesh Bijlani, is a model for folks writing about big issues like spirituality. He writes with great simplicity and clarity, illustrating his work with abundant and helpful examples and stories. This book is a welcome addition to the many volumes seeking to clarify the meaning of spirituality for our time. Here we have a fine exposition of Sri Aurobindo's vision of spirituality, one that in Ramesh's words: "is a life embracing spirituality that has a place in all aspects of life.
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