Mandalam Musings Day 5 - Spirituality: the Way of Life & Diversity is its Essence

 

Mandalam Musings Day 5

Spirituality: the Way of Life & Diversity is its Essence

Spirituality is about self-inquiry and pursuit of Truth. This may ultimately lead to personal conviction and faith, based on that experience. It is not based on a belief system that someone else created for you. It is not based on just ‘one book’ or just ‘one person’s’ revelation or the teachings of just ‘one messenger’. It is a universal calling without any limitations of nationality, color, gender, or status. In Sanathana Dharma we have thousands of books, thousands of gurus, thousands of messengers, and thousands of inspirational stories about fellow seekers who can guide us on the path of spirituality. They show us the paths and ask us to think critically and question the ways before convincing ourselves of the best path to pursue. Interestingly, Sanathana Dharma does not negate any paths of self unfoldment if it is not to denigrate any other paths. Diversity is the essence – we not only tolerate it, but we celebrate it.

The Truth one realizes out of self-inquiry and contemplation leads to awareness and a better understanding of the purpose of life, and that will stay forever within the individual. Faith in Lord Ayyappa is acquired through the pursuit of spirituality that involves physical and mental rituals that are practical and time-proven techniques for people of all walks of life, at all stages of life. These rituals are useful whether the person pursues the path of spirituality or not, because of the effect they have in one’s life. It's like Yoga – Nay, it is a kind of integral Yoga.

In fact, the concept of God as One ultimate reality, ‘Brahman,’ is well entrenched in our scriptures. But our scriptures also recognize the fact that each one of us has different temperaments and needs, depending on the individual’s situations and mental makeup. Sometimes we want to be cared for by our parents; sometimes we want to be independent; sometimes we want a companion; other times we want someone to seek refuge in, and the list goes on. We want to relate to the concept of God in different ways and Hinduism provides that opportunity by establishing diverse ways for relating to the same ultimate reality. 

Sree Krishna is a lover to Gopis; an adorable baby to the mothers of Vrindavan; a terror to Asuras and demons; a friend and confidante to the royal warrior Arjuna. So, our religion is a pluralistic one, meaning we have several ways to reach the same destination - the ultimate reality, the Goal Supreme, Brahman. Some reach there through devotion, some through service to society, some through developing knowledge, and some through meditation and yoga. 

Ayyappa culture facilitates a seeker to pursue various ways of realizing the ultimate reality by undergoing diverse paths at the same time – devotion, knowledge, service, and yoga.