Why would a well-established, well educated person, someone
having a wife and two daughters to take care of, commit suicide in his forties.
But somebody did it … raising too many questions … answering none.
The most
shocking part of the whole episode was that he was associated with a well-known
spiritual group.
He was friend of one of my closest friends, and what you
will see here is a series of thoughts that went through my mind, as part of
unwinding the mystery, not just this episode, but the mystery of life.
Spirituality… what is it exactly?
Contrary to the popular belief, spirituality is not for the
weak minded, it’s for those who are strong enough to deal with the daily grind
that one has to go through, and still be able to maintain inner peace, walk the
path that leads to detachment and self realization.
Look at the life of any thought leader, or a
messiah or a master. Almost all of them have gone through extreme struggle on various fronts.
Many people like to tell others they are a
'spiritual' person probably to let them know they are not materialistic or
superficial and that they 'get it'. That's fine if we all understand and agree
on what we're talking about.
Traditionally being spiritual signified having
an attachment to religious values, or matters of the spirit, rather than
material or worldly interests.
More recently it has also taken on to mean
reaching higher levels of consciousness using meditation, yoga or similar practices.
I consider spirituality to be a state in which
we are connected to God, Nature, each other, and the deepest part of
ourselves.
In order for us to function fully, all aspects of ourselves must be balanced. Our mind, body and spirit have to be in harmony with each other.
We cannot focus on the material and neglect the spiritual. And vice versa.
When we are in tune with God, Nature, each other, and ourselves, we are being spiritual. There are so many wonderful ways that we can make, and take the time, to "connect".
Take time for yourself. Rejuvenate your spirit and nurture yourself.
Help those in need of your assistance. When you help others, you automatically connect better with the rest of humanity. Volunteer as a big brother or sister, coach little league, donate to the food shelter. Every little bit helps.
Practice gratitude. There are so many things to be grateful for in life. Take time to reflect on them and acknowledge how fortunate we all are for family, friends, and endless opportunities.
Practice mindfulness. Become aware of your environment. Be aware of yourself within your environment. Enjoy the colors and smells of nature around you. Enjoy the feel of rain falling on your nose and the wind blowing on your face. It will put you in a revitalizing, fresh state of awareness.
Express yourself. If you don't already engage in artistic or expressive activities, learn to dance, sing, play a musical instrument, or take art lessons. Doing so puts you in touch with your creative, right brain side. We all need to balance the logical, linear aspects of ourselves.
Being aware of, and cultivating spirituality greatly contributes to our overall joy and happiness. It's never too late to develop it further and enjoy the benefits it brings.
Last but not the least, be kind,
for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing
about.
