Applied Spirituality

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Whenever we read about spiritual scriptures, as I would not prefer to use the word religion scriputures, we sometimes get bogged down with heavy philosophical reasoning (some of us may accept it and some may deny it).  By no means, I claim that whatever is preached in great scriptures is useless, but many times, it may be too difficult to comprehend for a layman like me.

So, being a Management Teacher, I thought, rather than gathering lots of knowledge, why not try and apply these preaching in day to day life? Of course, it is impossible to imbibe everything, but we can pick one principle and start applying it.

In short, rather than learning a lot and applying nothing, wouldn't it be better to try to apply whatever little known to us in day to day life?

So, I started to apply some of the following principles-primarily most of them preached by Buddha - in day to day life and I feel that I am changing for better
Of course, it is just a start but yes, I am feeling the good effects of the same.

1. Live in Present: Too much of futuristic planning is really not useful. Man propose and God disposes - if there is one. So, living in the current moment really allows us to enjoy the current moment fully. It should not be intepretted as no planning for future - of course not. But, if we spend all our time securing the future, when shall we really enjoy the current time - the present. A famous dialogue, which I have quoted in many of previous blogs - from an animation movie called - Kungfu Panda - is - "Yesterday is a history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, that's why it is called present!". So, learn from the past, plan for the future, but LIVE IN THE PRESENT MOMENT. It helps!

2. Avoid Extremes - The Middle Path. "Ati Sarvatra Varjayet" - Means extremes should always be avoided. Always, be flexible and accomodable in your approach towards life. Do not put too many restrictions or do not permit too many liberties to your day to day life.
After the wife of Buddha became a nun (Name was Yashodhara), she had problems adjusting her diet as being a former queen, she used to eat Fish Soup and Basmati Rice! So unavailability of that food in sacred life as nun meant she has stomach ache! So, instead of punishing her body further, she chose to eat the fish soup and basmati rice as a nun too! By no means, it affected her firmness as a nun! The same is applicable to all of us. In our day to day life, taking a middle path, being flexible (in the right spirit), will make our life easy.

3. Be Realistic: It has been proved by research that people who are perfectionist (no offense Mr Aamir Khan) are likely to be more stressed in life. The same way over ambition is also not a great idea. Please remember being realistic, by no means, one shoudl not be ambitious or should not have high aims. That would really be a very narrow interpretation of the Middle Path Concept. Being realistic means seeing the truth. In other words, avoid OVER OR IMPRACTICAL OPTIMISTICNESS and also avoiding COMPLETE PESSIMISTICNESS. It simply means seeing the true nature of things and people around us. If you seek the truth, you will get the truth...So, while one should have all high dreams in life, one should know the limitations of the environment, resources and skills one may be possessing  or one may be part of.

4. Avoid seeing the future: The horoscope must a VIDYA and I have nothing personal against it, but in continuation of the first point, living in the moment is the right attitude and by that standard, one should not try to forecast future or try to look for any CHOGHADIYAS for doing anything...be it marriage or be it starting a business.

5. Avoid anger: Not easy! But yes, if you maintain a concious effort to not to get angree, slowly and steadily you learn to master the art. It will save you from many things like High BP.

6. meditation: Learn Meditation - from any source - Baba Ramdev or Bramha Kumaris or Art of Living or Vipshyana or Sufis (Rumi_...that really does not matter. But meditation does increase your ability to concerntrate as well as gives you physical benefits. It also allows you to move on your spiritual path regardless of which God you believe in.

Let me summarise with the fact that I am only able to apply only 5% of mentioned above and much more is to be done. But with this 5% also, I have really found many of my questions' answers of day to day life and also solutions to many of my problems.

Critical comments are most welcome. Thank you for sparing time and reading my blog.

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