“HERE AND HOW” OF SPIRITUALITY: FOCUSING GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTHProf. KAILASH TULI

IILM Institute for Higher Education

New Delhi, INDIA

Email kailash.tuli@iilm.edu

SPIRITUALITY Human beings exist at various levels They are the bodies They are the mind They are the spirits They are the Social creatures They are product of their cultures They function at physiological plain They are the functions of age They have Emotions Their geography influences them Their climate influence them They are part of infinite system

SPIRITUALITY

But They Have a Soul Each one of Us has a Soul Body with Soul is Living Body without Soul is Dead Soul is the indicator lamp of the Body Spirituality is the characteristic of the

Soul Version of spirituality and soul have few

variations in different religions According to Myers, “There is spiritual hunger

in the age of Plenty“ “Spirit rises, Matter falls”

SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGIONS

Most of the religions rely on the soul (mystical in nature) phenomenon. Sounds enigmatic

Various religions differ in explanation of the soul Yet there is some convergence in their

explanations Spirituality is more closer to mysticism Scriptures often induce spirituality It is highly experiential in nature Concepts in religion are often not questioned Truth may be accepted but normally without

questioning Counter questioning is not a common norm

SCIENTIFIC SPIRITUALITY

It is the activity of the brain which gives riser to MIND ----Penfield

Best example of scientific spirituality is of Albert Einstein interpreted the Universe with Theory of Relativity, Energy mass relationship E=mc2 etc.

The scientific interpretation of environment is equally spiritual experience

Knowing the truth is always fascinating Focus is on exploration, sharing, disseminating

of knowledge and truth Everyone having quest can join in the race for

unfolding the mysteries of Knowledge & Truth

SPIRITUALITY AND MODERN WORLD

Spiritual thinking modes help in creating peace, harmony, order and Gestalt

If in turbulent world people consider spirituality, then that can inculcate global harmony

Technology has brought many comforts but at the cost of mental calmness

Materialism in the age of plenty eventually makes many people insecure

“Spirit rises, matter falls” That can be panacea for various human materialistic problems

A balance need to exist in material desires Beware of GREED and its fallout

HAPPINESS INDEX

According to Jigme Wangchuk, The king of Bhutan, “Gross national happiness is more important than gross national product”.

Happiness is not always dependent upon material comforts

Happiness is an inner state of mind and spirit Materialism brings comforts but is not a

guarantee to happiness Giving, sharing, communing with others, brings

new joys, satisfaction, contentment and hope “Caring for poorest of the poor” was the life

Motto of Mother Teresa, the angel like lady, The Nobel Laureate, who kindled millions of lives

SEDUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY AND GREED

Materialism seduces people. “Affordance” is the quality of material objects

to mentally “catch-hold” the people Greed is root problem of many sufferings Mahatma Gandhi said, “Nature has provided

for everybody’s needs but NOT for Greed” Need and Greed need to be differentiated

with wisdom and self analysis Prudence is required to stop vicious circle of

needs and greed Check when greed is superseding need Greed can eventually be killing self or others

CIVILIZED MAN’S EIGHT DEADLY SINS

Konrad Lorenz visualized eight grievous blunders of mankind. These are:

1) Overpopulation, 2) Devastation of Environment, 3) Man’s race against Himself, 4) Entropy Feeling, 5) Genetic Decay, 6) Breakdown with Tradition, 7) Indoctrinablity, and 8) Nuclear Weapon Proliferation.

PEACE INDUCING ACTIVITIES (PIAS)

Peace in Global context is both at Micro and Macro level

One Vedic hymn pray about peace in ALL domains of Universe like water, air, fire Earth, flora and fauna and everything in Universe

PiAs are a way of life to create culture and civilization of peace on Earth

If every individual wishes and conceives for peace then finally world peace can emerge

PIAs can include activities like Prayer, health care, Mediation, Loving and caring for the poor, spreading messages of peace and harmony, coexistence, forgiving and forgetting

SPIRITUALITY, GESTALT AND YOGA

Spirituality has correlates like Yoga, Meditation, Prayers, Gestalt,

Activities which have synergies with each similar philosophy are good to follow to achieve the major goals of world peace

Yogic practices by Mahesh Yogi (like TM ) and Swami Ram Dev have such kind of impact on large segments of population

Spiritual leaders like Dalai Lama, Ramakrishna, Sai Baba, Ninh Thanh have great impacts

Combining Yoga , Gestalt and Spirituality has good impact in Counseling & Psychotherapy

CONCEPT OF TIME & SPACE

Meditating on Time dimension is very unique exploration of the inner psyche

Imaging that human race is in continuity, yet no one is living for ever

Imagining the vastness of this planet and beyond is wonderful and spiritual experience

While flying one gets a glimpse of this vastness Powers of Ten by Charlie and Ray Eames will

demonstrate this (To show 9-minutes video) Meditate on this experience in terms of

infiniteness of time and space (Brief activity workshop). Attain calmness-Think collectively

CONCEPTUALIZING AND LOVING THE GAIA

Gaia is the Greek word for Mother Earth Human existence on this planet is very delicate

balance of numerous variables Excessive tampering will harm the Gaia It is like the huge organism and if anything worst

happens to it then it may not survive Earth’s death means the death of

everybody living on that Everybody has a global responsibility We can be good to Mother Earth if wee are

loving fellow human beings Sound mental health is essential to have

loving attitude

JOURNEY TOWARDS UTOPIA

Human race needs a clear future vision To think of Sustainability in times to come Promising future are good to dream but require

commitment to achieve Threats of war, violence and Terrorism need

eradication and these thoughts leading to horrendous acts lie in minds , which require sound MENTAL HEALTH

Sound mind in sound body on sound society Spiritual humanity can dare to achieve

UTOPIA And Thinking positively it will be achieved

SPIRITUALITY WORKS!

There are many instances in which spiritual people have bailed out the world from dire consequences

Consider the preaching and holy messages of great people

History tells, after every act of war and violence on Earth, only peace has provided balm effect

Consider the contributions of 95 Nobel Laureates and 20 organizations who were conferred the Nobel Peace Prize

Evaluate what great scientists and inventors have given to this world, which makes our lives amazingly comfortable. Express your Gratitude

WHAT ENVELOPES US?

Watch the places in which we live. Our three environments are: Nature Man-made Social These three are simultaneously enveloping

each one of us Keeping a balance is essential From timer to time watch this envelope, which

encases everybody on this Earth Honoring Gaia is essential for

sustainability

SUMMARIZING IN MIRAGE FORM

Paths of Knowledge and enlightenment is never-ending and infinite

We can always look for reality but it never reaches so easily

Keep exploring, questioning, investigating Quest for truth is enlightening intellectually Objectivity in spiritual matters will bring us closer

to spiritual reality****************************************************

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THANK YOU****************************************************

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RABINDRA NATH TAGORE’S GITANJALI QUOTATION

Thou hast made me endless, such is thy pleasure. This frail vessel thou emptiest again and again, and fillest it ever with fresh life.

This little flute of a reed thou hast carried over hills and dales, and hast breathed through it melodies eternally new.

At the immortal touch of thy hands my little heart loses its limits in joy and gives birth to utterance ineffable.

Thy infinite gifts come to me only on these very small hands of mine. Ages pass, and still thou pourest, and still there is room to fill.