The Oxford dictionary defines ‘religious’ as being devoted to a religion. And ‘spiritual’ as being religious among other things. Orkut gives you the option ‘spiritual, not religious’ in your profile.
Apparently, I have been thinking. I do not have enough knowledge of my religion to even think that I could be religious if it means that I should know about rituals, beliefs, etc. to be that. But then I know what God is. I know what God wants me to do. I know what He tries to tell the world. Maybe not word to word as is written in holy books but the gist, yes. So now does that make me spiritual? Or not even that?
I have sat through many havans so far and I know they remind me of the basics every time. I am sitting through one every day nowadays and I look forward to it. Quiet and peace – that’s what it gives me. I’m not 70 so it’s not as if I have nothing else to do in life. But to think that it’s just a matter of five more days that I’ll get to experience this makes me want to find some place where I can actually do it every day. So, am I becoming spiritual? Or religious, ‘coz I get to hear about the Vedas and understand mantras? Not that it matters, but I’d still like to know and be sure.
I also get to go back to Biology nowadays ‘coz of a therapy that I am going through. It sure tells me how every possible thing in my body is fucked up but I enjoy talking about intestines, liver, nerves, glands, etc, etc. :D
I wonder if it really was a great idea to give up Bio because I didn’t like Chemistry. Anyway! That’s part of history now. My current subjects have absolutely no connection with that. And my future subjects could be anything but Biology. :(
I guess since Hinduism tells something to the effect that you gain nirvana only when you have learned everything that there is to learn, I’m getting closer to it by doing the same. :D
9 comments:
What kind of havana are you sitting through these days? Which Veda, which mantras? And there are few things in the world that sound that melodious...so I agree with bits and pieces of what you are conveying.
Woodsmoke
Ummm....Mati passed away last week so we're having a havan everyday at our place. I don't know which Veda but mostly havan mantras and related stuff.
And yeah, they are quite melodious. I wonder why people make bhajans out of Hindi film tunes. They sound so yuck!
I don't know the whole religious/spiritual deal.. I just know that going to a Gurudwara once in a while or just being alone at times makes me feel connected. A havana usually means getting up early and sitting through the whole thing - plus the mantras don't make sense. (the language nothing else.) I'm convinced and happy about the beliefs I have.
I believe spiritual means believing in some god, but connecting to that god outside of religion and religious rites & rituals (and I'm alliterating). Hence the 'spiritual but not religious' option. But you say 'spiritual' is defined as being other things besides being religious? That's strange...
And yes, if you feel close to god, if you think you know what god wants you to understand... that does make you spiritual. Being religious, I think, is as much a matter of 'timing' (bad word though) as anything else. At certain times the peace you get from rituals makes you seek more of them. Sometimes when you're going through a bad phase, the courage you derive from prayer makes you feel more religious than ever. Circumstances matter, so does the state of mind... I've felt deeply religious at some points of my life, though now 'religious' is not a word I would at ALL associate with myself.
Okay I started rambling and got lost, dunno what point I was trying to make! Maybe just to emphasise my thinking that turning to rituals (praying, fasting etc) usually always comes either from habit/tradition or from quite selfish (don't mean this in a bad way, just looking at it objectively) reasons like some want/need: need for comfort, need for strength, want for... peace of mind, even trivial things like good marks.
Spirituality is above all that - above social conditioning, traditional hand-downs, wants/needs. People who are spiritual are always (mean this in the sense of continuity, not phases) spiritual... they'll talk to god, complain, think, meditate... not necessarily seeking anything in return which is something I personally see rituals as being primarily concerned with - wanting something in return.
Oooh you got an Amiya biggie after quite a while :)
Whoa! Long comment! :O
Rohit
I understand that feeling connected thing you're talking about. Have experienced it.
Amiya
A big hmmmm for ALL that you have written coz I agree with whatever you've written. And can relate to almost all of it. As per your definition or explanation or whatever of it, I guess I'm both. Religious, like you said, depending on circumstances and spiritual coz I talk to Him. :-)
And of course, a little more than talk.
Jayant
Oh yes!
I was smiling...thats all I want to say. And yes I miss bio too...but then Chemistry was too much to handle indeed. Nirvana....thats a nice thought though...
Kanu
Smiling? Okaayy.... :)
Yeah, nirvana is a nice thought at times.
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