Who is the expected audience for this post?
- Anyone with curiosity to understand the Indian Spirituality concept
- Has elementary knowledge of Science/ Physics
- Understands that the author is not an expert, rather a student of Life, who is making an attempt to share his current understanding with his peers/fellow students of Life
Indian thoughts on Spirituality have not only protected the culture of the nation from several atrocities in the past but also attracted foreigners with an open and inquisitive mind. Indian sages were like spiritual scientists who used meditation as a tool to understand the non-material aspect of our Being. Their knowledge and findings have been passed through generations in the form of revered texts such as Vedas, Upanishads and Geeta. Several books are available now in multiple languages to understand the Indian thought process on Spirituality in detail.
As a student of Life and Spirituality, I have tried to understand the concept through various sources (parents, books, learned people). Can we explain the Indian Spiritual thought process through just one concept? With whatever limited understanding I have made till now, will try to make an attempt to explain using Physics Ohm's law.
Taking this analogy, as per my understanding, Cosmic Energy present everywhere, also comes our way at every moment. Our mind, always filled with thoughts, acts a resistance and does not let the Cosmic Energy to pass through the Self (Conductor). The Indian spiritual thought process suggests that the Spiritual aim of our life is to attain a state where we become a Superconductor and let the Cosmic Energy pass through us without resistance of mind & thoughts. This state is also called attaining Nirvana (निर्वाण) or Moksha (मोक्ष).
How to pacify mind and eliminate or reduce the resistance of thoughts? Easier said than done, right. Indian sages realized that mind is always busy with thoughts due to the feeling of "I" ness or ego (which takes the form of survival, greed, envy & more). To eliminate or reduce "I", Indian sages suggested a solution - Yoga. The "founder" of Yoga, Sage Patanjali defines Yoga as Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha, meaning Yoga ceases the whirlpool of thoughts in the mind.
Indian sages or Spiritual scientists were aware that every person has different attributes (गुण) & nature (स्वभाव) and therefore suggested three main Yogic technologies to remove "I"-ness or ego and attain the Superconductor state:
1. Gyan Yoga (through Meditation, concentration) - Concentrate on the Cosmic Energy and reach a stage where no thoughts come or disturb
2. Karma Yoga (Conduct your duty/work with selflessness and devote the fruits of work to God - not relating outcome with "I" ness or ego)
3. Bhakti Yoga (Always remember God/complete faith in God) - no thoughts/importance to I-ness.
More on these Yogic technologies or paths in next article.
Take home message: Indian spiritual thought process suggests that the spiritual aim of life is attain the superconductor state where Cosmic Energy is accepted and allowed to pass through Self without resistance from the whirlpool of thoughts in mind. Indian sages or spiritual scientists have also suggested different Yogic technologies to attain the superconductor state.
