Finding Direction Through Spirituality

For me, spirituality first gave a powerful answer about the direction in which I wanted my life to go. I had many choices, but not enough wisdom to make them. Today, many choices without wisdom become a source of stress. Spirituality showed me what I needed to do for myself and what I could contribute to the bigger world around me. It answered questions I had not articulated and changed my life.

Understanding Spirituality

When I connect the word spirituality back to spirit, it gives me a guideline. For me, spirituality means coming to a different consciousness about my identity. I am not just my physical identity; I am also an invisible inner being.

Spirituality answers the eternal questions human beings have about life and beyond life. Is there a creator? Does that creator have a relationship with us? What is the purpose of this planet, and why am I here? What am I supposed to be doing here? It answers my personal questions and those about the bigger picture, bringing a different attitude and awareness.

The Inner Compass

I find it fascinating that I have a compass within myself that can point me in the right direction. My conscience can be that compass and coach. But our conscience has been influenced by many layers, so it is not always clear. Even when it tells me what is right or wrong, my thoughts, feelings and emotions can become so strong that I do not follow it.

Spirituality means awakening consciousness and becoming aware of the inner being. Through silence, meditation and connection with the creator, I receive power and purity. My conscience becomes stronger and can guide me in the right direction. Meditation gives me the inner power to remain stable.

Meditation Is More Than Relaxation

Meditation certainly brings relaxation because, when I relax the mind, I learn to deal with my thoughts, and the stress within me can be resolved. But relaxation is not the purpose of meditation.

Meditation is discovering what is happening inside my inner world and learning to channel my thoughts in a direction of my choice. It means turning the mind inward and focusing my thoughts to connect with the Supreme. Through that connection, I receive love, purity, peace, and power. Even a few minutes of meditation every day can generate positive feelings and emotions. After meditation, I can change.

Transformation Begins With Me

When I discover spirituality and the power of silence, I experience the treasures I carry within myself and become willing to share them through my life and behavior. One person's transformation influences many.

I remember an inspirational story about leaders at Harvard who played a game in which groups were asked to create a city and contribute money for the common good. An actor was placed at one table and instructed to give a large amount. The others were inspired. As they changed tables, they influenced others, and finally the actor had impacted 125 people. One act of kindness can have a bigger impact.

I can ask myself: Can I give my time? Can I offer kind words? Can I give a smile? Is there a small act of goodness, kindness, or compassion that I can share? These actions contribute to the world.

Being the Change

When I begin my spiritual journey, people around me may not immediately be interested. But they are watching the changes I make. They may not listen to what I say, but they observe my behavior. If they see more kindness and love in me, that transformation can inspire them.

There is a story of a little boy who was given a jigsaw puzzle showing the map of the world. He completed it quickly because, on the other side, there was a picture of a human being. Once the human being was put right, the world was put right too. When I change, the world changes.

My awareness leads to my attitude, my attitude leads to my vision, my vision leads to my actions, my actions lead to the culture we create, and that culture creates the world. Change can begin with one individual and a committed group. Spirituality brings change within and change without. When I transform myself, I contribute to the transformation of the world around me. Many people in the world still don't know the word or reject the word, but the change is slowly, slowly happening. And so now, certainly in India, there's a huge momentum to understand what spirituality is, but across the world also, little groups, small groups of individuals, but even in the UN now they're talking about the spiritual aspects of transformation.

B.K. Jayanti,

Additional Administrative Head, Brahma Kumaris