Sanatan Weekly Online
Issue No. 281 · June 26, 2005
Editor: Mr. Pruthviraj Purushottam Hajare

Articles

Need For Spirituality

Common Misconceptions

Principles of Spirituality

Did You Know?

Clarification of Doubts

Messages to Seekers

Children's Corner

Spiritual Experiences

Implied Meaning

Concepts of the Science of Spirituality

 
Need For Spirituality
Chanting* as a sure cure to widespread substance abuse

    According to 2001 figures from the National Institute for Public Health in Denmark, about 15,000 premature deaths are caused every year due to tobacco, alcohol or drug abuse in the country. The head of the research program, Knud Juel, said that other European countries are much better equipped, in terms of strict legislation regarding substance abuse, and more willing to deal with the situation, in terms of due enforcement of the law. He mentioned the fact that Denmark ranks among the highest for countries beset with substance abuse. In response to the alarming figures, Denmark’s Minister of Health, Arne Rolighed, said that they would have to make greater efforts to solve this problem, citing the recent government ban on underage smoking as an example in the right direction.

    That an affluent and technologically advanced country like Denmark has one of the highest rates of substance abuse, highlights the failure of modern methods to create a happy society. Addiction or substance abuse is caused by deep-rooted subconscious impressions, resulting mainly from subtle factors, like distressing energy trouble, Destiny, etc., and partly from relatively gross factors, like repeated use of a harmful substance. Hence, measures at the gross level, such as stricter legislation and law enforcement, would have to be complemented by subtle or spiritual means such as repeating the Name of The Lord. Chanting is a powerful spiritual practice that is effective in overcoming undesirable subconscious impressions. Motivating others to chant by educating them about its benefits would effectively overcome the problem at the society level.
- Editor.

*If one is not currently doing any spiritual practice, or to complement one's current spiritual practice, one can begin with the simple, but powerful spiritual practice of chanting or constantly remembering God's Name according to one's religion. Chanting also acts as a useful complement to any spiritual path one may be already following. It is a practice recommended for the current times by Holy texts and Saints of all religions.

  • Seekers in the initial stages of spiritual practice (less than one year) can repeat The Name of the Lord as per their religion (refer to Issue 3 Clarification of Doubts section for details).

  • Seekers who have been doing regular spiritual practice for over a year or so can determine the appropriate chant for them from the experiment given in Issue 124, Message to Seekers section.
[back to top]


Links