Sanatan Weekly Online
Issue No. 284 · July 31, 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
Spirituality is the science of experience

    In 2000, there was an experiment going on inside the San Francisco Theological Seminary. Mark Yaconelli, a pioneer in youth ministries, was introducing young people to something he says they are missing in their homes and churches: Spirituality. What young people long for is not to be told about God, says Yaconelli, not to be told about the spiritual life, but to get a chance to taste it for themselves. So with a $600,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment, Yaconelli brought teams of high school students together to introduce them to the ways that first century Christians connected with God. They took spiritual pilgrimages just like the early Christians did. They learned to pray and meditate. They also participated in ancient rituals like foot washing, which the Holy Bible says Jesus did for His disciples to illustrate humility and service.

    The fact that more and more educated youth are turning to religion indicates that Spirituality has passed the test of time. It also means that they have realized that worldly pursuits do not result in the supreme everlasting happiness known as Bliss.

    That Mr. Yaconelli initiated a movement to encourage youth to not only study but actually implement and experience firsthand what they studied is critical. Merely studying Spirituality and not implementing is akin to the scholar, who, when he heard his boat was sinking, realized that he would drown as he had only ever read about swimming. Similarly, it is essential to couple one’s intellectual study of Spirituality with that of practical study, so that one can experience God firsthand.
- 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.
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