Sanatan Weekly Online
Issue No. 286 · August 14, 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
Only regular spiritual practice can overcome destiny

    USA – Two weeks after observing the first anniversary of the Columbine school massacre, students and teachers were grieving for star basketball player Greg Barnes, 17, who committed suicide at his home. This was the third tragedy in succession that Columbine society had to go through in a short period, following the suicide of a wounded student’s mother and the slaying of two Columbine sweethearts at a nearby restaurant. The 6-foot-5-inches Barnes led Columbine’s basketball team into the semi-finals of the state championship and had a 26.2-points-per-game average. His coach said that Barnes might have been the best player in the state heading into his senior year. He said that he had no inkling that Barnes was suicidal. “When is all of this going to end?” asked the students. “It seems like every time we start to get over things, something else happens. This is all so unbelievable.”

    The tragic end of the popular, young seventeen-year-old teen makes one wonder about the fate of others in Columbine society. The fact that there was no obvious reason for the tragedy is even more worrisome. If the reasons were more apparent, the solution would be simple and at a gross level. Major life events such as birth, death, etc., never occur due to wilful actions but always occur due to destiny. The only way to overcome destiny is to undertake regular individual spiritual practice. Spiritual practice done by society at large enhances the sattva (positive energy) component of that place, creating an environment conducive for everybody’s smooth spiritual progress.
- 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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