Modern spirituality most apt for today's global village age

Back in time, spirituality often meant renouncing the secular world as in the cases of the Buddha and the Hindu ascetics and other practitioners of yore. 

But modern spiritual masters like Deepak Chopra, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Daisaku Ikeda in Japan work in an urban context and their disciples are most often seen grappling with the realities of life within their cultures and societies.

Mumbai celebrities feel that this concept of modern spirituality is most appropriate for the times especially when the world is a global village.Says actor Ratan Rajput, who’s an avid Buddhist and whose Nichiren Daishonin sect of religion advocates that mastering the principles by which the secular world is governed, is part of the practice of Buddhism: “I believe that we have to live in the world we find ourselves in and not run away to some forest or become an ascetic. One has to apply spiritual practice to the real world because that is when it becomes most relevant. Modern spirituality is about dealing with problems that we face on a daily basis. In fact the rough and tumble of urban living really hones one’s skills in the art of spiritual living.”

Ratan gives her own example of a small town girl who came to Mumbai on her own, lived in a guest house, discovered Buddhism  and as a result found success in life.

Singer Manasi Scott firmly believes that spirituality is all about finding inner peace and harmony: “Call it God or the Maker or a Law, it’s about coming to terms with that Law in a very personal way through one’s realisation. There are many routes to find it and most are available within an urban or secular context nowadays — be it yoga or running on the treadmill, it’s about reaching that inner point of stillness within oneself.”

She herself gets her greatest peace at a disco lounge through dancing. “After I’ve danced the night away and I flop down on the sofa, I find the greatest peace ever experienced,” she says.

She also finds spiritual solace in seeing her son sleeping in her arms, which she says “is the most calming thing on earth”.

Colleague Anaida believes that one can’t be stuck with outmoded ways of spirituality because times have changed.

She says, “The real meaning of spirituality is undertaking a journey inward whatever the external  surroundings and that is the fastest and truest version of spirituality.” Anaida also feels that to practice spirituality in the real world in context with all its rigours is important.

“Today, we live a somewhat mechanical life where there is a need to work fast, to multi-task. In such a scenario finding the solid, durable relationships that spirituality brings into our lives is important. Eventually what the practice of meditation or chanting or other forms of spiritualism do is to take us into another space and time, within the modern context.”