My spiritual high: Tannishtha Chatterjee

Spirituality means that kind of connection with myself, which goes beyond the physical. It is metaphysical. But it starts with the senses and the body and then looks inwards. Its also that connection with the self and the world, which brings peace and happiness. I think as human beings our constant struggle is to understand the complexities around us and be happy and at peace. And that can happen only when we feel our connection with ourselves and the universe we are part of.  And I also feel that it’s a search which is very individual and personal. It cannot be shared and taught. It has to be experienced and it has to come from a process within us as individuals.

It’s a process that takes many years. For me, various experiences in life teach us different things and being a Sagittarian, I am super optimistic about everything in life. Almost an idealist. But that’s what brings happiness to me. I don’t think too much about past and future. I try and live in the present without being reckless of course. For me, Gita is the greatest book on philosophy. I try being good to myself and my surrounding world. I also like to be in company of people who are relaxed and positive.

Music is a very important part of my spiritual journey. Practicing music gives me that inner peace that nothing else compensates. Music is the highest form of art. It is so abstract and nebulous and yet so universal.

I can’t really say if I have reached the spiritual high. All I can say is that I do strive for it. When I was in my teens and people talked about spirituality, I always laughed. I didn’t believe in God or temples or worshipping. I still don’t believe in religion or worship because I think spirituality is an individual process and for me a collective belief does not work. But with time and various experiences in life, I do strive to understand the purpose of being.

I think as human beings we have multiple aims. I do too. If, in my little ways, I can make differences to peoples’ lives positively, it fulfills my life. I start with my closest people — my family and friends. The stray animals which live around me... my domestic help and her kid... If I can make a difference to just those people, I would feel happy. And of course I have a duty towards myself and my own well being. So my aim is to search the ‘me’ as well. I love travelling and that’s a huge process of my personal growth, which is essential if I want to make a bigger difference to the universe I’m a part of.