Youth spirituality: Seedhi baat, no bakwaas

Spirituality, which is a nebulous concept that is open to personal interpretation, commonly refers to that which affects the human spirit or soul, as opposed to physical things that are often linked to god. It is generally acquired rather than chosen.

The youth today live in a far more complex environment than earlier generations, where the forums of spirituality and the influencing factors have also increased manifold. So they have developed an independent perspective of spirituality. They have a higher level of acceptance and receptivity to various religions, but this is often misread as indifference.

Spirituality is shaped by the society we live in, in our immediate communities, as well as by individual conscience and experience of ‘The Force’. For young people today, spirituality includes elements of multiculturalism and consumerism, with an emphasis on personal experience rather than a belief in what is ‘true’, self-awareness, and the need to derive personal meaning in a pluralist context.

Numerous factors influence the choices of youth. Currently, it is music that is the dominant influence. Many have turned atheists on the advocacy of black/death metal. On the other hand many agnostics have been drawn to spirituality through the intriguing influence of Sufi music.
For youth, spirituality is more glamorous than mere idol worship. The traditional rudraaksh (prayer beads) and kadaa (a steel bracelet, representing the totality of god) have become trendy accessories. Festivals are celebrated with zest, with a special attention to the environment – so, the eco-friendly Ganeshas and Diwali minus crackers – while making the best of the opportunity to pamper oneself with clothes, food and more.

College programmes and functions, and most of all examinations, still begin with an invocation to the Almighty. However, personal prayer is no longer about reciting the 1,000 names of god or the shlokas, but a direct no-nonsense conversation about the consideration. It’s seedhi baat, no bakwaas. The youth frequent traditional places of worship like the Siddhivinayak temple, Mount Mary’s Church or the Haji Ali dargah, but for the love of god and not out of fear. Yet many have been taken up by new interactive forms like the Art of Living, Chinmaya Youth Kendras and Om Shanti camps.

No, youth are not discarding traditional beliefs. It’s just that spirituality is not confined to the puja room at home. They carry the Geeta, the Quran, the Bible  adapted for mobile applications in their phones, or will cheer a filmstar lip-syncing the Hanuman Chalisa and even download this devotional song about Lord Hanuman (the model devotee) for their use.

Some label this modern-day spirituality as a spiritual renaissance. Others  criticise it as adulteration. It is, in fact, a re-mix of beliefs, deep-rooted traditions and values, combined with a practicality and humanist sensibility that acknowledges the existence of ‘The Force’ without getting mixed up in names.