We will be entering the third decade of the 21st century in a few days. This is an era of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Yet we find that the attraction towards spirituality is growing in human beings as they are swaying between hope and despair due to the impact of the pandemic. Solace is in great demand. Information and analytics do not seem to provide succour in these times of turbulence. Humanity needs peace more than the data. In fact, desperation is clearly discernible as the humanity is turning towards spirituality to find a way out. Even the age groups and the classes that were usually not much fancied with the idea of spirituality are leaning towards it. The youth cutting across gender, the affluent with high disposable incomes and even the high flying executives have started embracing spirituality. As Management schools start introducing courses on spirituality Quotient and the corporate houses emphasise spirituality at workplace, the ecosystem is in a state of readiness to accept spirituality. Whether all this is due to some realisation about the futility of material endeavours, or a need for reprieve from the pandemic pressure is yet not clear. But that notwithstanding, it certainly is a welcome sign as it will slowly lead to the enrichment of the society that is in urgent need of a paradigm shift to reinvent itself. Though commerce is still the driving force for most people, yet minimalism as a way of life is finding favour, frugal being no less fashionable than extravagant. Even this little change in mind-set augurs well for humanity. However, there is something that we need to guard against. Growth of spirituality has created an opportunity for even the clever operators who find this as a chance to capitalise on. So we are seeing the rise of charlatans alongside the genuine. There is so much noise about spirituality that it’s essence is getting diluted. The proverbial empty vessels are making more noise. Quite an irony that spirituality itself has become an instrument of commerce with self-styled gurus of different hues occupying center stage. The idea of spirituality is getting clouded by many shades of grey. Spirituality needs to be understood in right perspective. It is not about renouncing the world, the way the term is popularly used. Walking away from the world to find peace in the Himalayas or the jungle is not renunciation. Renunciation is about detachment from materialistic possessions. Being a yogi in the world is more about duties that the divine has entrusted to the human beings who are supposed to be the highest form of creation. The duty to be righteous and committed to one’s duty without craving for its fruits. That is what renunciation is all about. To perform Nishkam Karma as the Gita tells us. Karma or duty is a must. Spirituality is not inaction. It is virtuous action, dedicating the duty to God. The world is not Maya or illusion. It is real and meant to be lived. What is illusion is the attachment, the desires and the cravings. That is the Maya which is impermanent. Duty is not just a job. Duty is the contribution one makes to this world in making it better. Job or no job, human beings have a duty. It has to be understood that renunciation is a state of mind rather than being. An attitude, a commitment.

Pathak is a professor of management, writer, and an acclaimed public speaker. He can be reached at ppathak.ism@gmail.com