Empowered souls become centres of spiritual energy and are conscious co-workers of the divine plan made for all of us. Spirituality helps us attain that state of enrichment, writes RAJINDER SINGH
Spirituality means enjoying our spiritual riches and sharing them with all we meet. We can learn to balance our spiritual practices with our worldly responsibilities. As we realise our soul, we also become more aware of planet earth and what is needed to maintain and sustain it. Some people become so sensitive that they can feel the pain of lower creatures. They become attuned to the animals and plants and develop compassion and concern for their plight as well.
When Guru Har Rai, the seventh Sikh guru, was a boy, he used to wear a long, flowing robe. One day, he set off by horse to visit his Master, Guru Har Gobind. When he reached his Master’s house, he saw him in the garden. Excited to meet him, Har Rai dismounted his horse and rushed through the garden to pay respects to his Master. Before reaching his Master, a sudden breeze blew through the garden, causing Har Rai’s robe to flow outward and break several flowers. Har Rai heard the stems cracking and stopped. He saw the damage his robe had caused the plants and it pained him so much that he sat down and began to weep. Another disciple, observing what happened, told Guru Har Gobind what happened. Guru Har Gobind stood up, went over to Har Rai, and asked, “Why are you weepingIJ” Har Rai explained, “The poor flowers are in pain because I was careless.” Guru Har Gobind also had sensitivity for the pain of others, including the plants, and understood Har Rai’s despair. He was glad to find that his disciple had that degree of sensitivity. Guru Har Gobind then advised him, “From now on, you may wear these robes, but make sure you hold the skirts close to you when you walk. It is the duty of the servants of God to take care of all forms of life.” After that, Har Rai obeyed the advice and always held his robes close to him.
leonardo da Vinci was a vegetarian. He loved animals and birds. He would study birds in flight, and from his observation designed a flying machine, centuries before it became a reality. He could not stand to see the sight of birds captured and caged. Whenever he would see a caged bird, he would purchase it from the owner and then set the bird free.
When we see the outer world through our soul, we see the light of God shining even in plants and animals, and we start to live our lives in such a way as to preserve all living things. As we grow spiritually, we become more receptive to others, including animals and plants. We become more giving and caring when we deal with other people and all forms of life.
When we examine the lives of the saints and mystics, we find that they devoted their lives to helping others. They were like the swan that lives in water but flies with dry wings. While they’re in tune with the Creator, they still live amongst others, participating fully in life.
The Christian mystic, John Ruysbroeck, has said that “the truly inward man should flow out to all in common.” St Catherine of Genoa, born in the fifteenth century, had a mystic experience in which she was transported to a state of pure and purifying love from God. Her mystical revelation was followed by a life of selfless service to others. She began working to help the sick and the poor. At the age of thirty, she founded the first hospital in the city of Genoa. For the next twenty-two years, she lived in a state of continued consciousness with the divine presence of the lord filling her with joy, love, and bliss. Yet while she experienced perpetual ecstasy, she continued managing the hospital. She was punctual and efficient in her duties at the hospital and never let her spiritual absorption keep her from fulfilling her worldly responsibilities. When a plague swept through Genoa, she formed a group to nurse the victims. In a conversation with God, she once said, “You have ordered me to love my neighbour, yet I cannot love anything but you.” God told her, “One who loves me, loves all that I love.” Thus, she showed her love for God through love for her fellow beings and all forms of life, including plants and animals. It was said of her, “If an animal were killed or a tree were cut down, she could hardly bear to see them lose the life that God had given them.”
In the four stages of ardent love, St Richard of Victor describes the stages of betrothal, marriage, wedlock, and the fruitfulness of the soul. In the betrothal stage, the soul thirsts for God. It has a ruling passion to experience higher reality. The soul is touched by the spirit of God and is bathed in sweetness. This is the stage of the soul’s awakening. In the second stage, the soul is burning with desire for God and is taken as the bride of the lord. It ascends, sees the sun of righteousness, and takes the marriage vows. In the third stage, the soul unites with the lord. It is in communion with God, is fully concentrated on God, and caught up in the divine light. In the fourth stage of ardent love, we find the crux of the life of a true mystic: Giving of one’s spiritual wealth to humanity. The union of the soul with the lord is not a childless union. The soul takes the responsibilities and pains of parenthood to bring forth children. Children here are represented by noble works that serve humanity. The empowered souls become centres of spiritual energy and are conscious co-workers of the divine plan. We, too, can attain this state. By spending time daily in meditation, we can discover the power of our soul, enrich our lives with wisdom, love, fearlessness, connectedness, and bliss.
The writer is a spiritual leader