Spirituality in the 21st Century

What is spirituality? It is important to understand that religion is not the same as spirituality. Religion is one of the means to attain that state, which spirituality talks about. Thus, religion is merely one of the waves covered in the ocean of spirituality. So what is spirituality?

Is it merely the ramblings of some old men, which have to be followed line by line, unquestioningly? Is it to be read like a fairy tale and forgotten? Can something that was discovered at least 6000 years ago, still be applicable in the modern day rat race we call life?

People say the Indians invented zero. It is true, but only partially. Actually, the ancient seers of India, or as they are called, the Rishis, in their secluded caves realized the scale of the universe, and the immensity of the workings of cause and effect. They realized that phenomenon which is often referred to as infinity. And after this realization, they came to the next obvious conclusion of zero. As is neatly summarized in the Isavasya Upanishad of the Yajur Veda: "Purnamadah Purnamidam Purnaat Purnamudachyate Purnasya Purnaamadaya Purnameva Vashishyate." From that infinite has evolved all realities. When all this will cease to exist, that infinite will stand unchanged.

All that has evolved from the Primordial Cause, will one day devolve back to its original state. But the Primordial Cause remains as it is, untouched. Everything we see, hear or even feel, is temporary on the scale of the Universe, in which entire galaxies are born and die in an instant. All that is born is sure to die. The happiness we all seek is just temporary. Spirituality aims to turn the eye of the soul to something more permanent, something that has always existed and will keep existing long after life as we know it is over.

Now if they talk of something permanent, this means that it is as relevant today as it was 6000 years ago. The lifestyle has changed, the issues have changed, but the truth is still the truth. A rope may seem to be a snake in the shadows. Only after light falls upon it do we know it's actually a rope. Does this mean that the wand of light changed the snake to a rope? Or was it always a rope, and the light merely made us realize the fact?

The Vedas and the Upanishads are the guiding principles which exhaustively expound about the state of reality or truth. In today's life, man has analyzed everything under the microscope of science. But he has failed terribly to analyze himself. The eyes cannot see themselves, a mirror is required to see them. Similarly, the scriptures lead one to see oneself in the reflections of one's thoughts and desires.

In the 21st century, Man is more powerful than he has ever been. But the tool of science is incomplete without the sharpness of spirituality. The engines of technology are useless without the steering wheel of spirituality. The decisions that mankind makes now will decide the future of the world. One can only hope that the treasure trove of knowledge available, for millennia, is given a chance to balance the overpowering greed.