The Week 06-07-08
The Divine Young
God goes chic: Indian youth rediscover faith and spirituality
By Prerna Uppal :
His chat name is Om Namah Shiva. Every morning, before leaving for office, he lights the lamp and incense sticks in the prayer corner of his bachelor pad and says a small prayer. No, he is neither an acolyte nor a recluse. Manu Pillai, 25, is the life of every party and quite the ladies man. Nothing in the manner or appearance of this Bangalore based software engineer suggests that he is a regular at the temple every Tuesday and Thursday, offers archana and attends every temple every festival.
A Malayali Hindu, Manu lived mostly in Delhi, except for the year he worked in the US. Staying alone, Manu was never under any duress from family to observe rites and rituals. So what prompted him to perform rituals? "I think every religion or faith has certain rituals which are advocated," says he. "They are simply different methodologies of devotion to God." Interestingly, he is not embarrassed about following rituals and calls himself spiritually inclined rather than religious. "There are people who wonder why I do all this, but I could not be bothered to find out why they think the way they do!"
THE WEEK/CVoter exclusive survey (see graphics) on youth and religion found that 68 per cent of the youth have had doubts about their faith and the religion they practiced. Only 30 per cent claimed to be traditional in their religious outlook. In matters of the heart, 47 per cent said that they would not consider a partner’s religion before falling in love. But no, don’t call them licentious; 53 percent firmly say that live-in relationships are anti-religious.
Many believe that the current crop of twenty-somethings has dedicated its life to the pursuit of material gains, and their twin concerns are career and money. Youth and ambition have always gone hand in hand. Everyone has the desire to achieve professional success and financial independence early in one’s life and the current generation has been able to achieve both or at least one of the two goals. Achieving these, however, comes with a price tag.
Counsellor Nina Guleria feels that the youth are facing life’s challenges much earlier than the previous two generations. And the reason she feels is the plethora of choices available to the younger generation early on. She says: "When a young person enters the job market, the number of choices spread in front of them is 20 times of what their parents had." Add to that the stress of competition which pushes them to aim for the top ten. "In times like these, the person needs support to maintain a balance between his material and spiritual needs," says she.
Spirituality is perhaps the staff that Guleria is talking about, a means to cope with the baggage that comes with ambition. This baggage is mostly in the form of stress-physical, emotional, mental and, at times, even spiritual.
Says Delhi-based psychologist Arpita Anand, "The reason that so many youngsters are opting for faith or spiritual path is to look for a means to cope with their daily stress." Another reason for choosing one’s own faith or belief system stems from a desire to establish an independent identity. "Youth today are an anxious lot in need of an anchor. Religion provides this and gives them an identity," says Dr Nilika Mehrotra, associate professor, Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University.
And it was unanswered questions that led Sundeep Maithani, 26, to form his individual faith system. Maithani, a software professional, was born into a Hindu family and educated in Christian schools. Growing years brought with them their share of strife and questions – personal and social. "I knew my hymns and prayers and was no stranger to shlokas," he says, "It may sound corny but whenever I came across news of people being killed for no apparent reason and at times for the sake of religion, I would ask why? I could not understand how one man can kill another in the name of religion." And then there were questions of existence, the meaning of life. "For others these may be useless questions, but I just could not sit still…. I needed answers".
Not content to sit back and wait, Sundeep delved into the scriptures, beginning with the Holy Bible and the Bhagavad Gita. This was followed by books on Buddhism and writings of Swami Vivekananda, Plato and Bertrand Russell, among others. "For me, understanding the Bible was the easiest. But I found it did not have all my answers. Hence I read up other philosophies and they shaped my life," says Sundeep. "For example, from the story of Cain and Abel, I learnt not to get jealous, the Gita taught me the importance of hard work. Vivekananda’s teachings taught me to look for God in fellow humans; so how can I hate others?"
But he does not expect his wife to follow his belief system. Does that lead to strife at home? "Not really. My wife is very religious, she believes in God and in the power of puja. If she ever wants me to accompany her to the temple, I have no issues," he says. "I can bow in front of Jesus with the same amount of reverence as I can bow before Sri Krishna or Sai Baba or Lord Ayyappa." Anand says the past generations considered religion to be just a part of life, but she is seeing more and more youngsters experimenting with faith and belief.
Raju Kurien, 27, would agree. "My parents were so busy following tradition in religion that they did not follow what God really wanted them to her," says Kochi-based Kurian, who is an assistant at Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur. He broke away from the Orthodox Church to join a Pentecostal sect. An act of rebellion for many; an act of faith for him. "As a Christian I gave more importance to Christ’s teachings than to customs and traditions of the church," he says. After a long study of the Bible, Raju turned Pentecostal, a hard core sect which shuns wearing ornaments and believes in speaking in tongues, prophecy, healing and exorcism.
His decision worried his parents, whom he calls "halfway religious, but dedicated to the service of God". Says he: "They feared backlash from society because ours is a small close knit community in the village. But even then they decided to take time to watch how I lead my life. Right from childhood, my parents stood for truth despite hardship. That gave me strength and confidence." After three years, they accepted Raju’s decision completely and it has been ten tears since he discovered his own way.
Though many young individuals are examining, adopting and rejecting faith, their parents have been instrumental in helping them exercise their choices. "Parents have encouraged children to think for themselves," says Anand, who feels that this independent thinking has encouraged the youth to make choices.
A case in point could be Ishani Sinha. She had always been an independent child, who was encouraged to make her own decision. So when it came to choosing a faith she found her calling in the Soka Gakkai philosophy. Pursuing a Ph.D in life sciences from Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, the 26-year-old was never religious. "Like any child growing in a Hindu household, I was a part of the puja, archana. Though I assisted the elders in the proceedings, I never really believed in it," she says.
"One of my seniors introduced me to the sect and I was impressed by their effort to bring peace to mankind," she says. Initially skeptical of chanting mantras, Ishani overcame the mental block. "I realized that ultimately the philosophy is more about applying the teachings to daily life than the canting." For Ishani, the philosophy is the same in every religion but it is the application that differs. She agrees with the saying – All religions must be tolerated, as every man must get to heaven his own way.
She chose Soka Gakkai because it entailed doing more than just spending time at the lab. "Anybody pursuing a Ph.D would agree that it can be quite taxing, physically, emotionally and mentally," says she. "Sharing of experiences at Soka Gakkai meetings acted as catharsis and a reality check. When I heard other members talk of their experience, I realized that my problems were not as earth-shattering as I imagined them to be!"
Anand has seen quite a few examples like Ishani. She feels that today’s youth finds it difficult to blindly accept what is being forced upon them. It is not a form of rebellion but about making choices after increased awareness. Mehrotra, however, feels that spirituality has been able to make inroads into youth because of their corrosion of belief in science. But while people are rejecting the philosophy of science, she says, they have not rejected its use in their daily life. The result – they amalgamate spirituality or religion with scientific advancement.
Guleria says more people chose their own spiritual paths because down the years, most religions and its leaders could not answer questions posed by these youngsters. "They don’t want to sit and chant mantras. They want to know why the mantra is important. They are curious and they want answers," she says. "Initially religion was all about spirituality, but mow it has become entangled in rites and rituals which no one bothers to demystify for the young set, hence the disillusionment." Says Anand: "The younger generation is exposed to so many more choices than before. But more importantly they have access to so much information from which they can choose the answers they want."
These sentiments are echoed by Guru Brahmarishi Saraswati Devi. She says that unlike the generation before them, youngsters have a lot to choose from thanks to images and messages beamed to them, especially on television. "The younger generation is more evolved than their predecessors. It is inherent in their nature to be able to accept spirituality readily," she says. "Earlier people were busy trying to put two square meals on the table, but now with more time on hand youngsters can pursue spiritual ambitions." Yoga, meditation and listening to discourses can help youngsters control their emotions better and lead a better life.
Anand says that resorting to spirituality or expression of faith also comes about when faced with an adverse life situation. Kaisha Hastu, 22, would know. Based in Delhi, Kaisha is an assistant producer with NDTV Good Times. Almost three years ago her father fell ill. "He was as good as gone," she says, recalling how helpless she felt when she found she could do nothing about it but pray. "I was sitting by his side, his heart beat was dropping and doctors were panicking around us. I looked out of the window and saw the hustle and bustle on the road. People were behaving as if it was a race. I wondered what use was all this if it boils down to death?" Born to a Punjabi mother and Kashmiri Pandit father, Kaisha found solace taking Wahe Guru’s name.
"When he was unwell, I prayed at every altar, but somehow I found peace only in a gurdwars," she says. Her father recovered, but she still goes to Bangla Sahib Gurdwara when ever possible. "Initially there was a sense of obligation that took me to His doorstep but now I go there when I feel like it," she says. Impressed with her sense of devotion, her mother has encouraged Kaisha to have an anand karaj – Sikh wedding. "My only lament now is that I have not studied the religion much. I just about know the basics," she says. Incidentally, she has Ek Onkar tattooed on her shoulder and intends to change it soon.
When psychiatrist Karl Menninger called religion the world’s psychiatrist throughout the centuries, he was not exaggerating. Research in psychology has shown faith or a belief system to help a person cope with grief or any situation better. It is also seen that those who have a strong belief system come out of an adverse situation stronger, as in Hastu’s and Sinha’s cases.
"Things would get so taxing in the lab, I would be tempted to call it quits, but somehow I would get chanting and find strength within myself to continue, because my faith tells me that I am here for a reason," Sinha explains. But there are those like Ian D’Souza who abandoned their faith to became "Happy atheists".
D’Souza was born in a Christian family, was baptized and received the holy communion. "My mother used to make me read a chapter of the Bible every day. But I could not help but question various things like the virginity of Mother Mary, Adam and Eve as the first people on the earth and the like," he says. With these strong doubts constantly lingering in his mind he continued going to church for Sunday mass. One reason, he says, to attend Sunday mass was to avoid failure during exams and another was because he was taught to believe in the power of prayer.
"A very strange coincidence kept occurring. When waiting at the bus quickly and voila, it would arrive," he says. But the questions still remained in his head. "Finally, when I went to Mumbai to study, there was no one to breathe down my neck every Sunday to attend church. So I just did not go. Exams came and went. I did not fare too badly. I found a girlfriend with whom I have been going steady for five years! Life was great and there was no God or religion to be worried about," says the 26-year-old, who works for a television production house in Mumbai.
A strong belief in himself and his abilities converted him to atheism. "My personal belief is that people look towards God or religion only because of their insecurities and lack of belief in their own abilities. Until the day science proves the existence of God, I will not believe in the supernatural," declares D’Souza.
Not long ago it was believed that spiritual pursuits were something the old dabbled in; lofty thoughts that only the wise could contemplate. Then there are those who call religion the opiate of the masses. But people like Pillai, Sinha or even D’Souza are pointing towards a different but significant trend, where the youth brigade is trying to examine their religious beliefs rather than swallow what is dished out to them.
His chat name is Om Namah Shiva. Every morning, before leaving for office, he lights the lamp and incense sticks in the prayer corner of his bachelor pad and says a small prayer. No, he is neither an acolyte nor a recluse. Manu Pillai, 25, is the life of every party and quite the ladies man. Nothing in the manner or appearance of this Bangalore based software engineer suggests that he is a regular at the temple every Tuesday and Thursday, offers archana and attends every temple every festival.
A Malayali Hindu, Manu lived mostly in Delhi, except for the year he worked in the US. Staying alone, Manu was never under any duress from family to observe rites and rituals. So what prompted him to perform rituals? "I think every religion or faith has certain rituals which are advocated," says he. "They are simply different methodologies of devotion to God." Interestingly, he is not embarrassed about following rituals and calls himself spiritually inclined rather than religious. "There are people who wonder why I do all this, but I could not be bothered to find out why they think the way they do!"
THE WEEK/CVoter exclusive survey (see graphics) on youth and religion found that 68 per cent of the youth have had doubts about their faith and the religion they practiced. Only 30 per cent claimed to be traditional in their religious outlook. In matters of the heart, 47 per cent said that they would not consider a partner’s religion before falling in love. But no, don’t call them licentious; 53 percent firmly say that live-in relationships are anti-religious.
Many believe that the current crop of twenty-somethings has dedicated its life to the pursuit of material gains, and their twin concerns are career and money. Youth and ambition have always gone hand in hand. Everyone has the desire to achieve professional success and financial independence early in one’s life and the current generation has been able to achieve both or at least one of the two goals. Achieving these, however, comes with a price tag.
Counsellor Nina Guleria feels that the youth are facing life’s challenges much earlier than the previous two generations. And the reason she feels is the plethora of choices available to the younger generation early on. She says: "When a young person enters the job market, the number of choices spread in front of them is 20 times of what their parents had." Add to that the stress of competition which pushes them to aim for the top ten. "In times like these, the person needs support to maintain a balance between his material and spiritual needs," says she.
Spirituality is perhaps the staff that Guleria is talking about, a means to cope with the baggage that comes with ambition. This baggage is mostly in the form of stress-physical, emotional, mental and, at times, even spiritual.
Says Delhi-based psychologist Arpita Anand, "The reason that so many youngsters are opting for faith or spiritual path is to look for a means to cope with their daily stress." Another reason for choosing one’s own faith or belief system stems from a desire to establish an independent identity. "Youth today are an anxious lot in need of an anchor. Religion provides this and gives them an identity," says Dr Nilika Mehrotra, associate professor, Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Jawaharlal Nehru University.
And it was unanswered questions that led Sundeep Maithani, 26, to form his individual faith system. Maithani, a software professional, was born into a Hindu family and educated in Christian schools. Growing years brought with them their share of strife and questions – personal and social. "I knew my hymns and prayers and was no stranger to shlokas," he says, "It may sound corny but whenever I came across news of people being killed for no apparent reason and at times for the sake of religion, I would ask why? I could not understand how one man can kill another in the name of religion." And then there were questions of existence, the meaning of life. "For others these may be useless questions, but I just could not sit still…. I needed answers".
Not content to sit back and wait, Sundeep delved into the scriptures, beginning with the Holy Bible and the Bhagavad Gita. This was followed by books on Buddhism and writings of Swami Vivekananda, Plato and Bertrand Russell, among others. "For me, understanding the Bible was the easiest. But I found it did not have all my answers. Hence I read up other philosophies and they shaped my life," says Sundeep. "For example, from the story of Cain and Abel, I learnt not to get jealous, the Gita taught me the importance of hard work. Vivekananda’s teachings taught me to look for God in fellow humans; so how can I hate others?"
But he does not expect his wife to follow his belief system. Does that lead to strife at home? "Not really. My wife is very religious, she believes in God and in the power of puja. If she ever wants me to accompany her to the temple, I have no issues," he says. "I can bow in front of Jesus with the same amount of reverence as I can bow before Sri Krishna or Sai Baba or Lord Ayyappa." Anand says the past generations considered religion to be just a part of life, but she is seeing more and more youngsters experimenting with faith and belief.
Raju Kurien, 27, would agree. "My parents were so busy following tradition in religion that they did not follow what God really wanted them to her," says Kochi-based Kurian, who is an assistant at Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur. He broke away from the Orthodox Church to join a Pentecostal sect. An act of rebellion for many; an act of faith for him. "As a Christian I gave more importance to Christ’s teachings than to customs and traditions of the church," he says. After a long study of the Bible, Raju turned Pentecostal, a hard core sect which shuns wearing ornaments and believes in speaking in tongues, prophecy, healing and exorcism.
His decision worried his parents, whom he calls "halfway religious, but dedicated to the service of God". Says he: "They feared backlash from society because ours is a small close knit community in the village. But even then they decided to take time to watch how I lead my life. Right from childhood, my parents stood for truth despite hardship. That gave me strength and confidence." After three years, they accepted Raju’s decision completely and it has been ten tears since he discovered his own way.
Though many young individuals are examining, adopting and rejecting faith, their parents have been instrumental in helping them exercise their choices. "Parents have encouraged children to think for themselves," says Anand, who feels that this independent thinking has encouraged the youth to make choices.
A case in point could be Ishani Sinha. She had always been an independent child, who was encouraged to make her own decision. So when it came to choosing a faith she found her calling in the Soka Gakkai philosophy. Pursuing a Ph.D in life sciences from Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University, the 26-year-old was never religious. "Like any child growing in a Hindu household, I was a part of the puja, archana. Though I assisted the elders in the proceedings, I never really believed in it," she says.
"One of my seniors introduced me to the sect and I was impressed by their effort to bring peace to mankind," she says. Initially skeptical of chanting mantras, Ishani overcame the mental block. "I realized that ultimately the philosophy is more about applying the teachings to daily life than the canting." For Ishani, the philosophy is the same in every religion but it is the application that differs. She agrees with the saying – All religions must be tolerated, as every man must get to heaven his own way.
She chose Soka Gakkai because it entailed doing more than just spending time at the lab. "Anybody pursuing a Ph.D would agree that it can be quite taxing, physically, emotionally and mentally," says she. "Sharing of experiences at Soka Gakkai meetings acted as catharsis and a reality check. When I heard other members talk of their experience, I realized that my problems were not as earth-shattering as I imagined them to be!"
Anand has seen quite a few examples like Ishani. She feels that today’s youth finds it difficult to blindly accept what is being forced upon them. It is not a form of rebellion but about making choices after increased awareness. Mehrotra, however, feels that spirituality has been able to make inroads into youth because of their corrosion of belief in science. But while people are rejecting the philosophy of science, she says, they have not rejected its use in their daily life. The result – they amalgamate spirituality or religion with scientific advancement.
Guleria says more people chose their own spiritual paths because down the years, most religions and its leaders could not answer questions posed by these youngsters. "They don’t want to sit and chant mantras. They want to know why the mantra is important. They are curious and they want answers," she says. "Initially religion was all about spirituality, but mow it has become entangled in rites and rituals which no one bothers to demystify for the young set, hence the disillusionment." Says Anand: "The younger generation is exposed to so many more choices than before. But more importantly they have access to so much information from which they can choose the answers they want."
These sentiments are echoed by Guru Brahmarishi Saraswati Devi. She says that unlike the generation before them, youngsters have a lot to choose from thanks to images and messages beamed to them, especially on television. "The younger generation is more evolved than their predecessors. It is inherent in their nature to be able to accept spirituality readily," she says. "Earlier people were busy trying to put two square meals on the table, but now with more time on hand youngsters can pursue spiritual ambitions." Yoga, meditation and listening to discourses can help youngsters control their emotions better and lead a better life.
Anand says that resorting to spirituality or expression of faith also comes about when faced with an adverse life situation. Kaisha Hastu, 22, would know. Based in Delhi, Kaisha is an assistant producer with NDTV Good Times. Almost three years ago her father fell ill. "He was as good as gone," she says, recalling how helpless she felt when she found she could do nothing about it but pray. "I was sitting by his side, his heart beat was dropping and doctors were panicking around us. I looked out of the window and saw the hustle and bustle on the road. People were behaving as if it was a race. I wondered what use was all this if it boils down to death?" Born to a Punjabi mother and Kashmiri Pandit father, Kaisha found solace taking Wahe Guru’s name.
"When he was unwell, I prayed at every altar, but somehow I found peace only in a gurdwars," she says. Her father recovered, but she still goes to Bangla Sahib Gurdwara when ever possible. "Initially there was a sense of obligation that took me to His doorstep but now I go there when I feel like it," she says. Impressed with her sense of devotion, her mother has encouraged Kaisha to have an anand karaj – Sikh wedding. "My only lament now is that I have not studied the religion much. I just about know the basics," she says. Incidentally, she has Ek Onkar tattooed on her shoulder and intends to change it soon.
When psychiatrist Karl Menninger called religion the world’s psychiatrist throughout the centuries, he was not exaggerating. Research in psychology has shown faith or a belief system to help a person cope with grief or any situation better. It is also seen that those who have a strong belief system come out of an adverse situation stronger, as in Hastu’s and Sinha’s cases.
"Things would get so taxing in the lab, I would be tempted to call it quits, but somehow I would get chanting and find strength within myself to continue, because my faith tells me that I am here for a reason," Sinha explains. But there are those like Ian D’Souza who abandoned their faith to became "Happy atheists".
D’Souza was born in a Christian family, was baptized and received the holy communion. "My mother used to make me read a chapter of the Bible every day. But I could not help but question various things like the virginity of Mother Mary, Adam and Eve as the first people on the earth and the like," he says. With these strong doubts constantly lingering in his mind he continued going to church for Sunday mass. One reason, he says, to attend Sunday mass was to avoid failure during exams and another was because he was taught to believe in the power of prayer.
"A very strange coincidence kept occurring. When waiting at the bus quickly and voila, it would arrive," he says. But the questions still remained in his head. "Finally, when I went to Mumbai to study, there was no one to breathe down my neck every Sunday to attend church. So I just did not go. Exams came and went. I did not fare too badly. I found a girlfriend with whom I have been going steady for five years! Life was great and there was no God or religion to be worried about," says the 26-year-old, who works for a television production house in Mumbai.
A strong belief in himself and his abilities converted him to atheism. "My personal belief is that people look towards God or religion only because of their insecurities and lack of belief in their own abilities. Until the day science proves the existence of God, I will not believe in the supernatural," declares D’Souza.
Not long ago it was believed that spiritual pursuits were something the old dabbled in; lofty thoughts that only the wise could contemplate. Then there are those who call religion the opiate of the masses. But people like Pillai, Sinha or even D’Souza are pointing towards a different but significant trend, where the youth brigade is trying to examine their religious beliefs rather than swallow what is dished out to them.
Living the bigger picture
By Namrata Chattaraj
A majority of today’s youth feel responsible for the world around them. They ask a lot more questions than the earlier generation and do not stop till these are answered. There are, of course, many who bow to peer pressure and accept the herd mentality. Even as a child, I was always in the former genre. "Because our parents did it…" and "it in not polite to ask…" were not acceptable answers to me.
Having forever been interested in spirituality and all things mystic, 18 months ago I accepted the path of Nichiren Daishonin’s form of Buddhism – the Soka Gakkai International based on the lotus sutra. My life and I have changed ever since. I have always liked Buddhism the most, right from my first glimpse of it in my fifth grade history textbook. But, it took a long time, till I was ready to find the perfect philosophy or spiritual path for me. My parents always wanted my brother and me to follow and respect our Bengali Brahmin roots. However, they are quite liberal and were favourably disposed towards Buddhism and my accepting it.
In order to support me and understand my choice, my mother decided to explore this path, too. My father respects my philosophy, but prefers to be grounded in Hinduism. My brother has always been open to spirituality and respects a higher power but does not subscribe to any mainstream religion. I had reached a dead-end in certain things, and my own religion was unable to provide the answers. I always believed in the law of karma, and realised that one can make or break their destiny with their own actions. After a long hunt, I suddenly chanced upon this path and that has made every difference.
The spiritual path I chose transformed me to my best ever. Quitting my job as a graphic designer and moving from a prosperous and work-oriented Delhi to Kolkata – the ‘land of the fled youth’ -- was not a easy decision. Now I have my own design outfit in Kolkata and I stay close to my parents. Great miracles are happening to me every day. I have never been more focused, productive, clear or organised.
Going spiritual was not that easy, either. It is about being happy, and keeping the bigger picture in mind. It makes the little joys and small victories worthwhile. There is only so long that the ‘work hard and party harder’ motto can go. One day you wake up tired, hung-over, old and leading a shallow life. Should I throw in a beer gut and bags under your eyes to make the picture more lucid?
My family has strong opinions and point of views, and it took time to understand these philosophies at a deeper level, but my dad’s constant, "Let’s see you do it, and then we’ll follow…" has only helped me convince them more by way of action.
Says SGI president Sensei Daisaku Ikeda: "The struggle between happiness and unhappiness is the story of human existence. The struggle between peace and war is the history of the human race. The power that leads us to eternal victory amid these struggles is the power of good within us."
A majority of today’s youth feel responsible for the world around them. They ask a lot more questions than the earlier generation and do not stop till these are answered. There are, of course, many who bow to peer pressure and accept the herd mentality. Even as a child, I was always in the former genre. "Because our parents did it…" and "it in not polite to ask…" were not acceptable answers to me.
Having forever been interested in spirituality and all things mystic, 18 months ago I accepted the path of Nichiren Daishonin’s form of Buddhism – the Soka Gakkai International based on the lotus sutra. My life and I have changed ever since. I have always liked Buddhism the most, right from my first glimpse of it in my fifth grade history textbook. But, it took a long time, till I was ready to find the perfect philosophy or spiritual path for me. My parents always wanted my brother and me to follow and respect our Bengali Brahmin roots. However, they are quite liberal and were favourably disposed towards Buddhism and my accepting it.
In order to support me and understand my choice, my mother decided to explore this path, too. My father respects my philosophy, but prefers to be grounded in Hinduism. My brother has always been open to spirituality and respects a higher power but does not subscribe to any mainstream religion. I had reached a dead-end in certain things, and my own religion was unable to provide the answers. I always believed in the law of karma, and realised that one can make or break their destiny with their own actions. After a long hunt, I suddenly chanced upon this path and that has made every difference.
The spiritual path I chose transformed me to my best ever. Quitting my job as a graphic designer and moving from a prosperous and work-oriented Delhi to Kolkata – the ‘land of the fled youth’ -- was not a easy decision. Now I have my own design outfit in Kolkata and I stay close to my parents. Great miracles are happening to me every day. I have never been more focused, productive, clear or organised.
Going spiritual was not that easy, either. It is about being happy, and keeping the bigger picture in mind. It makes the little joys and small victories worthwhile. There is only so long that the ‘work hard and party harder’ motto can go. One day you wake up tired, hung-over, old and leading a shallow life. Should I throw in a beer gut and bags under your eyes to make the picture more lucid?
My family has strong opinions and point of views, and it took time to understand these philosophies at a deeper level, but my dad’s constant, "Let’s see you do it, and then we’ll follow…" has only helped me convince them more by way of action.
Says SGI president Sensei Daisaku Ikeda: "The struggle between happiness and unhappiness is the story of human existence. The struggle between peace and war is the history of the human race. The power that leads us to eternal victory amid these struggles is the power of good within us."
Society evolves; values remain
By Brahmachari Govind Chaitanya
People leave their faith not because there are flaws in their religion but because the essence of the religion is not taught to them. In the last couple of centuries, parents or religious teachers have lost touch with the science behind religion and as a result have not been able to impart the right [religious] knowledge to the younger generation. Changes are coming about because young people have teachers capable of explaining the faith system.
Young people are innocent and need to be guided, to understand what religion is all about. Some may feel religion is steeped in rituals. They need to understand that rituals, too, have a higher science behind them. As Aurobindo said, "Rituals are imperfect but effective"; they are an imperfect way to reaching the higher being. Today’s youth is more attracted to spirituality. But then spirituality and religion are inter-linked. Spirituality is the pure science and religion is applied science. While spiritual pursuits help in understanding, religion helps in practicing what we have learnt from spirituality. In today’s world do constant strife where there is a pressure to perform to survive, there is no one to comfort the youth. Here, spirituality gives them peace and helps them perform their duties with a detached mind.
The earlier generations have been trying to provide for a secure future for their children because they had poverty thrust upon them by the invaders. They were craving wealth. But that is changing now. The young generation realizes that there is more to be achieved in life than just material gain; they understand how important spiritual pursuits are for one’s growth.
By truly understanding what spirituality is, they have been able to develop morally and ethically and are becoming better human beings. The generation gap is eternal. If there is a discord in what the parents believe and what their children do, it is up to the parents to bridge this gap and try to understand. It is easier said then done because the older generation finds is difficult to change with the times. What need to realize is that while social changes come about with time, values remain the same.
Chaitanya is director (north zone),
All India Chinmaya Yuva Kendra.
By Brahmachari Govind Chaitanya
People leave their faith not because there are flaws in their religion but because the essence of the religion is not taught to them. In the last couple of centuries, parents or religious teachers have lost touch with the science behind religion and as a result have not been able to impart the right [religious] knowledge to the younger generation. Changes are coming about because young people have teachers capable of explaining the faith system.
Young people are innocent and need to be guided, to understand what religion is all about. Some may feel religion is steeped in rituals. They need to understand that rituals, too, have a higher science behind them. As Aurobindo said, "Rituals are imperfect but effective"; they are an imperfect way to reaching the higher being. Today’s youth is more attracted to spirituality. But then spirituality and religion are inter-linked. Spirituality is the pure science and religion is applied science. While spiritual pursuits help in understanding, religion helps in practicing what we have learnt from spirituality. In today’s world do constant strife where there is a pressure to perform to survive, there is no one to comfort the youth. Here, spirituality gives them peace and helps them perform their duties with a detached mind.
The earlier generations have been trying to provide for a secure future for their children because they had poverty thrust upon them by the invaders. They were craving wealth. But that is changing now. The young generation realizes that there is more to be achieved in life than just material gain; they understand how important spiritual pursuits are for one’s growth.
By truly understanding what spirituality is, they have been able to develop morally and ethically and are becoming better human beings. The generation gap is eternal. If there is a discord in what the parents believe and what their children do, it is up to the parents to bridge this gap and try to understand. It is easier said then done because the older generation finds is difficult to change with the times. What need to realize is that while social changes come about with time, values remain the same.
Chaitanya is director (north zone),
All India Chinmaya Yuva Kendra.
Spirituality has not changed youth qualitatively
By Dr Aanand Kumar
Religion has three layers – ritual, social, and spiritual. People usually are caught up with the first two layers and the young do not reach the spiritual level because there is too much pressure on them to become adults, to dispense with the needs of daily strife. So what we get is a set of people disillusioned with religion or those who wear their religion on their sleeves.
The reasons behind disenchantment with religion or reinforcing of religious identity are many. For example, some upper caste Hindu men find their religion on trial for various reasons like the issue of caste and repression of women. So the youth become angry and feel duty-bound to defend the religion, whether good or bad. Then there are those who feel that religion has been hijacked by those who debased religion by their conduct, who are propagating anti-human sentiments, and then there are those who rebel because of breakdown of values.
Religion was not as important to the previous generation because it was goaded into marrying modernity. It was told to believe that religion was in fact a problem; it led to the Partition and Gandhi’s death. So they were told to keep a safe distance from religion. There was guilt attached to it and it was kept private. Later we were told religion was great, and we need to abide by it, and then came the market-driven thought process where technology was the new god.
But now a move has begun where some in the young generation have begun looking at the brighter side of religion and looking at virtuous people as guides. Modernity is being seen synonymous with greed and materialistic gains. There is awareness in some about the incompleteness of material gains and they want to explore what higher goals they can achieve. By finding the right representatives of spirituality they are achieving this aim. They need someone to tell them how to satisfactorily handle their joys and sorrows. And through spiritual leaders they are learning to minimize their needs and be compassionate and use other tools to lead their lives better.
The youth today are dabbling in spirituality as a part of growing up, and not many have made a qualitative change in their lives based on what they learn. They are still infatuated with gadgetry and technology. But the generation five years from now, once the bubble of liberalization bursts, will have a better sense of balance. They will be making more informed choices in matters of faith and will be a more confident generation. This generation will be practicing a human side of religion, where they will have a personal code of good and bad, and they will not succumb to a mindless mass mentality.
Kumar is Pofessor of Sociology
Jawaharlal Nehru University.
By Dr Aanand Kumar
Religion has three layers – ritual, social, and spiritual. People usually are caught up with the first two layers and the young do not reach the spiritual level because there is too much pressure on them to become adults, to dispense with the needs of daily strife. So what we get is a set of people disillusioned with religion or those who wear their religion on their sleeves.
The reasons behind disenchantment with religion or reinforcing of religious identity are many. For example, some upper caste Hindu men find their religion on trial for various reasons like the issue of caste and repression of women. So the youth become angry and feel duty-bound to defend the religion, whether good or bad. Then there are those who feel that religion has been hijacked by those who debased religion by their conduct, who are propagating anti-human sentiments, and then there are those who rebel because of breakdown of values.
Religion was not as important to the previous generation because it was goaded into marrying modernity. It was told to believe that religion was in fact a problem; it led to the Partition and Gandhi’s death. So they were told to keep a safe distance from religion. There was guilt attached to it and it was kept private. Later we were told religion was great, and we need to abide by it, and then came the market-driven thought process where technology was the new god.
But now a move has begun where some in the young generation have begun looking at the brighter side of religion and looking at virtuous people as guides. Modernity is being seen synonymous with greed and materialistic gains. There is awareness in some about the incompleteness of material gains and they want to explore what higher goals they can achieve. By finding the right representatives of spirituality they are achieving this aim. They need someone to tell them how to satisfactorily handle their joys and sorrows. And through spiritual leaders they are learning to minimize their needs and be compassionate and use other tools to lead their lives better.
The youth today are dabbling in spirituality as a part of growing up, and not many have made a qualitative change in their lives based on what they learn. They are still infatuated with gadgetry and technology. But the generation five years from now, once the bubble of liberalization bursts, will have a better sense of balance. They will be making more informed choices in matters of faith and will be a more confident generation. This generation will be practicing a human side of religion, where they will have a personal code of good and bad, and they will not succumb to a mindless mass mentality.
Kumar is Pofessor of Sociology
Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Surveys: [in percents]
Do you believe in God? Yes 74 No 16 Can’t say 10
Are you religious? Yes 75 No 16 Can’t say 9
How often do you pray? Daily 47 Weekly 23 Occasionally 30
How often do you take part in religious activity? Daily 29 Weekly 28 Occasionally 43
Have you gone on a pilgrimage? Yes 48 No 33 Plan to go soon 19
Is religion relevant in 21st century India? Yes 54 No 26 Can’t say 20
Will religion hinder the creation of a modern India? Yes 41 No 21 Can’t say 21
Are you tolerant of other religions? Yes 54 No 27 Can’t say 19
Do you celebrate festivals of other faiths? Yes 60 No 29 Can’t say 11
Are Indian youth going back to traditional religion? Yes 47 No 32 Can’t say 21
Have you ever been attracted to another faith? Yes 35 No 45 Can’t say 20
Do you have friends from other faiths ? Yes 71 No 16 Can’t say 13
Will you love/marry a person from another faith? Yes 37 Depends on my family 33 Can’t say 30
If parents object to you marrying outside your religion?
Will obey 45 Will disobey 25 Can’t say 30
What if your lover asks you to convert before marriage?
Will convert 26 Will not convert 55 Can’t say 19
Do you practise religion because your family does? Yes 56 No 28 Can’t say 16
Are your religious views different from your family’s?
Always different 32 Sometimes 43 Can’t say 25
Do you donate money for religious causes?
Yes, regularly 26 Only when asked for it 47 Never 27
Is religion a necessary part of life? Yes 57 No 26 Can’t say 23
Religion: Good or bad? Good 52 Bad 25 Can’t say 23
Are you attracted to modern-day gurus? Very much 47 A little 22 Not at all 31
Are spirituality and religion different? Yes 56 No 27 Can’t say 17
Are you religious? Yes 75 No 16 Can’t say 9
How often do you pray? Daily 47 Weekly 23 Occasionally 30
How often do you take part in religious activity? Daily 29 Weekly 28 Occasionally 43
Have you gone on a pilgrimage? Yes 48 No 33 Plan to go soon 19
Is religion relevant in 21st century India? Yes 54 No 26 Can’t say 20
Will religion hinder the creation of a modern India? Yes 41 No 21 Can’t say 21
Are you tolerant of other religions? Yes 54 No 27 Can’t say 19
Do you celebrate festivals of other faiths? Yes 60 No 29 Can’t say 11
Are Indian youth going back to traditional religion? Yes 47 No 32 Can’t say 21
Have you ever been attracted to another faith? Yes 35 No 45 Can’t say 20
Do you have friends from other faiths ? Yes 71 No 16 Can’t say 13
Will you love/marry a person from another faith? Yes 37 Depends on my family 33 Can’t say 30
If parents object to you marrying outside your religion?
Will obey 45 Will disobey 25 Can’t say 30
What if your lover asks you to convert before marriage?
Will convert 26 Will not convert 55 Can’t say 19
Do you practise religion because your family does? Yes 56 No 28 Can’t say 16
Are your religious views different from your family’s?
Always different 32 Sometimes 43 Can’t say 25
Do you donate money for religious causes?
Yes, regularly 26 Only when asked for it 47 Never 27
Is religion a necessary part of life? Yes 57 No 26 Can’t say 23
Religion: Good or bad? Good 52 Bad 25 Can’t say 23
Are you attracted to modern-day gurus? Very much 47 A little 22 Not at all 31
Are spirituality and religion different? Yes 56 No 27 Can’t say 17
