Featured Swellcaster Of The Week: Dr Vandana R Singh
The foundation provides medical support to patients suffering from neurological ailments and supports programs designed to reduce carbon footprint in varied geographies. Dr. Vandana is an author, poet, translator, editor, and language educator. Instinctively interested in world literature as a mirror of human behavior and relationships, she has been engaged with education delivery from diverse platforms, including contributions as a teacher, curriculum developer, textbook writer, and school development advisor
And philosophical spirituality often seeks to uncover universal truths and principles. That transcend individual beliefs or cultural boundaries. Psychologically, I think spirituality can be understood as the pursuit of inner peace, of self awareness, and of personal growth. It can also include practices such as mildness, self reflection, and emotional healing. And many people find spiritual fulfillment. Through activities that promote mental and emotional well being, such as yoga or meditation or spending time with nature and so on
You. So, regardless of the perspective from which it is approached, I would say spirituality often involves a sense of interconnectedness with the world around us. Very importantly, it can foster empathy, compassion, and a deep appreciation for the diversity of human experience. And many people find spiritual fulfillment through acts of service, kindness, and altruism that contribute to the well being of others
You. In general, people's belief systems are shaped by a complex interplay of factors that encompass religious, cultural, social, psychological, sometimes economic and personal influences. You each of these factors contributes to the formation of an individual's worldview value framework principles, and these in turn shape their beliefs and perspectives on various aspects of life. So if we are to look at these individually, if we are to talk of cultural and social influences, these obviously play an extremely important role
So one thing that I am very sure of now that spiritual serendipity happens. It's a reality. And as somebody has said, that you don't look for the Bhagavad Gita. The Bhagavad Gita looks for you. You don't find the Bhagavad Gita. The Bhagavad Gita finds you. And in my case, that has actually been true. So I hope this answers your question as to what shaped my spiritual belief and my spiritual journey and its initiation. Bye
How has the Bhagavad Gita influenced the way you approach life
It. The bhavat Gita, which we often refer to simply as the Gita, is a 700 verse hindu scripture that is part of the indian epic, the Mahabharat. It is a sacred text that has had a profound influence on the way people approach life, particularly within the context of hindu philosophy and spirituality. And the teachings of the Gita have resonated with people across cultures and have had a lasting impact on individuals'perspectives. On duty, righteousness, and spiritual fulfillment
And in a beautiful analogy, Krishna says that one who is able to withdraw the senses from their objects just as a tortoise withdraws its limbs within its shell, is well established in divine consciousness. So clearly being in control of the senses is the litmus test that separates a yogi from others, and a self realized soul masters the senses and rules over them, rather than allowing the senses to determine any course of action
What are some of the tenets from the Gita that serve you as guideposts in everyday life?
There are those who are driven by the sathav gun, which means they live a virtuous life, remain focused on knowledge enhancement, and are productively engaged in the pursuit of goodness. Then there are those who are driven by the Rajaskun, and they are driven by greed, by avarice, jealousy, and are constantly occupied in pursuits of material gain. Physical desire and sensual pleasures dominate their thought processes
The Gita, for me is a journey from a partial understanding of life to a somewhat more complete one. It teaches me to be in the moment and yet be detached from it. The Gita also suggests that while it is good to be competitive in life, let the competition eventually be with your own self. It also asks me to make sure that today I am an improved version of what I was yesterday, though I've learned a lot from the Gita
And it's fascinating to listen to these interpretations. And again, when you talk about certain aspects from the Gita, and I correlate to what I've heard and what I've read every time, there is such a deep, profound meaning emerging out of that exchange. And it's just wonderful. I think the way our scriptures, though written thousands of years ago, and I think this is across the board, our scriptures are Upanishads and the Vedas. There is so much to imbibe from