How can spirituality assist us in navigating the ups and downs of life?

Spirituality helps us navigate the ups and downs of life with complete acceptance, courage, patience, humility, love, joy and peace. Let’s understand how…

Spirituality means Turning toward the Soulr
When there are ups and downs in our life, we suffer. There’s so much pain, unhappiness, stress, tension, depression, frustration, tiredness, worries, loss, failures, problems, troubles, suffering, physical pain, hurt, misery, sadness, sorrow, mental ailments, loneliness, hatred, anger, etc. that one generally experiences.

The Enlightened One says that all of this suffering is due to ignorance; and mainly the ignorance of Self i.e. ‘who am I’. This is the biggest cause of any problem in our life. Once we understand that the Soul is an eternal element and it is our Self, and if (on separation of the components of Soul and matter) we realize that eternal element, then no matter how many ups and downs come in our life, all our worldly problems and puzzles can be easily solved.

The worldly science is a different thing — it is materialistic; while the spiritual science is based on the eternal element of Soul. Lord Mahavir, Lord Krishna, and Lord Rama were all spiritual scientists. These scientists realized the eternal element, experienced the eternal element and gave their disciples the knowledge of the eternal element. Following this knowledge is spirituality. Spirituality provides a permanent solution to all the problems.

In Spirituality, one Remains Engaged in Enhancing the Awareness of the Soul

On the path of spirituality, although one is seen conducting his worldly life, rendering all his duties and obligations while going through the ups and downs in life on the outside, inside, his sole desire always is to ‘enhance the awareness of the Soul’. While in the awareness of the Soul, one can resolve all the ups and downs with equanimity; when done so, whatever ups and downs have unfolded, they leave forever.

Therefore, day and night, his attention is constantly devoted to the instruments that help enhance this awareness of the Soul, the primary instruments being the Gnani i.e. the Enlightened One, and the Gnan i.e. His enlightening words.

Gnani is the Beacon of Light

Gnani introduces us to our Self, kindles within the light of the Soul, and shows us the right way to navigate every situation in life. His silent blessings grant us incredible protection and special strength to combat any kind of ordeal, during the testing times.

Gnani is the sacred bridge that helps us cross over from the state of ignorance that we are presently in (Agnan) to the state where real knowledge prevails (Gnan). While Gnan teaches us how we can remain happy even in the worst of situations, Gnani is a living example of it. By just observing Him, we learn to become One like him.

Gnani’s Spiritual Teachings Hold our Hand and Show us the Way

Gnani, the Enlightened One, explains,

“If there wouldn’t have been any problem in our life, the baggage that we have brought forward from our previous life would remain intact, and thus moksha (our ultimate liberation) would not happen. Problems (the ups and downs in life) are very useful for our Soul as it gives us experiential knowledge!”

If difficult circumstances did not arise in life, our energies would never blossom. So, adverse circumstances are good for our spiritual welfare and overall growth.

Spirituality Is to Know that We Are Not the Doer but Are the Knower of the Doer

“Worldly life is based on action and spiritual life is based on Knowing. One carries out the activity, whereas the other keeps ‘Seeing’ it. The ‘doer’ and the ‘Knower’ can never be the same, they are always separate. They were separate, they are separate, and they will remain separate.”

~ Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan

When we do not become the doer of the good things or of bad things, then there cannot be any charging of new karma and this leads us to ultimate salvation (moksha). This verily is the reason why one takes on the path of spirituality!

Read More: https://www.dadabhagwan.org/path-to-happiness/spiritual-science/moksha/