Are Modern Youth Spiritual..

[thebigthinkg]

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Long time back my daughter participated in a TAMIL debate titled 'Inraiya Illaingargal Aanmiga vazhiyil selgirargala", meaning "Do modern youth walk to the path of spirituality". She debated on the side of 'Modern Youth are spiritual'.

On the occasion of Swami Vivekananda's birthday, I try to present here the English translation of her debate speech

"My dear friends,

Vanakkam. First, I would like to first define 'Aanmigam' (Spirituality) clearly. 'Aathma' in Sanskrit (becomes Aanma in tamil) means Saaramsam (Essence). 'Eegam' means 'To give out'. Hence the meaning of the word Aanmigam is 'To give out one's essence'.

A good example of one that gives out its essence is Sun. Sun gives out all its essence and creates us and all the life in this planet, though in that process it is dying out.

Vedas say 'Savitr' is the seed that becomes the Sun. By invoking that seed in us, "we all need to become like Sun and give out our essence", says the Gayatri Mantra. Reciting this mantra without meaning is not 'Aanmigam' (spirituality). Living like a Sun, giving life to others is real 'Aanmigam' (Spirituality). Those people who follow this are the real spiritualists.

"Take a goal. Breathe and live that goal. Make it your body and soul. That is how great spiritualists are formed' said Vivekananda. See from this viewpoint.

A.R.Rahman, who won the Oscar, Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand, Child Prodigy Mandolin Srinivas, we can go on naming youngsters who lived their life, as Vivekananda said.

Why..?

Living in the banks of ditches, studying in the streets, if it storms in their stomach or rains in their house, carrying the books in their stomach, are there not lakhs of Indian youngsters who are doing the education penance with aims and aspirations..? Are they not the 'Spiritualists' that Vivekananda called for..?

"Paramatma gives. Jeevatma receives" says Sankara. He asks everyone of us to become Paramatma from Jeevatma. Living as Paramatma is the most spiritual way. To live as Paramatma we need to give. We need to give out whatever we have. Be it knowledge, wealth, love.. We need to radiate and become Paramatma.

Now you look at it.

Just twenty years back, westerners said "India is an Elephant. It can only move slowly". So any country that witnessed 2-3% growth, they ridiculed it calling 'Hindu Rate of Growth".

Now, those western countries are growing at 1-2%. India is growing at 8-9%. Who is responsible for this growth..? Which Paramatmas gave this growth to this country..?

Going to unseen places, conquering all obstacles in their way, is it not the Youth of this country that gave this growth..? Hardware, Software, Business, Science or Technology, name any sphere, it is the Youth of this country that brings these into India. They are the paramatmas of India. The rest of population are Jeevatmas that only receive.

"Living out of fear of birth, death and life is not spirituality. Realizing them and living is spirituality" said Einstien. Today's Indian youth live that life of Spirituality.

Hence I confidently pronounce here that Indian youth walk the path of spirituality.

Thanks and Greetings again".

-TBT

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

Modern youngsters are highly spiritual but this kind of spirituality is sure to cause concern! :tsk:

Facts About Youth and Alcohol

Wasted youth

Approximately 11 million American youth under the age of 21 drink alcohol. Nearly half of them drink to excess, consuming five or more drinks in a row, one or more times in a two week period.

Alcohol is the most frequently used drug by high school seniors, and its use is increasing. Boys usually try alcohol for the first time at just 11 years old, while the average age for American girls' first drink is 13. In short, our nation's youth are flirting with disaster. Consider the facts:

• Underage drinking is a factor in nearly half of all teen automobile crashes, the leading cause of death among teenagers.
• Alcohol use contributes to youth suicides, homicides and fatal injuries – the leading cause of death among youth after auto crashes.
• Alcohol abuse is linked to as many as two-thirds of all sexual assaults and date rapes of teens and college students.
• Alcohol is a major factor in unprotected sex among youth, increasing their risk of contracting HIV or other transmitted diseases.

Facts About Youth and Alcohol

 

[sankara_sharmah]

Please do not compare growth rate and judge countries. When the base is low the growth rate can be very high. If one is earning Rs. 100 and his income grows by Rs. 25 it is 25% growth. But when one is earning Rs.1000 an increase of Rs. 100 is only 10% growth.

This rate of growth had been used by the so called researchers to prove that Bihar is growing faster than Gujarat.

 

[Visalakshi Ramani]

Lies < Damned lies < Statistics!!!

 

[thebigthinkg]

Modern youngsters are highly spiritual but this kind of spirituality is sure to cause concern! :tsk:

Facts About Youth and Alcohol

Wasted youth

Approximately 11 million American youth under the age of 21 drink alcohol. Nearly half of them drink to excess, consuming five or more drinks in a row, one or more times in a two week period.

Alcohol is the most frequently used drug by high school seniors, and its use is increasing. Boys usually try alcohol for the first time at just 11 years old, while the average age for American girls' first drink is 13. In short, our nation's youth are flirting with disaster. Consider the facts:

• Underage drinking is a factor in nearly half of all teen automobile crashes, the leading cause of death among teenagers.
• Alcohol use contributes to youth suicides, homicides and fatal injuries – the leading cause of death among youth after auto crashes.
• Alcohol abuse is linked to as many as two-thirds of all sexual assaults and date rapes of teens and college students.
• Alcohol is a major factor in unprotected sex among youth, increasing their risk of contracting HIV or other transmitted diseases.

Facts About Youth and Alcohol

Well, while alcohol is a problem, I thnk there r some good points in her speech which need to be used by both young and old

 

[sankara_sharmah]

With all due respects to Swamiji it is difficult to understand why the Ramakrishna Mission did not support the Independence movement?

 

[thebigthinkg]

Please do not compare growth rate and judge countries. When the base is low the growth rate can be very high. If one is earning Rs. 100 and his income grows by Rs. 25 it is 25% growth. But when one is earning Rs.1000 an increase of Rs. 100 is only 10% growth.

This rate of growth had been used by the so called researchers to prove that Bihar is growing faster than Gujarat.

Yes, I agree that rate of growth alone is not a parameter to compare nations. But at the same time, Hindu rate of growth, The Hindu Elephant were all the words that were attributed to Indians. And it has changed.

At the same time, I think maintaining a high rate of growth is critical for Indian nation to improve. Though there are challenges, I see that going forward our nation will have a glorious future.

-TBT

 

[thebigthinkg]

Lies < Damned lies < Statistics!!!

Surprised. The statistics may lie. But there are more than statistics in this speech. I for one would look at the concept behind it..

 

[thebigthinkg]

With all due respects to Swamiji it is difficult to understand why the Ramakrishna Mission did not support the Independence movement?

Well I am none to support or oppose Swami Vivekananda.

But then I know he died in 1902, when Independence movement did not gather shape. In fact he believed (as many people at that time and I absolutely believe he was right at that time) that if India were to get independence at that time, it would be privy/beneficial to few people.

FAQ :: ABVYM


-TBT

 

[sankara_sharmah]

Unfortunately that article that you have quoted does not answer why the Ramakrishna mission founded by Swamiji did not support the Independence movement.

I am surprised at the statement made on the web site.

The contribution of Swami Vivekananda in Indian freedom struggle was immense. Yet, why did he not get an important place in the history of our freedom struggle?

It is as if the historians have conspired to keep Swamiji's contribution out.

 

[thebigthinkg]

Unfortunately that article that you have quoted does not answer why the Ramakrishna mission founded by Swamiji did not support the Independence movement.

I am surprised at the statement made on the web site.



It is as if the historians have conspired to keep Swamiji's contribution out.

Sir,

May be some knowledgeable person should answer that. I don't know. In my view, from what I understand from what I read, Vivekananda's spiritualism brought people and their progress to center stage, which I agree with..

-TBT

 

[sangom]

Hi, all members,

I will not touch upon Vivekananda, because, as usual, I have a very different opinion about him and I have spelt it out in this forum in the past.

As for younger, or even the older generations, my view is that the type of "spirituality" or ānmīkaṃ (not the spirituality in the US) is a non-beneficial thing for this country. The just previous generations have been themselves misled about true religiousness and ānmīkaṃ, and, in turn, they seem to have grossly misled the youngsters into a kind of sham spirituality.

I am of the confirmed view that the rapid increase in the number of swamijis/gurus/-aanandas/godmen/godwomen etc., during the last hundred years or so, and more especially in the last few decades, forebodes ill both for our (Hindu) religion and our country. Two or three generations ago the popularity of such gurus was very low even among the tabras. But today there is hardly anyone who does not have his/her guru. Though it is often justified by saying that a guru is a sine qua non for salvation, it looks more like an outsourcing of the job of acquiring salvation, to the favoured guruji and his business outfit.

The internet and google search have enabled many, if not most, of the youngsters to get a smattering of a bit of ideas from our scriptures, as doled out by his/her guru and so the youngsters feel they have done everything to be done in the spiritual area. Of course, there are some young people who exhibit an OCS with one or another of religious practices, for example, sandhyavandanam, gaayatree mantra, sraaddham, wearing rudraaksham, etc.

There is however no true revival of interest in (hindu) religion, studying its scriptures, understanding the fundamentals, etc.

It will be seen that the modern trend of saffron-clad gurus rushing to the western shores started possibly with Vivekananda. I will suggest that a reading of the book "Swami Vivekananda : A reassessment" byNarasingha Prosad Sil.

 

[thebigthinkg]

Hi, all members,

I will not touch upon Vivekananda, because, as usual, I have a very different opinion about him and I have spelt it out in this forum in the past.

As for younger, or even the older generations, my view is that the type of "spirituality" or ānmīkaṃ (not the spirituality in the US) is a non-beneficial thing for this country. The just previous generations have been themselves misled about true religiousness and ānmīkaṃ, and, in turn, they seem to have grossly misled the youngsters into a kind of sham spirituality.

I am of the confirmed view that the rapid increase in the number of swamijis/gurus/-aanandas/godmen/godwomen etc., during the last hundred years or so, and more especially in the last few decades, forebodes ill both for our (Hindu) religion and our country. Two or three generations ago the popularity of such gurus was very low even among the tabras. But today there is hardly anyone who does not have his/her guru. Though it is often justified by saying that a guru is a sine qua non for salvation, it looks more like an outsourcing of the job of acquiring salvation, to the favoured guruji and his business outfit.

The internet and google search have enabled many, if not most, of the youngsters to get a smattering of a bit of ideas from our scriptures, as doled out by his/her guru and so the youngsters feel they have done everything to be done in the spiritual area. Of course, there are some young people who exhibit an OCS with one or another of religious practices, for example, sandhyavandanam, gaayatree mantra, sraaddham, wearing rudraaksham, etc.

There is however no true revival of interest in (hindu) religion, studying its scriptures, understanding the fundamentals, etc.

It will be seen that the modern trend of saffron-clad gurus rushing to the western shores started possibly with Vivekananda. I will suggest that a reading of the book "Swami Vivekananda : A reassessment" byNarasingha Prosad Sil.

In general, I see that comments here are missing the point about 'Aanmikam' being given out the Essence and our aim in life being moving from Jeevatma to Parmatma by giving out what we have.

In this way, spirituality is not a capsule to be taken daily, but becomes part of our life.

In fact, this was the way we lived and that's why I stress on procedures like Sandhyavandanam and our karmas, as spirituality is in the way we live and not in what we do for few moments.

I agree with u that there is no interest in vedic literatures today, but that's because they seem so irrelevant to our ways of life today. I would say if we are able to get our life with all those niyamas and karmas, we will get a balance in life, from which everything else will flow.

-TBT

 

[SANDHYAV]

If psychology can be counselling and time management and stress control, the same should be applied for a youth who will have an ocean of spiritual procedures. If someone is retired after 40 yrs of service as an adult at the age of 65/90 then ofcourse he will have a lot of time in such matters. vivekananda according to me is like radhakrishnan or krishnamurthy who are philosophers who will mix spirituality+science+history+politics. Most of the time it will be dry of humor.of course every youth's EDU/SOCIETAL SITUATION/MONEY needs to be considered

 

[Naina_Marbus]

With all due respects to Swamiji it is difficult to understand why the Ramakrishna Mission did not support the Independence movement?

The Ramakrishna movement's official policy was, as Vivekananda stated: non-involvement in political issues. The movement has in fact been compared to the International Red Cross Society, by Wendy Sinclair-Brull who has written a book on Indian Religious Movements. Clearly, the movement was intended to be apolitical.

Talking about the independence movement, the Indian National Congress website has this to say:
http://www.aicc.org.in/new/india-struggle-for-freedom.php

India's Struggle for Freedom : Role of Associated Movements

India’s struggle for freedom had been a long drawn outbattle. Though it actually began in the second half of the 19th century, isolated attempts were made in various parts of the country to bring theBritish rule in India to an end about a century earlier.
…………………………………….
The Kuka Movement marked the first major reaction ofthe people in the Punjab to the new political order initiated by the Britishafter 1849. The Namdhari Movement of which the Kuka Movement was the mostimportant phase aimed at the over­throw of the British rule.

These were some of the militant movements which preceded the birth of the Indian National Congress. However it was the intellectualmovements which now dominated politics. The political ideas and organisations which had taken root before 1857 now flowered into a new national or political consciousness. This was brought about by the sudden revelation of India’s past glory through the works of foreign and Indian scholars and large scale ex­cavations carried out by Alexander Cunningham. The preachings of various associations such as the Arya Samaj, Theosophical Society and Ramakrishna Mission also helped in this process.

Later, http://www.aicc.org.in/new/congress-the-freedom-movement.php, describing the Ramakrishna Mission ---

The latest phase of national renaissance in India prior to the Congress was inaugurated in Bengal by that great sage, Ramakrishna Paramahansa, who later found in Swami Vivekananda his chief apostle carrying his gospel to East and West. ……This "Cyclonic Hindu", as Vivekananda was called in America, carried the message of India not only to America, Europe, Egypt, China and Japan but was himself influenced greatly by the West and preached a dynamic new gospel of regeneration in India, from Cape Comorin to the Himalayas. He stressed on thenecessity for liberty and equality and the raising of the masses.

…………These currents and movements were the real lifeblood of the new national consciousness, urge and their embodiment that took shape partly and developed from stage to stage in the form of the Indian National Congress.

 

[sankara_sharmah]

Independence Movement was for Freeing India and Indians from Slavery. Removing the shackles which bound our Mother. Mother India.

It is sad that a fight against tyranny and enslavement was considered a mere political movement by some people.

Fortunately most of the Indians did not do so.

 

[sangom]

In general, I see that comments here are missing the point about 'Aanmikam' being given out the Essence and our aim in life being moving from Jeevatma to Parmatma by giving out what we have.

In this way, spirituality is not a capsule to be taken daily, but becomes part of our life.

In fact, this was the way we lived and that's why I stress on procedures like Sandhyavandanam and our karmas, as spirituality is in the way we live and not in what we do for few moments.

I agree with u that there is no interest in vedic literatures today, but that's because they seem so irrelevant to our ways of life today. I would say if we are able to get our life with all those niyamas and karmas, we will get a balance in life, from which everything else will flow.

-TBT

Dear Shri TBT,

The basic premise in the OP which split the complete sanskrit word "आत्मीक" (ātmīka) into ātmā (sans. soul) and Eegam' (Tamil:'To give out') was itself a gross mistake. If we take only the correct sanskrit word viz., आत्मीय (ātmīya), I don't know whether it will be possible to interpret it as ātmā + īya, and if so whether it will be possible to say that ātmīya means "gifting one's soul" and whether it is the accepted meaning.

'Spirituality' is a much confused term in Hinduism, imo. It does not truly mean "giving out" one's soul to anything. Irrespective of the daily routine/s, the way of living, and so on, I feel spirituality should properly denote a person's involvement in finding out the ultimate truth, or, in other words, his/her philosophic inclination. Sadly, however, our society in general (and tabra community in particular) today, do not seem to be giving much emphasis on promoting this philosophic inclination. On the contrary, outwardly religiousness, performance of various religion-sanctioned rites and rituals (if possible with much pomp and publicity), a guru or godman to flaunt as one's "spiritual teacher" and such other irrelevant marks are mistaken for philosophic inclinations of a person.

This deviant course has been there for at least a few decades and so the youth of the present day have had nothing else except this flawed ideal to follow. Naturally, they have been grossly misled by a previous generation which itself had lost its way. Hence, it is much like "the blind leading the blind" today!

 

[thebigthinkg]

Dear Shri TBT,

The basic premise in the OP which split the complete sanskrit word "आत्मीक" (ātmīka) into ātmā (sans. soul) and Eegam' (Tamil:'To give out') was itself a gross mistake. If we take only the correct sanskrit word viz., आत्मीय (ātmīya), I don't know whether it will be possible to interpret it as ātmā + īya, and if so whether it will be possible to say that ātmīya means "gifting one's soul" and whether it is the accepted meaning.

'Spirituality' is a much confused term in Hinduism, imo. It does not truly mean "giving out" one's soul to anything. Irrespective of the daily routine/s, the way of living, and so on, I feel spirituality should properly denote a person's involvement in finding out the ultimate truth, or, in other words, his/her philosophic inclination. Sadly, however, our society in general (and tabra community in particular) today, do not seem to be giving much emphasis on promoting this philosophic inclination. On the contrary, outwardly religiousness, performance of various religion-sanctioned rites and rituals (if possible with much pomp and publicity), a guru or godman to flaunt as one's "spiritual teacher" and such other irrelevant marks are mistaken for philosophic inclinations of a person.

This deviant course has been there for at least a few decades and so the youth of the present day have had nothing else except this flawed ideal to follow. Naturally, they have been grossly misled by a previous generation which itself had lost its way. Hence, it is much like "the blind leading the blind" today!

Dear Sangom Sir,

Aanmigam is a tamil word though Aanma could have been borrowed from sanskrit. So from a tamil word view Aanma+Igam is right. Don't confuse between sanskrit Atma and Tamil Iga. Also do not confuse it with Anmiya.

In fact, there are people who say that Anma was borrowed from Tamil into Sanskrit and not vice versa. I read a book that says AnMa indicates a combination of Siva and Sakthi and also is related to Anu which is 'Soul' in Jainism and it goes to Sanskrit from Dravidian languages.

In any case, Aanma as we know is a tamil word and it means one's essence in tamil also and there is no need to obfuscate the core message with Anmiya.

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=B90uj14NHjMC

While I don't vouch for Kasipandiyan's book, I brought it up to give u a point that what we imbibed or learnt from others or books have multiple dimensions and we need to look at the substance and not style.

Regarding ur point that spirituality is finding the ultimate truth, yes, in a broader concept I agree. Actually my view is we are all evolving towards that realization of the 'Self'. The 'Self' that is within you and me and everything else.. The Self that is driving this evolution. The Self that manifests as the evolution itself.

I believe everyone at some point has this zeal to find out this truth and it manifests in different ways. It is not privy to few people. The way one follows that zeal is different from what another does. And this zeal manifests simply because, that is how the course of evolution can be accelerated.

Once we start having a balanced life, the noise reduces, our inner zeal comes out more accelerating the course of evolution, making us do things towards that.

I understand it may be different/diverse from the approach u have in mind. You may even think it is wrong or stupid and lament about the stupidity that clouds these thoughts.

But that diversity is the hall-mark of the evolution of Universe.

-TBT

-TBT