In order to exemplify the philosophy of elegant simplicity, we need to address the connection between science and spirituality. Some people think that science and spirituality are polar opposites, but are they? Science is about things that can be measured, and spirituality is about things that cannot be measured. In life, both of these are combined together. Look at our bodies. We can measure the weight, length, width, structure, and anatomy of the body. But we also have intelligence. How do we measure intelligence? We can do some IQ tests, but we can never really measure how much intelligence we have. Then we have feelings, like love for our friends and family. Can we measure love? So, spirituality is about what cannot be measured.

There are scientific philosophies such as complexity, chaos, and evolution which come close to spirituality. Quantum physics in particular bridges the gap between meaning and measurement. When you put meaning into quantity, quantity becomes quantum. At the quantum level, all separations end.

We are all related and connected at the energy level. Thus, the meaning of existence is unmanifest and invisible, and therefore spiritual. The meaning of consciousness is also the same; there is an unmanifest potential before reality manifests. In the spiritual terminology, we call it consciousness, in scientific terminology, we call it quantum mechanics.

We can measure matter, but we cannot measure meaning. Everything has a physical reality and a metaphysical reality. We have the human body and the human spirit. We need matter as well as spirit for they form one unified reality – one cannot exist without the other. There is no separation or dualism between the physical and the metaphysical or between the material and the spiritual.

Science gives us rational, logical, empirical, measurable, and replicable tools and technologies that we need, to function well in life. Spirituality gives us love, compassion, generosity, and a sense of mutuality, which we also need to stay connected to our divine Selves.

Science is a very valuable part of humanity. However, it hasn’t yet explained it all. Stepping fully into a meaningful life requires a shift in the way we show up for ourselves, and in the way we show up for others.

Building the science of spirituality into practice takes intention and effort. The benefits are far-reaching, even if perfect scientific experimentation is somewhat elusive.

STARTING YOUR OWN PRACTICE

Regardless of your religious background, starting a spiritual practice to find moments of transcendence is highly beneficial. Most human beings are looking for meaning in their lives; forming connections in troubling times to ease stress, depression, and to increase their immune responses.

This is a rough guideline on how to begin:

1 – Start small and make new habits.

There is no need to fully adopt a set of beliefs overnight. Becoming more spiritual can be as simple as staying silent for 5-10 minutes a day in a quiet, soothing environment.

2 – Commit.

Love yourself enough to attempt to find moments of transcendent emotions daily. Through increasing hope, kindness, self-compassion, gratitude, and awe, anyone can start being more spiritual right away. All it takes is one decision to change perspective.

3 – Practice.

Finding moments of transcendence to replace moments of frustration will not happen by waving a magic wand. Practice mindful attention to your thoughts, emotions, and behaviour to find experiences in spirituality.

4 – Study.

Explore others’ experiences of spirituality, whether through religion or personal journeys. Find something that you find relatable. Ask questions and get curious about people who have cultivated this beautiful way of being in the world.

5 – Develop an optimistic explanatory style.

While getting curious and beginning to ask more questions, slowing down how you speak, and exploring personally held, strong beliefs can open your minds to more possibilities.

6 – Choose love and respect.

With every interaction, lead with a loving and kind way of being. Even when dealing with awkward interactions, staying calm and in a loving mindset can de-escalate the situation. Can you imagine the Dalai Lama yelling at someone? He interacts with skeptics and highly intelligent people who might seek to threaten his way of being in the world, yet he shows up every single time with love.

7 – Keep a journal.

Journal twice a day – before you get out of bed and before you go to bed. Journaling is a powerful exercise of bringing clarity to what you are intending to invite into your life. Begin by writing 5 things you are grateful for every day and you will find that the more grateful you are, the more things you will be grateful about, for you will invite new collaborations, healed relationships, better health, prosperity, and abundance into your daily living.

8 – Practice Ho’oponopono at bedtime.

This powerful Hawaiian prayer has been known to heal diseases and illnesses at deep levels that more and more people are using it as a medium of meditation for themselves so that they push past the baggage and burden they carry from their past.

Start small and build your practice from here. Be sure to keep a check on yourself and learn to trust your own intuition, even if you think you are losing your mind. Learn to let go of old beliefs and social conditioning that made you feel inadequate one way or the other and allow, allow, allow yourself the permission to take back all your power and take flight in your newfound belief system.

May you ascend in your wisdom!

*Image from Uplift

SUJATA NANDY WORLD GURUKUL
www.sujatanandy.com