Spiritualism – a new search

 

 

                                                                              A.C.Sekhar                                Revised: 24 August 2003

 

                                                           The words ‘Spiritual’ and ‘Spiritualism’ in the present day dictionaries connote slightly different meanings depending  on their usage but from purely philosophical point of view they refer to a doctrine which primarily distinguishes itself from ‘Materialism’ or material considerations which otherwise mean worldly considerations for day-to-day living in a growing society.. Spiritualism is commonly related to something religious and divine in nature, Some religions remained dogmatic and changed very little in their practices even though times have changed and civilizations have moved fast forward progressively. But some other religions being flexible have adapted themselves to changing technological and material developments in the world and moved towards universality. In this process what was once spiritualism sometimes became materialism. But ‘Spiritualism’ as such still remained a sort of mythical force guiding some of the human perceptions and the ultimate destiny of  human  beings

 

                                                  In the first millennium, whatever man saw and experienced, he mostly attributed the same to spiritual considerations and to some divine phenomenon. For example the powers of wind, the sun, birth and death were all attributed to Divine Will  and  authority. In the second millennium, man discovered some laws of Nature and expressed his experiences in terms of these laws. He could express quantitatively and precisely the exact status of his observations by some units of measurement which he had standardized for  universal application. While he could explain ‘what’, ‘when’, and ‘where’ of his observations  he  could not really say the ultimate ‘why’ of the same.. Only some vague theories were propounded on the basis of his physical observations  and which theories also changed from time to time  with advanced knowledge and more observations  in the universe. During this period he had also designed some material contrivances for his comfortable and happy existence in this world, but differed widely on what exactly had constituted  his ultimate  happiness or goal . Thus the horizon of materialism was expanding not without uncertainty. Perhaps unwittingly he has also accepted that there are forces beyond his control which guide human destiny. Hence some looked to ‘Spiritualism’ for any possible solution.

 

                                                But what exactly is Spiritualism and how can anyone evaluate the same in modern Scientific terminology? Some ancient sages of India explained  that in every part of Creation and in every entity there is a material content (Bhautic) and a spiritual content (Daivik). They found that some articles and plants like Shaligrams, Rudrakshas, and Tulsi to have spiritual powers. They established different shapes of idols to identify different types of spiritual powers like Brahma, Vishnu for the creation  and preservation of  the Universe. In prescribing rituals, for various social functions like celebration of births, marriages, performing funerals, etc. they designed invocation of spiritual powers along with material procedures. In the human body  which is supposed to be a miniature universe (Microcosm) there are some activities which can be physically explained on a material scale  and some which cannot be done so but otherwise attributed to  forces beyond one’s own control. For example some parts of human body like hair, nails, blood clotting, muscles etc grow, degenerate or adjust or transform according t their own programming with advancement of age and mind. They re not necessarily operated or controlled  by any external agencies under one’s own control. The same is true also  of all objects of biological origin, their birth and death. The same can also be said of inanimate objects like mountains, rocks, volcanoes etc.  At most man can only aid or accelerate or mutilate by physico-chemical processes like medicines, climate control systems, ecological designs, genetic engineering etc. but has not so far succeeded  to create or completely stop these forces at his will . Sometimes it has been astonishing to human mind that the experienced physical observations are quite different from the expected results of  his trials . Thus it seems logical to conclude that the reaction of the energy of  spiritual content would be different from  that of the  energy of the material content. The physical content is experienced by the physical senses ‘Karmendriyas’  (Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue, and Touch) and the spiritual content will have to be experienced by the spiritual senses ‘Gnanendriyas’ (Mind, Intellect, Conscience, Memory and Faith). While the material content becomes manifest mostly externally, the spiritual content is confined mainly to internal manifestation otherwise also known as realization

 

 

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                                             Man, as a part of this creation, is both subjective and objective for the purpose of evaluation of materialism or spiritualism. He is the only being with the power of introspection and logical expression. Thus he becomes capable, if he utilizes his Gnanendriyas properly and if he makes a devoted attempt to draw a distinction between material forces and spiritual forces that exist in himself or in any other part of Creation.  He can thus even organize inter-convertibility of Materialism and Spiritualism. Some modern godmen in India  seem to be on such paths in right direction. Sometimes they are said to be performing miracles getting into the path of sainthood. In ancient and religious literature, Jesus Christ, Buddha, Lord Krishna, Chaitanya Prabhu and many sages are reported to have performed miracles of various sorts all of which should  in fact be  attributed to the spiritual energy arising out of spiritual content in them. Thus in course of time even ordinary men, or at least properly  trained men, may perhaps be able to evaluate Spiritualism also in acceptable  quantitative units as he does all his other material experiences. Already in  Sanathana  Dharma there exist  Vedic and Puranic units,  for calculation of Divine acts  and material consequences. Hence instead of treating Spiritualism as opposite of Materialism, it should always be treated as complimentary to it, co-existing side by side with  the same, in all entities and activities on this earth or even in the universe as a whole.