Blog Marathon - February 2023 - Day 21 - Go inward

Yesterday, after work, I met up with a German friend, Sonya, whom I teach Hindi. We got to know each other two years ago, and since that time, she has been a very good student when it comes to learning Hindi. There is one more lady with her, but yesterday she was away and hence couldn't join us. We went to IKEA in Karlsruhe, and while overlooking the road and the beautiful skies behind us, for about two hours, we had a hearty one-on-one conversation with one another.

Invariably, the topic revolves around India, Indian food, Indian culture, the spirituality of India, etc. She told me about her experiences with a few bhajans and chants on YouTube. She doesn't understand every word in those bhajans or the mantras, but she tells me that she feels relaxed, less anxious, and calm. For every major Indian festival, she has made playlists on YouTube, and she plays music at home, decorates the house, and prepares Indian food. Aloo paratha is her favorite! Samosas, too! I often joke that you were an Indian in your previous birth and had some unfinished business, and now you are back as a German born with an Indian heart. She, too, believes that she has a connection with this beautiful, colorful country, with its rich and varied culture and festivals. I suggested she go to the Pforzheim temple on a Friday evening to witness the Maha Aarti at the Ganesha temple. She always wanted to experience it live and see the magic.

I often wonder, looking at these two wonderful German friends of mine, why they are so close to India when a majority of Indians are moving away from their culture and traditions. People are ashamed of the rituals that their ancestors conducted, and they are not willing to carry on with them any longer. I don't say everything that our ancestors did was right; there were some loopholes and some mistakes, but the essence is that those chants, mantras, and rituals had a meaning and had a profound effect on the body, the soul, and also on the environment. Just because the scientific efficacy of mantras has not been proven by any institute in the Western world doesn't mean they are meaningless or ineffective. More and more studies are being conducted on the effects of chanting Aum, etc., and I so wish I could be one of the subjects of the study and prove to the world that chanting Aum on a regular basis is a game-changer!

The western world is grappling with so many problems. Materialism is rooted in the Western world, and the mind, soul, and body of an individual are largely neglected. There is no warmth between people; there is no flexibility. People suffer from loneliness and depression and often have to be on their own. There are many people who have stopped believing in a power that could guide them, and they are free to do whatever they like. All this creates chaos and instability.

I strongly believe that if one is spiritual and devotional, one gets the strength to face all challenges in the world. Reading different spiritual books, saying your daily prayers, singing bhajans, and chanting shlokas and mantras all help you grow as a person and make sense of why you are here.

How are you trying to preserve your culture in a foreign country? What steps are you taking to make the next generation understand the importance of being rooted in the culture? When the western world is realizing the importance of the Bhagavad Gita, the Vedas, yoga, and ayurveda, are you moving away from it, thinking it is all a sham?

I sincerely request everyone to put spirituality to the test and see the outstanding results. Read, discuss, and gain knowledge. Listen to wonderful podcasts on YouTube. Recently, I have come across a very nice podcast channel on YouTube called BeerBiceps. The host, Ranveer, is just in his late twenties, and he has some really interesting people on the podcast who blow your mind off with their knowledge and leave you often speechless. Do check out the channel.

Diving deep into spirituality will help us gain a broader picture of the importance of the Indian Scriptures and the meaning behind them. It will make us wiser and make us feel proud.