User Forum

(1) We all have dreams of having more and longer holidays, getting a better job, being fitter or living in a wealthier place. The World Health Organisation defines Quality of Life as a person’s view of how well they live in the society they live in. And how they view of their goals and concerns. It is a complicated definition, but it basically asks the question of how happy we feel about our past, present and future. If we feel good about these things, then we more than likely have a good quality of life. This doesn’t mean we don’t want things to change because of course we do.
(2) We need to be in relatively good health to be able to study and to participate actively in society. The state of our health can be influenced by factors we cannot always control such as living in a poor neighbourhood, a place with bad weather conditions, or a country in which certain people lack the ability to better themselves. The importance of the climate, the environment and the economic situation of a country are of great importance and play a major role in improving the quality of life.
(3) So, if we are unable to feel happy there are several simple things we can put into practice to improve the way we live and feel. These can be various such as, immersing oneself in a passion like art or music, doing a sport to keep fit and healthy, granting ourselves small pleasures like a game of football or a stroll in the forest, reorganising our house, and of course spending time with our family and friends through leisure time and holidays.
(4) When asked, the majority of people who don’t live around their family rated spending time with their loved ones as one of their highest priorities. Being able to be amongst family is certainly a key factor in our happiness, but why? Perhaps it is because people in general need to feel loved, secure, nurtured and trusted and in general these emotions are most prevalent amongst family. Family and being able to see and be around them is another example of what makes humans happy so it seems like the WHO definition could change to include the ideas just mentioned.

We often make all things around us the way we want them. Even during our pilgrimages we have begun to look for whatever makes our heart happy, gives comfort to our body and peace to the mind. It is as if external solutions will fulfil our needs, and we do not want to make any special efforts even in our spiritual search. Our mind is resourceful—it works to find shortcuts in simple and easy ways.

Even pilgrimages have been converted into tourism opportunities. Instead, we must awaken our conscience and souls and understand the truth. Let us not tamper with either our own nature or that of theSupreme.

Indian culture, based on Vedic treatises, assists in human evolution, but we are now using our entire energy in distorting these traditions according to our convenience instead of making efforts to make ourselves worthy of them. The irony is that humans are not even aware of the complacent attitude they have allowed themselves to sink to. Earlier, pilgrimages to places of spiritual significance were rituals that were undertaken when people became free from their worldly duties.

Even now some seekers take up this pious religious journey as a path to peace and knowledge. Anyone travelling with this attitude feels and travels with only a few essential items that his body can carry. Pilgrims traditionally travelled light, on foot, eating light, dried chickpeas and fruits, or whatever was available. Pilgrims of olden days did not feel the need to stay in special AC bedrooms, or travel by luxury cars or indulge themselves with delicious food and savouries.

Pilgrims traditionally moved ahead, creating a feeling of belonging towards all, conveying a message of brotherhood among all they came across whether in small caves, ashrams or local settlements. They received the blessings and congregations of yogis and mahatmas in return while conducting the dharma of their pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is like penance or sadhana to stay close to nature and to experience a feeling of oneness with it, to keep the body healthy and fulfilled with the amount of food, while seeking freedom from attachments and yet remaining happy while staying away from relatives and associates.

This is how a pilgrimage should be rather than making it like a picnic by taking a large group along and living in comfort, packing in entertainment, and tampering with environment. What is worse is giving a boost to the ego of having had a special darshan. Now alms are distributed, charity done while they brag about their spiritual experiences! We must embark on our spiritual journey by first understanding the grace and significance of a pilgrimage and following it up with the prescribed rules and rituals - this is what translates into the ultimate and beautiful medium of spiritual evolution.

There is no justification for tampering with nature. A pilgrimage is symbolic of contemplation and meditation and acceptance, and is a metaphor for the constant growth or movement and love for nature that we should hold in our hearts. This is the truth!