Lecture series on “The essence of Spirituality”
July 26th, 2008 / www.americantemples.com
An advertising campaign has been running on Radio Salaam Namaste in Dallas area since the past month about the oncoming visit of Swami Mukundanda, an IIT and IIM alumnus who gave up lucrative corporate career to answer the call of spirituality. Apart from hearing about his visit on radio, I had seen flyers being distributed at major cultural events related to India in the metroplex. Today I was surprised to read an article about him in the Dallas Morning News’ Religion page. I was happy to note that for the first time a non-Christian saint/ person has hogged limelight in the “Religion” page of the newspaper.
The article titled “Hindu leader coming to Dallas to talk about ‘The Essence of Spirituality’” spanned almost 2/3 of the page and is written in an detailed question and answer format, with a short introduction to the Swamiji. According to the article this is the second visit of Swami Mukundananda to Dallas. The first being in 2001. Apart from the lectures from Aug. 3 to 10, the Swami Mukundananda will also be leading classes in yoga and meditation.
Swami Mukundananda is a disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj and has travelled to diverse corners of the world delivering lectures on Spirituality, yoga and meditation. His views on spirituality in the age of science and technology really impressed me: “Science has helped us in harnessing the tremendous forces of nature. However, it has no tools to harness our internal nature, the basic problems of the human mind: lust, anger, envy, greed, illusion. … Spirituality is for enhancing the mind and intellect, and manifesting the inherent divinity within us,” says Swami Mukundananda.
It is indeed a great analysis, science provides amazing material comforts for the body. These comforts become very important when we are ailing, aged and in physical discomfort. But spirituality provides the enhancement for the mind, heart and soul which no science can ever give. And in my opinion it is only Hindu spirituality which leads human beings to salvation. Other faiths talk about god and spirituality but there is no depth in their teachings.
