Finding Hope in Spirituality

Hope is an essential element of the human spirit and a force that propels us forward, especially in the face of inevitable challenges in life whether adibhautik, adiatmik, or adideivik in nature. When we experience external adversities like the loss of a home and illness or internal struggles such as anger, doubt, and fear, hope provides us with the strength to persevere. 

However, the source of hope is not always obvious to us. For those on a spiritual path, hope transcends mere optimism and becomes a profound connection to the Divine, rooted in faith, devotion, and surrender to God/Guru. Let us understand how hope transcends temporary worldly assurances to provide a sense of purpose, direction, and inner peace to guide us through life's darkest moments.

What is Hope? 

The Oxford Dictionary defines hope as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen,” and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “a desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment.” The latter definition adds an important element of belief. Some organizations on health and well-being define hope as imagining and reaching for a better future. 

Some psychological theories of hope define it as a positive cognitive state based on successful goal-directed behavior. This definition highlights the motivated pursuit of goals and the expectation that those goals are achievable. However, all the above definitions assume that an optimistic perspective would result in a positive outcome. There is a need to understand how hope sustains when events do not turn out as anticipated despite goal-directed effort, or when the inner resources have depleted. 

The spiritual definition of hope goes beyond wishful thinking or optimism. It is rooted in the deep belief that a higher power guides our lives with love and wisdom. In The Art & Science of Happiness, Swamiji explains that hope is an inherent part of spirituality. It is based on the conviction that God is always with us, and His grace constantly works in our favor, even when we do not perceive it. This kind of hope gives us the strength to persevere through difficulties, knowing that every challenge is a part of God’s divine plan. Unlike worldly hope, which can fluctuate based on external circumstances, spiritual hope is unwavering and anchored in faith.

What is the Foundation for Hope in Spirituality?

People often lose hope due to a combination of external circumstances and internal struggles (see the Tool in this issue for details). However, our spiritual values, knowledge-based beliefs, faith, devotion, and surrender constitute the bedrock for hope in spirituality.  

1. Knowledge-Based Beliefs Strengthen Hope

   1. Belief in a Benevolent God: One of the most fundamental beliefs is the conviction that God is benevolent, loving, and always guiding us. This belief fosters a sense of security and trust, knowing that even in our darkest moments, God works for our ultimate good. This belief helps us endure difficulties with the understanding that they are a part of a larger, divine plan even if we do not understand it.
   2. Belief in the Power of Inner Strength: When we trust that God has endowed us with the necessary qualities to face life's obstacles, we feel empowered rather than defeated. Good beliefs about our abilities strengthen our hope because we realize that no situation is insurmountable with God’s support.
   3. Belief in the Transformative Power of Challenges: Another key belief is that challenges are not meant to defeat us but to refine and transform us. When we view challenges as opportunities for spiritual growth, we approach them with hope rather than despair.

2. Unwavering Faith Nurtures Hope

   1. The Stabilizing Force of Faith: Faith is the foundation of hope. Unwavering faith in God/Guru acts as a stabilizing force in life and keeps us grounded during tough times. As Swamiji noted in The Power of Thoughts, “Faith is the power that sustains us during life’s adversities. It assures us that no matter how dire the situation may appear, God has a solution that we may not yet see.” 
   2. The Law of Grace: Faith in God and the belief that His grace is always present, reinforces our hope. The most reassuring evidence of God’s Law of Grace is described in the Bhagavad Gita, Verse 9.22. It reminds us that hope comes naturally to those who remain steadfast in their knowledge-based faith in divine guidance.

3. Devotion and Service Sustain Hope

   1. Devotion Sustains Hope: Loving devotion to God/Guru strengthens our hope knowing that He is ever watchful of those who remain steadfast in devotion, providing hope that we are never alone on our spiritual journey (Bhagavad Gita, Verse 12.20). As we engage in devotional practices such as chanting, prayer, and kirtan, we draw God/Guru closer to us, reassured of His constant support.
   2. The Power of Selfless Service: Seva, or selfless service, is another means of cultivating hope. As Swamiji explained in The Power of Thoughts, “When we serve selflessly, we align ourselves with the divine will, which brings tremendous hope and joy. Through seva, we realize that God works through us to spread His light to the world.” In serving others without expecting anything in return, we connect with a higher purpose and experience hope through the realization that we are instruments of God’s will. This sense of connection strengthens our faith and gives us the courage to face life’s challenges with optimism.

   

4. Surrender to God: A Path to Lasting Hope

   1. Trust in God’s Plan: One of the deepest sources of spiritual hope lies in surrendering to God’s will. When we relinquish the desire to control every outcome and trust in God’s plan, we experience an enduring sense of hope. Swamiji explains that surrender to God, our eternal protector, dispels all kinds of fear. Surrender does not imply passivity, but rather a conscious decision to place our faith in God’s wisdom, which often transcends our understanding.
   2. Follow the Spiritual Dharma: In the Bhagavad Gita, Shree Krishna repeatedly emphasizes the power of surrender. One well-known verse (Bhagavad Gita 18.66) states: "Abandon all varieties of dharma and just surrender unto Me. I will deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear." This ultimate form of surrender gives us hope that God will guide and protect us, no matter how complex our challenges may appear.

Collectively, all the above aspects help to develop our Spiritual Quotient (SQ) or Spiritual Intelligence (SI), which in turn sustains our hope.

How can We Sustain Hope in Spirituality in the Face of Adversities?

To sustain hope in spirituality during adversities, we must keep our faith alive and not lose hope in God’s goodness. We must accept adversities as an inevitable part of life and see them as opportunities for growth. Difficulties are meant to help us become our best selves and bring us closer to God. We can draw inspiration from the life and message of Saint Bhadrachal Ramadasu, expounded by Swamiji in his divine discourse at the 2024 Dallas Retreat. 

In this issue focused on hope in spirituality, we describe the lessons from the life of Saint Ramadasu (1620-1680), emphasizing the parts that fill our hearts with hope. Bhadrachal Ramadasu was born in Nelakondapalli in the then Golkonda kingdom, his birth name being Kancherla Goppanna. He is considered to be one of the Telugu literature scholars and a musician who composed poetry and bhajans to glorify Lord Ram. Orphaned at a young age, he used to sing self-composed bhajans and kirtans in the streets to express his devotion.

In his middle age, his two maternal uncles influenced Abdul Hasan Qutub Shah (or Tana Shah), the King of Golkonda, to appoint him as the administrator of the tax department of the town of Bhadrachalam. Goppanna performed his duties with righteousness and compassion while also creating a very devotional environment in the workplace by teaching others to chant the names of God. it was at this stage when calamities befell Goppanna.

The queen of Golkonda and Tana Shah’s wife, Sitara, wanted to give the tax administrator’s position to one of her relatives instead of Goppanna. She sent some dacoits to kill him. However, Shree Ram took the form of a ferocious lion and scared them away. Goppanna realized the grace of God and asked Him why He appeared in that form instead of His true form! Goppanna also asked God why He did not bring Mother Sita along with Him. 

In the town of Bhadrachalam, the Sita Ramchandra Swamiji Temple had become dilapidated and depleted of resources even to perform the daily rituals. Goppanna was inspired to renovate the temple of Shree Ram. He undertook the project by donating his income to the cause and encouraged others to do the same. His devotional and missionary zeal inspired others, however, their resources were not enough to complete the renovation of the temple. The people advised him to utilize the funds he collected as the tax administrator.

Goppanna sent a message to seek the king’s permission to divert the funds to build the temple, but the message fell into the hands of conniving Queen Sitara. She withheld the message. Goppanna perceived no response from the king to be akin to his approval. He took six lakhs from the tax department to renovate the temple. He was also inspired to deck the temple’s shikhar with the Sudarshan Chakra but did not know how to go about it. Shree Ram once again appeared before him and told him the location of where he could find the  Sudarshan Chakra in the Godavari river. Goppanna found it and that too was installed and the Temple was completed. Shree Ram Himself gave him the name of Ramadasu or the servant of Bhagwan Ram.

In the meantime, Tana Shah realized that six lakhs of tax money was missing. He called and accosted Ramadasu who defended himself by explaining how he sent a message to the king. He also told the king that he had utilized the funds for a noble cause – to build a temple. The king was displeased with the action and imprisoned Ramadasu. As if this was not enough, the king tortured Ramadasu in unthinkable ways, telling him that he would be released if he fulfilled two conditions: to return the six lakhs and to renounce Lord Ram (to be loyal to the king instead). 

Ramadasu wrote and composed many kirtans for twelve years in prison, begging for God’s mercy, and crying out as to why God was not responding to his pleas even though he had built His Temple. He even appealed to Mother Sita for grace because Lord Ram was unresponsive. 

So, after twelve years, Shree Ram gave Ramadasu a vision of his past life where he had needlessly tortured a parrot in a cage out of sadistic delight for twelve years. Shree Ram revealed that his pitiable state was due to his past karma. He also blessed Ramadasu with another realization, that in these challenges lay the opportunity to purify himself. Shree Ram also said that He could get Ramadasu out of prison but asked if he would want that option if bearing the consequences of his karma was better for him. 

These revelations completely transformed Ramadasu’s perspective on his miserable condition. Even though the king tortured him, his tolerance multiplied due to divine wisdom. He was no longer demoralized by miseries. He just kept on chanting Lord Ram’s name, glorifying Him and finding joy in it, until his prarabdh was burned at the end of twelve years. Shree Ram Himself, along with Shree Lakshman arrived at Tana Shah’s court with six lakhs in gold coins. When Tana Shah saw their aura, he was suitably impressed. They traded the coins with Ramadasu’s release. 

Later, Tana Shah noticed that the gold coins had the imprints of Lord Ram and Lakshman and realized that God himself came to release Ramadasu. This experience transformed him from within. He donated the gold coins back to the Shree Ramchandra Temple in Bhadrachalam, and to date, each Ram Navami, a contribution is made by the administrators of the Golkonda palace (despite their Muslim heritage).

Life Lessons

There are several lessons to learn from this story that Swamiji taught us, but we emphasize two most important ones:

1. We must always be content with and recognize the graces we have already received.
2. Devotion is based on hope; when the devotion crashes, so does hope. Therefore, God only throws the challenges that He has equipped us to handle.

Gems of Wisdom

Hope in spirituality is a deep conviction rooted in true knowledge, faith, devotion, and surrender, empowered through a divine connection. 

We end with a powerful message from a verse in the Bhagavatam (10.14.8) that Swamiji, the beacon of hope, frequently shares with us to remind us of God’s principle to help us increase our hope. The verse says that Para Bhakti or Divine Love can become our inheritance if we:

1. Wait patiently for God’s grace while keeping the faith that He will help us to evolve.
2. Tolerate the adversities that come to us as a result of our past karmas without complaining.
3. Respect God’s decisions with the body, mind, and words, and think positively about Him.