Spirituality

Spirituality in music can also be reiterated when the application happens at a professional level including the international platforms, wherein the basis of such an effort is largely for a  public cause. This initiative is oriented towards drenching the listeners into may be  a state of spiritual ecstasy with some infinite love for them from  the bottom of the heart of everyone involved in the creation of such a musical package, not necessarily restricted to New Age, but also every other modern day musical work.  As a professional musician I was taught and could also notice that one gets inspired all of a sudden and the creative best is discovered when the whole effort is planned and executed by a mere divine will as against the human thinking. When we are tuned into that divine frequency, music flows through your heart and fills every cell within and outside the body putting us into an exalted state of un explainable divine bliss. If  I would have to share from the personal life experience, it would be incomplete if I don’t admit that the very invocation of the supreme being or the creator into the musical work has literally elevated me from zero to whatever little that is now, technically and creatively. It’s truly magnificient! Though the process is gradual, the consistent shift in the individual music creator’s energy, forms the foundation for miraculous musical outbursts. The shift in energy is made possible by quite a few techniques like holistic healing methods such as reiki, regular chanting of appropriate mantras etc., and also by visiting of certain vortexes(or temples) and many more,  all under the guidance of a spiritual master or a Guru.

When the whole musical work right from the very conception to its completion is dedicated to the supreme being with absolute surrender Unto His feet, the musical work becomes one of what we generally describe as “Gandharva ganam”(Tamil) or “A legendary musical composition” that’s out of the world. Not to forget the fundamentals which have descended down from the divine through ages, like the “matha(mother, pitha(father) guru(master) & Deivam(God” formulae. At a particular juncture we can realize that each and every energy shiting technique complements the other through a vicious cycle. To be more precise, When your Time, space and karma gets aptly guided through by Vedic sciences like astrology and or allied subjects, and when you can call it’s “Time” now for the break-through to happen musically, spiritually and also commercially, by then the few techniques said above would have already taken care of the shift in energy by associating you with the right people and place. This will also be in perfect  alignment with some synchronicities that you might have gone through like someone telling you about the progress, or some incidents or happenings in the day-to-day life indicating the progressive note.

For instance, in my case, much before a couple of my songs and musical work got famous, and much before I started becoming a little popular, I knew I had to perfect my voice culture as far as my singing was concerned. Secondly I also understood through my spiritual lessons that, my musical compositions needed a proper classical backing (atleast the basics). At this point of time in my life, a parallel preparatory process was happening inside and outside of me without my knowledge but with the help of my spiritual and musical gurus. My spiritual gurus taught me some tailor made meditation and healing techniques and put me into some powerful spiritual practices. My musical gurus worked on my voice culture. This collectively shaped me up both on the technical and creative front. Fortunately, because I was taught about absolute surrender, the supreme being ensured that He gave me the very best in everything that I pursued through this rigorous preparatory process.

I could understand and realize a little about what spiritual inspiration is capable of doing, with its unique Divine touch and, hence, when the creation reaches the masses, it straightly pierces into their hearts leaving them in a state of ecstasy and wanting more and more of the same dosage.

As you progress on your spiritual journey, people close to you may begin to notice, and be confused by, some changes in your life perspectives. How do you explain to them what it means to grow spiritually?
Especially when so much of spiritual growth is experiential—the feeling of peace and harmony during meditation—the development of “natural knowingness” that is beyond logic and emotion—the sensitivity to the call of your heart and soul—the ability to joyfully surrender to the flow of your life.
Here is how I was finally able to define spiritual growth:
Spiritual growth is a process of developing your awareness of the reality that exists outside the range of your 5 senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell). Other words for “developing your awareness” would be “expanding your consciousness.”
We know there is a reality beyond our 5 senses because science can measure it. There are colors and sounds we cannot perceive, there are electrical impulses in our brain we are not aware of, there are billions of simultaneous activities going on inside the cells of our bodies that we can’t feel, yet they are all measurable with scientific instruments.
As you build awareness/expand consciousness, you grow in your ability to sense subtle energies within your physical, emotional and mental bodies, the subtle energies of your environment, and the subtle energies of the people you interact with.
Why is this important? How is it useful? The more information you have in any situation, the more likely you are to find yourself responding in ways that bring you more joy with less struggle.
Developing the ability to “feel” your way through life is more joyful and successful than only relying on figuring things out. Logic is very useful for organizing, analyzing, calculating, etc., but it provides only a fraction of the information available.
Imagine a carpenter having only basic tools in the toolbox: hammer, screwdriver, saw, and a stub pencil. Sure, he could make a lot of things. But imagine having a table saw, an electric drill, a sander, etc. Imagine how much more he could produce and what better quality it could be.
So it is with spiritual growth. A person relying entirely on logic and their 5 senses can make it in the world, but how much richer and fulfilling a life can one create with the ability to also “feel” one’s way in the world?
Developing spiritually is developing an inner compass that reliably let’s you know when you are off course for joyful, struggle-free living long before unpleasant consequences show up to inform you.
Although this explanation of spiritual growth may, or may not, satisfy the intellectual curiosity of friends and family, you can be sure that as your life becomes more joyful and struggle-free, your family and friends will be sure to notice.

Each of us is surrounded by energy and light. In some circles, this enveloping energy is called the aura, and it radiates our inner spiritual energy out to the world. It surrounds our body and reflects our condition. People who are healthy and happy have strong, bright auras, and people who are ill or in distress have weak dark auras. The aura can expand when energy increases or becomes stronger, and it can fade as a person’s inner power wanes.
The aura is a very personal expression of our unique personality, body, and character. And just as we can change our physical health and vitality, we can improve our aura. To do this, we must be prepared to invest time, effort, and perhaps a little money.
It is possible to feel or sense your own aura. Move your hands back and forth, closer to and away from your body. You may soon realize that there is a different energy level closer to your body. You may feel a little heat or resistance. Give it a try. You may be very surprised at the results. Sometimes, the people around us sense our aura.
Spiritual growth and the stronger energy and aura that come with it are important to protecting yourselves from negative energies and influences. Negative people who are consumed by worry or anger or who are seriously ill can actually drain our aura of its energy. People who dabble in the occult can do much more serious harm, so it’s important to maintain a strong healthy spirit and a vibrant glowing aura. This is what we call psychic self-defense.
In order to grow spiritually and increase your personal energy and aura, you must first clear your mind and body of negative thoughts and feelings that can weaken us and make us vulnerable to psychic attacks. This phase of spiritual healing involves introspection and careful self-examination of our spiritual strengths and weaknesses. Wherever we find anger, jealousy, resentment, or lust, we must find ways to reduce and eliminate them from our mind and heart. Then it’s important to replace these negative energies with positive ones.
Identify the causes for the negative thoughts and emotions. Now, take an honest look at them and determine whether they’re justified. In fact, no negative thought or feeling is justified for a person who hopes to grow spiritually. Replace those energies with positive ones. If you are angry at a person or event, look at the part you played in the situation and what you can do to resolve it. If you are envious or jealous, allow others to follow their own hearts, even if it means separation. If you hold a resentment, learn forgiveness. And if you feel lust, learn respect and self-restraint.
Of course, this process will take time. You can’t change overnight, and to pretend you have will subvert your effort. Be persistent and patient. Don’t use this to beat yourself up or undermine your self-esteem. Recognize that all of us can improve, and do what you can to replace your negative energies with positive ones. You will continue this self-improvement process throughout your life. Once you’ve gotten a good start, go on to the next phases of your effort.
Because the aura reflects your overall condition, it is important that your body is strong and healthy, too. Poor diet, stress, exhaustion, and illness can deplete your spiritual energy and give you a weaker darker aura. Make some important lifestyle changes. Avoid foods and substances that interfere with healthy functioning. Limit or eliminate caffeine, tobacco, and drugs. Adopt a healthy balanced diet that minimizes fast foods and processed meals. Be sure that you have the proper balance of different types of foods, and increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables. Make a habit of daily moderate exercise. You don’t have to join a gym. Just take a brisk walk or climb the stairs. Do something to increase and maintain an increased heart rate for 20-30 minutes each day. See a health care professional when you need to, not days or weeks later.
Take care of your self-esteem. Never tell yourself you’re not a good person. Never engage in negative self-talk. It’s not true, and it’s very harmful. Taking care of yourself also involves social relationships and mental stimulation. Begin to re-establish and nurture old relationships. Get involved in your community. Participate. Take a course or attend a concert. Enrich your imagination, and share the adventure with those you love.
Remember, though, that negative people’s energies can harm you. Avoid people who are cynical or pessimistic. They may be the very ones you’re learning to protect yourself from. Spiritual development and psychic self-defense involve being able to recognize those people, places, and events that drain your spiritual energy and weaken your aura. As much as possible, eliminate these negatives from your life and mind.
There are tools and techniques you’ll find very valuable in your spiritual development effort. They require a bit of education and a lot of practice, but they’re tremendously powerful. Some objects are good for eliminating the negative and nurturing the positive. One tool helps you identify, perhaps even see, your aura. Take a crystal hanging from a string in your right hand and rotate it around your body. You will feel vibrations through the string as the pendulum swings. Another way to find your aura is to light a candle and slowly close your eyes. You may be able to see your aura in different colors that cling to your body. Practice these exercises, and you’ll be come more aware of your aura and the messages it gives you about your spiritual condition.

Some turn to their spiritual side when undertaking weight loss. There are many of these diets including the Buddhist diet, the Hallelujah diet, and the Bible diet, just to name a few. Though these are all different in that they deal with different religious beliefs, they are all the same in some key ways. These spiritual diets use the mind and the spirit to stay on track and transform all parts of existence, not just the way the body looks and feels. 

Some spiritual diets guide a dieter to focus on the benefits of the foods they should be eating rather than the ones they should not. In some religious diets, each food has a specific benefit to the mental health and well-being of a person along with the benefits of the food to the body. This allows a person to see what good they are doing, and it can make the ‘bad’ foods much easier to resist. An example would be yogurt. This is good for regulating the digestive system and to avoid ulcers, but is also allows the mind (and body) to be more flexible. 

Other spiritual diets have eating restrictions based on the beliefs of that faith. For example, the Body by God Diet, which was developed by Dr. Ben Lerner, is touted as an “un-diet” rather than an actual weight loss program. This faith-based eating regime focuses on the importance of eating only all natural foods that God has provided and strictly prohibits the eating of all manufactured goods, such as pasteurized, packaged and refined foods. 

With many religions, there is a type of prayer involved. Christians fall to their knees to speak with God, and others have their own traditions. Some religions focus on the mind and body through things like yoga and meditation. These are used as powerful tools to gain will-power and strength, but have an even more important use. These work to keep the mind and spirit in an upward spiral. Depression can cause a diet to fail. With prayer and meditation, depression can be avoided and a positive state of mind can be constant. 

By accepting guidance from someone or something else – or even yourself – you make room for success in a weight loss plan. Emotional eating is a huge problem and can be traced back as the root of a weight problem in many who are overweight or obese. If you can overcome emotional eating with a spiritual diet plan, success is closer in reach. If you allow something you feel is more powerful than yourself to be your guide, you give yourself the power to succeed.

 Another powerful aspect of spiritual dieting is that you are more than who you think you are. You are more than just an executive, or a mother, or a wife. Some people get stuck in one identity and forget the other parts of their lives. When they feel overwhelmed, they focus on the one thing they feel they are not doing right instead of all of the things they are accomplishing in life. Spiritual weight loss pushes a person to find their whole self, and focus on what they do well and what they can do better. This is done in a positive manner so that emotional and binge eating once used to deal with these feelings can be a thing of the past, and healthy habits can take root.