Lessons From The East

Hidden inside the world are the secrets humanity has been searching for millennia. Often as a culture we want fulfillment, yet tend to get caught up in the bustle of life, or to simply look in the wrong places e.g. car yards, real estate magazines... Regardless of this people generally agree that the things in life that really mean something to them are love, happiness and fulfillment.

How much time and importance to really give to harvesting these quantities which connect all of humanity? Here in the West, as a society we generally focus on developing the mind and paying a lot of attention on our physical. We justify spending decades and decades on educating our minds, filling them with facts and knowledge, but tend neglect the spiritual side of our nature.

In the east, however my trips to Asia in the last two years, have revealed that in the countries where spirituality is prominent, despite the people often having very little, they seem to be genuinely really happy. Through their prayers, meditations and religious duties, they are feeding their inner self, thus cultivating love, happiness and fulfillment. As well as feeding all aspects of their nature; mind, body, heart and soul.

Sadly though, this isn't always the case, as poverty is far more prolific in East at this point in time, so nourishment of the body or mind is not always possible. By combining aspects of both cultures; spirituality of the east, and western development, we can individually establish a perfect equilibrium, a harmonious world. As a start though, I feel that if the west can embrace spirituality, it will be a good start to creating a more peaceful world, creating more oneness between East and West.

These following excerpts are from Sri Chinmoy’s book Yoga and the Spiritual Life - an essay titled East and West published in the early 1970's.

“The East’s age-long experience with the spiritual life has taught it an inner poise and equanimity in work can stand aside from frustration, excitement, annotation of the minor upsets and all that disturbs and the inner balance. It can make tranquil readjustment and proceed on the same calm tenor. This the West has yet to learn. The West’s intensive experience with material progress, has taught it to be objective in work. That has learnt to stand aside from favouritism, nepotism and other personal considerations. In carrying cut a necessary job was to can do the work for its own sake, and quickly and efficiently, and with the best man-power available. This the East has yet to learn...

The awakened consciousness of man is visibly tending towards the Divine. This is the most hopeful streak of light amidst the surrounding obscurities of today. This is the moment, not merely joining hands, but of joining minds, hearts and souls. Across all physical and mental barriers between East and West, high above national standards, above even individual standards, will fly the supreme banner of Divine Oneness.”