SPIRITUALISM
NAME: Manaswini Vakulabharanam (First Year BA LLB)
COLLEGE: Pendekanti Law college
COUNTRY: INDIA
SPIRITUALISM
/ˈspɪrɪtʃʊəlɪz(ə)m,ˈspɪrɪtjʊəlɪz(ə)m/
noun
1.
a system of belief or religious practice based on supposed
communication with the spirits of the dead, especially
through mediums.
2.
PHILOSOPHY
the doctrine that the spirit exists as distinct from matter, or
that spirit is the only reality .
ORIGIN OF SPIRITUALISM
Spiritualism first appeared in the 1840s in the "Burned Over
District" of upstate New York, where earlier religious
movements such as Millerism and Mormonism had emerged
during the Second Great Awakening, although Millerism and
Mormonism did not associate themselves with Spiritualism.
This region of New York State was an environment in which
many thought direct communication with God or angels was
possible, and that God would not behave harshly—for example,
that God would not condemn unbaptized infants to an eternity
in Hell.
History Of Spiritualism
From the early writings of Swedenborg, Spiritualism developed into a
popular ‘alternative’ spirituality in Britain and America during the
nineteenth century, combining the mysterious and the theatrical. It fed
from a number of contemporary cultural trends and factors: from frequent
liberal perceptions that traditional religion had been discredited by modern
science, that science itself was soulless and ill-equipped to offer spiritual
satisfaction, as well as a desire to create a form of religion firmly yoked to
science, one which would not only stand up to sustained investigation, but
ally itself to the optimism characteristic of the era. From a series of
paranormal occurrences in the United States, Spiritualism devoured the
yearnings of its age, claiming to be the spiritual fulfilment of modernity.
Some moderns would be impressed, others distinctly less enthusiastic.
The rappings of the Fox Sisters in upstate New York during 1848
began a craze for séances in nineteenth century America, where
a system of patterns ‘raps’, or disembodied taps on wood,
allowed the spirits of the deceased to send messages to the
world from their astral afterlife. The Fox sisters were exposed
when the ‘spirits’ turned out to be their nimble feet, which were
revealed on close inspection. The sisters died in poverty, but set
up an accepted pattern for subsequent mediums. The
distinctiveness of American Spiritualism can be assessed by its
debut in the eclectic mixture of American religious life, as well
as its egalitarianism. However, the movement quickly came to
an end in the United States amidst the chaos of the Civil War in
the 1860s, and subsequent de bunking by detractors.
SPIRITUALISM IN INDIA
Spiritualism in India
Since ancient times the Rishis & Munis of India
Since ancient times the Rishis & Munis of India preferred to
preferred to attain
attain spiritual pursuitsspiritual
rather than pursuits rather
materialistic than
pursuits of
materialistic pursuits
life. Hence, spiritual wisdomof gained
life. Hence,
an upperspiritual
hand over
materialistic
wisdom prosperity.
gained an upper hand over materialistic
It is believed in Indian Spirituality that a man who is unaffected
prosperity.
by success or failure, devoid of self-interest and ego can see
ItGod
is believed
everywhere. inOnce
Indian Spirituality
he achieves that
this state of a man
mind, hewho
is
isconsidered
unaffectedas a by
messenger
success of God and a benefactor
or failure, devoid ofof self-
humanity.
interest and ego can see God everywhere. Once
he achieves this state of mind, he is considered as
a messenger of God and a benefactor of humanity.
Spiritualism in India
revolves around
1. Satyam: a civilization that serves justice.
2. Shivam: a society with emotional integrity.
3. Sundaram: an aesthetically beautiful
community.
The Spiritual journey in India has gone through
several phases. It goes as ancient as the linkage
with Vedas and other scriptures to as new as
establishments of ISKON.
Phase I : Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita
Phase II: Teachings of Mahavira and Gautama Buddha
Phase III: The Bhakti Movement
Phase IV: The 19th-century movements which were
more focused on developing the humankind
Phase V: Contemporary Indian Spiritual Movements
like ISKON, Art of Living, Preksha Meditation, Isha
Foundation etc.
Indian Spirituality believes that there is one supreme creator
and he has put each one of us on this planet with a purpose,
and that purpose is to be compassionate, caring and loving.
Thus, many Indian Spiritual thinkers were mainly concerned
about spreading the message of love and care and the need
for living a real life. These spiritual thinkers started to teach
and spread the art of living a healthy and fulfilling life by
connecting through inner self and treating physical ailments
through Ayurveda. Soon these cultural activities got rooted
in the Indian culture.
The belief in God is inseparable from Indian Philosophy, and
as Indian philosophy has its roots in spirituality; Indian
spirituality and religion are intertwined.
THANK YOU
