Spirituality and Three Fs

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Recently, I have started noticing a trend. People believing in the â€œthe more we have fun, food and f***, the more successful and happy we are. I absolutely have no problem with that. Every one is entitled to his/her own views and lifestyle. Only through live and let live, we can preserve peace in the family, community or in a nation.

But what makes me curious is that the meaner, the more calculative, self centered, selfish and hedonistic a person is, the more he/she talks about spirituality, God, temples, and inner peace. Is there not much in fun, food and f*** or 3 Fs? Or do we inculcate a lot of guilt in such persons that makes them seek â€œSatsangâ€?, â€œPravachanâ€?, or â€œLectures on art of living?â€? Deep down we all know, what we are doing and what is right and what is wrong. For this we donâ€™t need a spiritual interpreter.

Comments

12 responses to “Spirituality and Three Fs”

11/8/2006

Vin

Very good observation Alka. While I agree with your chain of thoughts, I also wonder what else is important than the 3Fs? If not spirituality, there must be something that makes us feel good and happy. Is there any?
However I also think satsang, pravachan and other such things can make people give that belief that they are better, happier than they were before. It is that feeling that makes them go after it. And I don’t think we can blame them for that. But yes, I still believe everyone is still the same kind of person, the real one that one is.

Pardon my esoteric talks. I admit I think people are happier with the basic 3Fs.
11/9/2006

ramakrishna

‘Deep down’ thought what you were saying ‘knows what is right and what is wrong ‘ is weak and uncontrolled.That is the reason why we do something wrong or which is not moral sometimes.Spirituality is one of the science developed by ancient sages of India thousands of years ago to get control over that ‘Deep down’ thought which is well aware of morality.Some people who assume that they are practicing spirituality without knowing the indepth meaning may be base for your observations.I have seen spiritually high souls who sees God in himself and in every human being and serving the poor and needy to their best.I appreciate you for making readers think on such issues.
11/10/2006

Ritu

Oh….I soooooo agree with this post! My uncle who happens to be my father’s older brother usurped my grandfather’s last will and has refused to give his siblings their fair share of the ancestral property for the last fifteen years. And yet, his wife and he are regulars at some “satsang” in Mumbai and they portray themselves as deeply religious people who were born to do good to mankind!
11/12/2006

Paavani

I rem. few days back my colleague told in cab- when they will do so much sin where will they go- satsang, Art of Living etc.
11/13/2006

Cuckoo

So true. I have to agree with the post here. I hate people who play this type of double roles without any hesitations.

At some pt of time, there has to be some kind of innocence and honesty in your thoughts and the way you live your life. Don’t have to always pretend of being something.
11/13/2006

AmitL

Interesting observation,Alka.I do wonder about this trait of people, many times.It’s definitely like these people want to beg forgiveness from God for all the people they have trampled over, in their climb up the ladder of riches, and, hence, try to placate God. But,then, on the other hand, see the rush in our temples, of the poorer gentry too…everyone has a hope for the future, and they pray to God for the same. And,that,perhaps,is what keeps our country running, in spite of all the politicians milking it dry year after year.
11/13/2006

Manish

And the biggest problem with these spritual and over religiuos people is that they shamelessly try to lure others into it – come what may.

I have encountered so many of them – in my neighbourhood in Lucknow, in Tempos, in college too, and in the company as well.

I have always been nasty(in discussion) with the people who forced themself at others, and would you believe one such person actually gave me and my friend Shraap( as in holy curse) after a prolong discussion in which he ultimately lost!

Here is the icing on the cake. One such spritual person was caught watching a late night X rated movie in the college.
11/14/2006

Tanmoy

I agree, as always :). Just that i guess one should build an immunity around to save around—no body would allow to “let live”..so lets live this way.
11/15/2006

Hiren

That’s a rather expressive way to put things- the 3Fs. Some people are genuinely spiritually inclined. However you are right when you say that deep down we know what is right and wrong and only if the consicence is there, can it save the world.
11/18/2006

jay menon

i completly agree with u….i often feel tht ppl who r lazy enuff to go for work get into spirituality….maybe am wrong
11/23/2006

Hari

Hi Alka,

I fully agree with you when you said “Deep down we all know, what we are doing and what is right and what is wrong.”

But the question is how many of us have the focus, patience and time to do such deep introspection and analyse our deeds. The USP of the day is the word “Instant” and the 3 Fs is one such instant solution to happiness. But contentment is something different. People who are happy with 3 Fs are not necessarily content. If they were, then we would not find so many cases of depression, burn-outs and not to exclude divorces in our country.

Spirituality is a means by which we learn to probe deep within us to realise what our conscience feels is right for us, and act accordingly to attain contentment which is the ultimate summit of peace.

Life is a long journey and the 3 Fs you are talking about, can never be expected to give us company right till the end because of physical and mental constraints, if not monetory constraints. So imagine a stage when you are not able to have good food and f*** is beyond your physical limits, where do you seek happiness. Happiness is temporary, but peace is permanant. Why do we keep saying “all good things have to come to an end”. It is not that good things do not last long, but it is we who loose the interest in its goodness because of setting of diminishing marginal utility.

So yes, when we are young and energitic, we should definitely seek happiness with the 3 Fs but at the same time lay a strong foundation within ourselves by probing deep within us through spirituality, to attain that permanant peace and contentment.
11/27/2006

prancer

lets look at it this way….satsang probably means a rezendevous with the proper in a vivid sense….and people who believe that they need guidence seek to search through ways and means possible….how much they crystallize what they recieve into action really makes a difference….why to deny them a chance to change?….i feel we need to be optimistic to reduce the pain arisen out of interactions with individuals who are in our view on the wrong side….let proper sense prevail….eventually someone gets benifitted out of such an exercise…. right?