Living life with a dash of spirituality

HYDERABAD: Abhay Singh starts his morning with a longish session of pranayam and meditation following which he tunes into spiritual discourses, turning it off only when he heads for work. The IT executive unwinds after a stressful day not with another pranayam session but at a local pub with his regular drink of vodka and orange juice. ���Spiritually inclined��� 20-somethings seem to be mixing more than just drinks, leading a cocktail of a materialistic life with a dash of spirituality.
While they are watching their breath and balancing ���chakras���, chanting ���Om��� and doing their yoga even as they continue partying effortlessly changing from their yoga outfits to trendy jeans.
But does this swing from a spiritual seeker to a party animal and that too all in a day come as a contradiction to spiritual teachings? Take for instance Aditya Kabra, 22, introduced to Osho meditations two years ago. ���I am doing all things in life as I would have done even without being spiritual. The only thing is that now when I party, I do not feel as drained out as before. I can now accept things with more courage than before. I feel much more geared up to enjoy all facets of life without losing touch with my real self,��� he says.
If you are surprised by this wisdom coming from a chap just out of college, here comes more, ���Spirituality has taught me to be myself. I am more conscious of me now whether I am meditating or partying,������ says Sarvesh Kumar, a young graphic designer.
Teachers imparting them lessons in life aren���t perturbed with the trend. Venkatesh V, who teaches various meditation techniques to such young seekers, says, ���Spirituality is all about making you focused and relaxed. It does not set rigid dos and don���ts unlike religion and serves as an alternative to addiction too at times. So even if you drink, you will not get addicted to it.���
Sai Poornima, a young volunteer for one such spiritual organisation also supports this new age belief: ���Spirituality doesn���t separate or ask a person to keep away from anything rather just makes you accept your choices boldly.���
Besides, these exponents of spirituality believe in the new interpretation of life as deciphered by the young. ���Following spirituality without enjoying life is like earning money and not using it,������ they say. ���This generation is a rebel. Fed up of rituals, they are moving to attaining higher goals because they do not want to miss out on life. Pub life is also a part of that,��� says Vasudev Rao of Anand Aishwarya Resource Centre For Dynamic Living. He notes that the young experience the limitations of excessive consumerism and spirituality gives them the much needed peace of mind.
It is for such reasons that youngsters have stormed into the spiritual arena in great numbers. Most of the seekers in Art of Living Foundation are young, according to Dr Alka, a teacher in Art of Living Foundation. Dr Rao has also seen the number of young spiritual seekers rising by nearly 50 per cent in last decade.
Manju Chheda, who has been working for Osho Prardhana Meditation Centre for 25 years also acknowledges a steep rise. So much so that many such organisations now run separate camps for people below the age of 25.