Sat Nam Dear Family,

I hear it said everywhere, ‘The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.’ Well, this is right and wrong at the same time. Through one window, science, it’s right; through the window of the arts, it’s wrong. Please, let me explain.

Albert Einstein is said to be the source of this quote. It makes perfect sense. Einstein was a scientist. Science works on repeatable occurrences. If an outcome moves in one direction once, in science, it will never very - that is, until quantum physics was discovered, but that’s another story.

In Einstein’s world, repetition in one direction must be repeatable and repeatable, otherwise its false science based on an unreliable source.

In the arts, it’s just the opposite. It is hopefully required that the window of consistency will change with a repeatable technique - a portrait artist blends colors better, a writer expresses himself more eloquently, a musician begins to hear the unstuck melody of Infinity. The prayer of any good artist is to be good enough, creative enough, determined enough to always make his next work, his best.

Interesting, but what does this have to do with spirituality? Well, take Kundalini Yoga for example? We do the same thing over and over. Every morning we practice the same sadhana, the same asanas, the same meditations, the same chanting, the same devotional service. Yet, we expect changes in our body, mind, and spirit. We want to believe in theses changes even when, as the Einstein quote reminds us that it’s insane to do so. See what pre-programing can do? It can destroy your projection before it gets off the ground.

One of the beautiful features of Kundalini Yoga is that it gives you a boost, a kick, an experience, right away. It works. The more we adopt the teachings, the higher in consciousness we get, until we don’t. Shakti pad tests all seekers at some point. Time plays its game. We level off. We slough-off. We forget where we came from and what brought us to ourselves. In other words, we doubt.

I get it. Many would view our pure faithful antidote to Shakti Pad (challenge after challenge) as insanity. Please remember, that scientific view, although real, is just not the whole story. 

It’s the ‘science and art’ in spirituality which makes it real, not just the science of spirituality alone. Spirituality requires science, otherwise how do we know what effect some danger may present. When life becomes so called ‘insanity' because nothing is changing, It takes faith to keep-up.

Keeping-up is the goal. This is the one thing that we never want to forget. If we remember only one thing, it should be to keep-up.

What must we keep practicing, nourishing, living,? In spirituality, the fine art of serving God is the required ‘what.’ The meaning of this ‘fine art of serving God’ is purely individualistic. How you choose to serve God has many channels, some good, some less effective.

The ‘art’ part of spirituality is found in following a technique which can deliver your goal, and then doing it sincerely. Remember, our goal is simply to keep-up living the teachings better each day, so it’s best to follow a technique which has a very good tract record .

Therefore, for those fortunate ones who have chosen this path it’s simple. All we have to do is to keep-up in living the teachings which is in accord with the will of Guru Ram Das. What a masterpiece that is. Stay tuned,

 

In the Humility of Service and Gratitude,

MSS Hari Jiwan Singh Khalsa

Chief of Protocol

Custodian General of Sikh Dharma,

Sangat Representative