We all eat and clothe ourselves, which are our physical needs. However, what we often overlook is the nourishment of the soul. To spread the knowledge of spirituality in life and work, and the importance of giving, Kanoria Foundation organized 13 World Confluences starting from 2009, which have been attended by the Late Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Late Shri Pranab Mukherjee respectively, among other distinguished dignitaries from all walks of life globally. The world Confluences were organised both in India as well as abroad. In India, it was conducted in Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai. The confluence was also organised in the USA and UK, with over 1000 speakers from different parts of the world, including humanists, illuminates, dignitaries, professionals, and leaders.
Service to Humanity:
Compassion is the ability to step out of your skin and experience a situation from another’s point of view. It is setting your interests aside and replacing them with somebody else’s. The world needs much more compassion and kindness. Kindness towards other people, animals, and our environment. The sincerest form of service is that which is offered in a spirit of humility. To be useful is gratifying, but our efforts to help others should be free from any desire for self-glorifying, recognition, or a sense of superiority. Any work that we do in life, not just volunteer work, can be pursued with a spirit of service. Any profession, whether seen as prestigious or not, deserves praise if it exists to serve others. Our intentions, efforts, and achievements are all factors in our service to others and that is exactly why, to serve effectively we need to be pure with our intentions, kind in our efforts, and humble in our achievements.
Spirituality in Life and Work:
Spirituality can be described as a deep sense of interconnectedness, a connection to something bigger than ourselves. We shouldn’t confuse spirituality for a belief system. It is a shared human quality that we manifest as we yearn to experience life deeply and feel that we’re a part of something bigger than ourselves. The spiritual path is not a path of feeling good, it is a path of seeing clearly. The way we express our spirituality is shaped by our personal, family, and cultural experiences. Some people religiously express their spirituality. This usually includes religious language, beliefs, and symbols.
Spirituality at work refers to meaningful work and finding a sense of community in your job, beyond the paychecks. Workplace spirituality is the integration of all aspects of life back into the whole. As we grow, we look for the spiritual dimension in our jobs. Many organisations stop looking at work as something we just get done and forget about. They recognise that what we work on and how it shapes us in more ways than we’re aware of. Work can be a great opportunity to satisfy that yearning. That’s why workplace spirituality has become popular in the past few decades.
Participation of students:
Spirituality, if taught and embedded in childhood, can transform a person’s life and can help them live a better, meaningful life. But children’s spirituality is hardly being talked about. Thus, to impart the following knowledge, students were asked to take part in this movement by writing essays and making drawings, which turned out to be a huge success. Over 10,000 students from more than 40,000 schools across the globe participated. Select essays and drawings were published in the ‘Business Economics’ magazine, one of the top business magazines in India, edited by Dr H. P. Kanoria. A special publication ’Spirituality & Humanity’ and an annual brochure documenting the essence of the confluence was also circulated globally.