Why?

With the interim of all these Indian festivities going on, I’ve been having some quiet pondering sessions about spirituality, religion, and traditional customs. I thought I’d share a glimpse of what’s been going on in my mind. And yes, I’m pretty open-minded, so all opinions are welcome — but slide into the DMs for that part haha!

1. The Generational “Why?”

Let me start with something my dad said in a chat, quite a while ago. Back in the day, say during my great-grandparents’ time, questioning traditions wasn’t really the norm. They probably never asked why certain customs existed; they just followed them with obedience. Of course, there must have been exceptions — otherwise, societal progress would’ve been impossible.

My grandparents' generation, though still somewhat hesitant, started to stand against practices that didn’t align with their moral compass. My parents then took it further — they discontinued or altered a few customs they found suppressive. But the real shift is in how much we now ask “Why?” — and in my personal opinion, this isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it’s a positive development.

As long as the “Why?” doesn’t instantly turn into a “Nope,” it can lead to a deeper understanding and even a more meaningful spiritual connection. If nobody had ever questioned cruel or regressive practices, society would’ve remained stagnant. So yes, I feel the more spiritually connected we become — through reflection, questioning, or otherwise — the more evolved and compassionate our society is likely to be.

2. Religion vs. Spirituality

Let’s clear this one up because it’s often confused:

“Spirituality is a broad concept involving the search for meaning, purpose, and connection in life — often including a sense of transcendence and a relationship with something larger than oneself.”

So yes, religion can be a pathway to spirituality, but it’s not the only one.

Here comes a slightly controversial thought — and please cut me some slack if you disagree (I’m still figuring it all out myself):
I believe an atheist can be spiritual.
There — I said it.

Here’s my reasoning: Even if someone doesn’t believe in a divine creator or some overarching energy that made the world, they may still be searching for meaning, for purpose, for something beyond the superficial. That, to me, is the essence of spirituality. Sure, their framework may differ — they might find transcendence in nature, human connection, art, science, or just inner peace. And that’s okay — they’re just different paths, ones that don’t necessarily involve religion. The longing to understand life beyond the surface is still there.

3. Factors That Shape Our Beliefs

A person’s stance on traditional customs is influenced by many factors. As kids, we don’t usually have strong opinions on these matters — we mostly absorb what we’re exposed to. But as we come of age, individuality plays a huge role. The way we’re raised, the values passed down, and our personal experiences all shape how we respond to traditions — whether we accept, reject, question, or modify them.

At the end of the day, it often comes down to our own moral compass.

4. The Role of Traditions in a Growing Society

Traditions are important — they’re part of our cultural identity and can provide grounding. But as people begin to question them, one of two things often happens:

  • The tradition is rejected by a significant part of society,

  • Or it's adapted to align with modern values and morals.

Harmless and inclusive traditions serve many beautiful purposes — they build community, spark creativity (especially in young minds), and foster a sense of continuity. Most importantly, they can become vessels for spiritual growth.

Whether someone is a spiritual seeker who asks a lot of questions or a faithful, mindful believer who simply follows with deep conviction and practicality — I believe both paths can eventually lead to a spiritually fulfilling life.

Closing Thoughts:

Tradition doesn’t have to mean stagnation. Questioning doesn’t have to mean rebellion.
And spirituality doesn’t have to follow just one path.

Thanks for reading this little stream of consciousness — and again, open to thoughts and counter-thoughts... just hit me up in the DMs ;)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Do you want it or do you need it?"

As a kid, every time I asked for something, my mother would always pause and ask, "Do you want it or do you need it?"  Little innocent Sukhda never imagined that this simple question was actually my first lesson in understanding the concept of desire. Back then, I didn’t fully grasp what she meant—but the question lingered. As I grew older, this question turned into a profound confusion. I began to ask myself: What exactly is a want, and what is a need? Because, if I looked at my life practically, I had everything I needed—a loving family, good friends, a solid education, a square meal every day, and a comfortable shelter over my head.  So, what more could I possibly need? And more importantly, is it wrong to want something more?  With time and a bit of introspection, I realized— Aai never said it was wrong to want something. She only asked me to reflect. And that, I believe, was the real wisdom in her words. Desire is not inherently bad. In fact, it’s the fundamental dr...
Read more

The Duality in Life

Do you ever notice the duality in life? Not from a deeply philosophical, sit-under-a-tree-and-rethink-existence kind of lens. I mean from the vaguest, most everyday lens possible. The kind that sneaks up on you in those oddly specific contradictions you carry around. Lately, I’ve been thinking about this a lot, and to be honest, it has made me so much more self-aware. Take the most basic example: me. In general, I do think I’m an empathetic and kind person. Yes, yes, I know, very noble of me to say that about myself...I’ve clearly been attending narcissism 101. But morally, I do believe judging people is wrong. And yet, I judge. Sometimes on the most absurd, unnecessary, almost diabolically unserious things. My mind just seems to run on some mysterious fuel that I did not approve of. And that, to me, is one of the simplest forms of duality. There is the person I believe myself to be, and then there is the person my mind occasionally reveals in fragments. The interesting part, though...
Read more