Abstract
Nepal is believed homeland of all Hindu religious people across the globe as the country. There have been many studies with regards to Hindu religion by Nepalese and foreign nationals. However, there is a dearth of studies interviewing spiritual teachers in regards to spirituality and its impacts on health outcomes. Therefore, this study examines the lived experiences of the spiritual teachers with regard to spirituality and health in Vyas Municipality, Damauli, Tanahu where Vyas Maharshi (saint) was born. This place is known as centre of all Hindu religious people across the globe as Vyas Maharshi wrote ‘Veda’, a holistic Hindu doctrine. This study was conducted to undertake qualitative research approach for data collection using face to face in-depth interview with 10 spiritual teachers aged around 40 years and above during June-December 2018. Thematic analysis, a meaning making approach, was used to analyse the data based on Hindu religious and cultural understandings. Major findings of this study are spiritual practices: yoga and meditation that enhance the spiritual knowledge of the research participants. These spiritual practices make their health physically strong and mentally peace in which they have a deep knowledge on consciousness and super consciousness. This study concludes that spiritual practices are ways of creating re-imagining society, following yoga and meditation techniques. It has very important policy implications in spirituality and re-imagining health in Nepal and beyond.
Presenters
Ram Prasad AryalAssociate Professor, School of Development and Social Engineering, Pokhara University, Gandaki, Nepal
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Health; Nepal; Spiritual Practices
