Lifestyle

Importance Of Spirituality and Spiritual Leaders in the 21st Century

Published

3 years ago

December 10, 2022

The broad definition of spirituality is having faith in something greater than oneself. It aims to answer queries regarding the purpose of life, human connection to other people, universal truths, and other mysteries of the human condition. The worldview offered by spirituality argues that there is more to life than merely what humans can physically and sensory experience. It indicates that a more significant force links all living things to the universe.

Many people have found solace and stress reduction through their spirituality. It could involve religious customs that revolve around the concept of a superior being. It can also take a comprehensive approach to how a person interacts with others and the wider world. Research has revealed that while there are many ways for people to find God or a higher power, those who are more religious or spiritual and use their spirituality to deal with difficulties in life reap many benefits for their health and well-being.

For our purposes, “spirituality” refers to the characteristics of the human spirit and the immaterial reality at the center of personality, the animating life principle or life breath that prompts us to search for the most profound aspect of the human experience. It is the driving force behind the pursuit of self-transcendence and the resulting sense of kinship with all things in the cosmos.

The spirituality that underpins the world’s spiritual and religious traditions is predicated on this fundamental premise. This viewpoint views religion as a system of structured behaviors, thoughts, and prayers based on a theological foundation. Religious beliefs and practices are typically practiced in institutions that were founded and have developed in response to one or more spiritual experiences of the founders. These institutions also provide the context for leadership based on the fundamental principles of the religion in question.

But being spiritual is more than having a close relationship with a heavenly force. Furthermore, it is essential to the definition of workplace spirituality that is most frequently used, which is “A framework of organizational values evidenced in the culture that promotes employees’ experience of transcendence through the work process, facilitating their sense of being connected in a way that provides feelings of compassion and joy.”

Other than solely workplace spiritual leadership, when talking about any leader, we must acknowledge that anyone who claims to be a leader cannot be a complete leader if they don’t understand the actual value of spirituality in the people around them. Hence we have chosen a person for our readers that is not just aware of the importance of both different terms but is adamant about spreading awareness about it through his skills and talents.

He is a noted scholar, spiritual thinker, author, and humanitarian – Dr. Chandra Bhanu Satpathy; many people benefit from his literature, music, and contribution to society in many ways. Literature is helping thousands of people; Philanthropic support is assisting millions of lives, and more than 250 spiritual and philanthropic centers are created under the guidance and inspiration. Through many ways, Dr. Satpathy has proved to be one of the most prominent and influential philanthropists who has helped many people in their different life stages.

“Sadgurus or Qutab’s or perfect Masters or Masters who are in the liberated while living (‘jivan Mukta’) stage can only lead a man to God. All other Gurus, called by whatever names, can’t lead a soul to God or the over the soul. However, they can show the path towards God within their spiritual competence.” From Satpathy’s book “Baba May I Answer (2009).”

Satpathy, in his preaching, says seekers of the new generation were not accepting anything without verifying, which is a good thing, same way seekers must verify a Spiritual Master before taking.

Lifestyle

Confronting Propaganda: Street Smart Documents Honest Reactions to Gaza Indoctrination Footage

Published

6 hours ago

November 6, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Street Smart

Byline: Michelle Langton

In a recent project, the Street Smart team gathered 20 strangers and presented them with propaganda footage from Gaza that has circulated widely online but remains largely unfamiliar to many audiences. The aim wasn’t to provoke outrage or test media literacy in a classroom setting. It was to capture raw, unfiltered emotional reactions to material that reveals how narratives are formed at the source. The resulting video offers a candid look at how people process shocking content and how their perceptions shift when they see what is rarely shown on mainstream platforms.

The Structure of the Experiment

The format was simple. Participants were seated and shown a series of clips from Gaza, including children’s programming and broadcasts containing intense ideological messaging. No background information was provided, and viewers were not instructed on how to interpret what they were seeing. After watching, they were asked for immediate reactions.

The footage elicited a wide range of emotions. Some viewers were stunned by the content, admitting they had never seen anything like it before. Others expressed disbelief, questioning why this kind of material isn’t more widely discussed. A few were visibly shaken, saying the experience fundamentally altered their understanding of the situation.

By presenting the footage without narration or added commentary, Street Smart allowed participants’ genuine responses to emerge. The experiment revealed how propaganda can affect an entire generation. It can shock, unsettle, and force people to reconsider their assumptions.

Why This Project Matters

Sage Fox and Dorani aligned the purpose of this experiment with Street Smart’s broader mission of challenging prevailing narratives and encouraging critical thought among younger audiences. In an environment where footage spreads rapidly across digital platforms, propaganda can shape public opinion long before context catches up.

By showing the Gaza Indoctrination footage in a controlled setting and recording uncoached responses, the team aimed to expose the emotional and cognitive impact of this type of content.

“The first reaction is often the most revealing, because it shows how powerful images can be without context.”

The Range of Reactions

While each participant brought their own perspective, several themes emerged. Some expressed sympathy with the imagery itself, saying it was emotionally powerful.

One participant said, “It makes me question what I see online every day. How much of it is shaped this way?”

Their comments highlight how propaganda resonates differently depending on prior knowledge and exposure. Many viewers have simply never encountered such footage directly.

Street Smart’s Approach

This project continues a pattern established by Sage Fox & Dorani’s earlier videos. Rather than relying on experts or lengthy analysis, Street Smart focuses on real people and their honest reactions. The approach is simple but effective. Present potent material, listen to what people say, and share those moments with a wider audience.

The Gaza Indoctrination footage experiment fits this model. It doesn’t attempt to draw final conclusions or offer political commentary. Instead, it documents how people respond when they’re exposed to narratives that are usually filtered through intermediaries.

Implications for Media Literacy

Beyond its viral potential, the video raises broader questions about how people interact with powerful imagery online. Propaganda operates on emotional reflexes. As this experiment shows, those reflexes are often unexamined until they’re brought to the surface.

Sage Fox & Dorani hope that projects like this push audiences to think more critically about what they see and share.

“The purpose is not to tell people what to believe. It is to remind them that every image comes from somewhere, and that source matters,” they said.

Next Steps for Street Smart

As Street Smart’s platform grows, Sage Fox & Dorani plan to conduct similar experiments in different contexts. They intend to use their direct, street-level approach to highlight how people react when presented with challenging material.

The Gaza footage project is one piece of a larger mission. The team uses simple methods to shed light on complex issues. By focusing on authentic reactions, they continue to build a unique space in online media that blends cultural investigation with raw human response.

A Window into Unfiltered Thought

“We showed 20 strangers real propaganda footage from Gaza — and filmed their unfiltered reactions” is not a dramatic exposé or academic study. It is a clear, unmediated record of how individuals respond when confronted with material designed to persuade. In that restraint lies its strength.

By documenting these moments, Street Smart shows how awareness can begin with a pause. A brief space between seeing and believing.