Spiriyuality

What is Spirituality?
Spirituality comes from the word spirit, which means the principle of life that animates the body of living things. The word spiritual means relating to the intangible spirit or soul and not to physical nature or matter. Spirituality is the state or quality of being dedicated to spiritual and long-lasting values as contrasted to temporal ones.
Spirituality is the holistic quality, which is beyond the limits of fragmentary thought-mind. Mind which is rooted in the likes and dislikes, pleasures and pains will never be able to touch upon that which is spiritual.

Q: Is it possible to be spiritual while staying with the family, in the society and working in this commercial world?
A: Yes! It's definitely possible. You do not need to renounce the world to be more spiritual! Does someone objects, if you slowdown a bit and be more relaxed? In fact people around you will like you more if you are relaxed. Because when you are relaxed, you become more loving, caring person.
So, it's all in the mind! As within, so without. As the mind, so the world. To become happy and peaceful you may renounce the world and go to Himalayas. You may find peace there, but that peace will be of Himalayas, not yours! What's the use of such a borrowed peace? While staying in the midst of the market place, if you remain quiet and tranquil within, nothing can disturb you. That, which is yours, remains with you. That, which is borrowed, goes away. While staying in this world, you can do better Sadhana, simply because you get lots of opportunities to test yourself everyday. Does noisy neighborhood irritate you? Do you get angry if someone pushes you in the crowded train? By becoming more observant of the mind in such situations is the beginning of the spiritual journey for you! If you observe your mind while sleeping beside your wife and your child, what's the problem? Does anyone come to know about it? Who stops you from doing that?
So begin from wherever you are. Right now is the best time to start!

Q: What is the difference between spirituality and religion?
A: Religions are many but spirituality is one. Religion helps you to cultivate character, amend your behavioral patterns to align with the existing tradition, to be moral etc. These are all peripheral changes. Unfortunately, majorities of the religious people world over are caught in this aspect of decorating the periphery. Spirituality is all about the center, which is forgotten completely. Spirituality is an inner revolution. It is all about fundamental or core level transformation. When the change happens at the center, the peripheral changes happen as the by-product. You don't need to cultivate them. So our focus must be the core level inner transformation.