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.