What it means to be Spiritual
abracad, · Categories: externally authored, spiritualityBy Lt Col R K Langar
Spirituality is derived from the world spirit which means soul or Atma residing equally in all. Spirituality is the realization that man is not just the body but man is essentially spirit or Atma which is the highest component of man’s personality. The Atma is a ray or fragment of God which makes a man divine at core. Spirituality aims at recognizing this divine principle which is responsible for the inner growth of man. Spirituality helps us to purify our subtle faculties like mind, intellect and Samskars (past impressions in mind). In spirituality we cultivate a direct relationship with God and share with God everything that we do. This relationship is cultivated when we raise our consciousness from an ordinary level to the highest level to be one with God through practising divine qualities and through yoga. Spirituality aims at attending to the well being of our own self as well as of others. Spirituality does not only mean living at the highest level of consciousness but it is a feeling that you can strengthen the weak and enlighten the ignorant. Spirituality gives you a feeling of oneness. A feeling that we all are equal as God resides equally in all and when you are helping others, you are in fact helping yourself. When one is growing spiritually he treats others in the same manner as he would treat himself. Spiritual growth helps you to become universal in your outwork. The spiritual growth is inwardly stimulated by knowledge and meditation and outwardly by working in a spirit of selflessness, love and service to the fellow beings. The first one is vertical growth and when you elevate yourself you come down to work for the welfare of others. This is the horizontal growth. Which is also called societal growth. Distinct qualities of spiritualism are humanism, oneness and universalism. These qualities are also the salient features of Indian culture. On the spiritual path there is no end as you keep on learning and experiencing day by day. As you progress on the spiritual path, your interest in knowing more and more also increases. A spiritually oriented person is always kind to others. Mother Teresa, the mother of afflicted humanity said that kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless. A spiritual person’s views are poured out of the pages of experience from his book of life. He is inclined to use his wisdom for the general good of all. With a spiritual outlook man talks not of ‘good old days but good now days’.
Spirituality and science are not contradictory and have the same aim which is to make human beings happy. There is a general tendency that when we lean towards spirituality, we disregard science. This should not be so. We should not value science over spirituality or spirituality over science. There should be harmonized fusion of science and spirituality. Both science and spirituality are based on knowledge and reason. Difference is only in their application. Science gives comfort to human life whereas spirituality tells us how to be comfortable and contended with what we have. Being spiritual means to be soul conscious and being free from limitations and bondages of physical world. Body consciousness is the root of all bondages. To be spiritual means you are a soul- a child of supreme soul. Being a soul you are aware of being peaceful, pure and blissful as well as loving. When we see every one as souls in our relationship, we empower each other. Spirituality lies in being and becoming. For travelling in spiritual path we have to bring around a change in our attitude towards oneself, world and God. When mind is not disturbed by physical situations spiritual progress is quicker when man lives in large spiritual consciousness, he does not feel the necessity to do any thing wrong.
Is Spirituality Religion Specific?
Some people feel that one can be spiritual without being religious. In our ordinary state of existence we have to raise ourselves to the spiritual level through our own religion. Religion provides road map to spirituality. Spirituality is founded on moral virtues and religion is the source of moral virtues. Religion is like water to moral values. For success in moral life aid of religion is necessary. On that account no irreligious person can become spiritual unless he has spiritual instincts from a very young age. They are the blessed souls who are spiritually awakened from the childhood. For the rest of us it is necessary that we follow our religion in order to cultivate moral virtues and then rise above the religious rituals to tread the spiritual path. Some people call themselves spiritual without referring to their religion since they feel that religion is institutionalized and hence dogmatic. Can such people be truly spiritual? It is a big question mark.
In spiritual vision all outer differences of race, culture, gender, religion and nationality vanish. Spiritual attainment is spotless moral life. As we grow spiritually we love others, we feel oneness with others, we find peace with in which we radiate around us. Spirituality makes a person enthusiastic. It increase man’s level of understanding which gives broader outlook of life which enables man to face conflicts and resolve them peacefully. Spirituality closes gap between idealism and practicality. A spiritual person is beautiful from inside. More you improve your inner world more you improve the outer world as inside decides outside. As we grow in love and virtues from inside, we shall see love and virtues outside. A spiritual person is a well wisher of all. He inspires others and gives comfort to those who come in his contact. A spiritual person is a world citizen who has no trace of selfishness and separateness. Spirituality is man’s response to his divine nature. Spirituality is our birth right.
Does one have to leave his home and go to the forest for spiritual enlightenment? Buddha was asked the same question by his wife when Buddha visited his home after getting enlightened. Buddha replied that it was NOT necessary to leave one’s home to obtain spiritual awakening. Buddha further said that he did not know this when he left his home for spiritual quest. From this it follows that you should live in the world for obtaining spiritual wisdom. But you should not allow the worldly matters to affect you. It is like sailing in a river without allowing the river water to come inside your boat.
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Filed in: externally authored, spirituality
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