Are you tired of listening to the word ‘Spiritual' and searching for the meaning out of curiosity? Or you are fascinated by the word ‘Spirituality’ by hearing it benefits from others and now came here to know more about it? Or you genuinely want to know the meaning to start your journey as a Spiritual person?
Whatever your reason is, you are on the right page. Spirituality has become a trending topic nowadays especially for the millennial generation. They are not curious to know only the meaning of spirituality but also want to start their spiritual journey. And to that, they look for some genuine guidance.
But before starting any journey, you must be aware of the path, the obstacles in the path and the absolute understanding of what it looks like to be there.
What is Spirituality?
Spirituality is a broad concept that is talked about a lot but when come to understanding, it’s least. But you don’t have to confuse. See the word carefully. It (Spirituality) itself demonstrates its connection with Spirit that means Spirituality is related to the soul or spirit. And as the soul is the innermost part of our being, we can say that spirituality is something related to our inner being.
So Spirituality is nothing but going inward yourself to explore your true self i.e. your soul. Spirituality is to know your true nature. It is to understand that you are a spiritual being in a human body.
“The essential lesson I’ve learned in life is to just be yourself. Treasure the magnificent being that you are and recognize first and foremost you’re not here as a human being only. You’re a spiritual being having a human experience.” - Wayne Dyer
In short, Spirituality is going inward and knowing who you are. And connecting to the Divine through your own experience.
Some believe that Spirituality is to know that your spirit is a part of something larger than yourself (The Spirit source, or Universe or Brahm or Ishwar or God or whatever you call it). Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Guru Nanak Dev Ji are the precise example of this. While some believe that Spirituality is knowing that it’s your soul only that is the largest among everything. Examples are Gautam Buddha and Mahavir Jain.
It depends on your Spiritual experience whether you see your soul’s connection to God or your soul as God.
What does it mean to be Spiritual?
You all must have a person or more who says that he doesn’t believe in religion but spirituality. What thoughts come to you when you hear someone saying this? Might have you picture someone who is not indulged in worldly desires. True but precisely.
Apart from that, there come people who think Spirituality is the same as Religion. True but again, precisely.
Get clear on this truth; Religion and Spirituality are two different words with different meaning having the same goal that to connect with the Highest, the Biggest, the Source.
Religion and Spirituality
The fundamental and most universal principle of the Vedanta is that the individual soul is identical to the Supreme Soul. Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902), a great spiritual leader, thinker and reformer of India, expresses it thus: Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity within…
And that’s what Spirituality does. It brings out the principle of Vedanta in practical. That’s it.
So, Religion and Spirituality are the same things as seen by Vivekananda.
Religion gives us knowledge of the basics of all that is. While Spirituality helps us to practice that knowledge to experience that all that is.
Religion tells us to differentiate between Dharma (right) and Adharma (Wrong). And Spirituality asks us to observe and accept both as our own.
Lets come to the question what does it mean to be a Spiritual person?
Being a spiritual person one acknowledges that one’s role in life has a greater value than what one do every day. One who knows the truth knows that He is a part of the universe and so everyone else. He understands that there is no difference between Him and other creatures of the planet. And when there left no difference He becomes one with all that is.
The materialistic world, worldly desires, life uncertainty, changes, attachments, expectations leave Him alone with His purpose of life that is to know Himself as Divine.
Three virtues viz. compassion, empathy and open-heartedness naturally come out of Him. His highest priority becomes to be loving to Himself and others. He now cares about people, animals and the planet. He knows that is all One, He consciously attempts to honour this Oneness.
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