It is important that we must understand what spirituality is and not confuse it with religion. Spirituality is the science of the Spirit, the Soul, the Atman, the life energy within us. It is different from religion. Religion is the kindergarten to spirituality. Religion introduces God to us. It teaches us the ABC of God. But it doesn’t help us realize God. Religion starts our journey to God while spirituality concludes it. All religions are good because they build our faith and trust in God. But we need to go beyond religion to spirituality if we truly seek God.
Spirituality leads us to the truth. It helps us attain the purpose of life, it helps us accomplish what our ultimate goal is. It helps us realize who we are, who God is and what life is all about. Spirituality can liberate us from the Karmic cycle of death and rebirth and unite us with the Supreme Immortal Power we call God. It can help us attain, Moksha, salvation.
We live in the darkness of ignorance. We live believing in the cosmic illusion and assume that the world we live in is real. We think we are what we appear to be, not realizing that we are neither the body, nor the mind and ego, we are the Spirit, the Atman, the SOUL, a Spark Of Unique Life.
IIt is this very Soul, the Atman, this life energy that causes us to live, that gives us breath. If there were no life energy within us, then we would be dead, there would be nothing. The only thing that is real, that truly exists is this life energy, which is who we are, but which we don’t realize. It is being aware, being conscious of our true self. It is realizing our true self. If we do not live a life that is spiritual, as that life energy, that Soul or the Atman, that we truly are, we are living a life of illusion, we are living in darkness, in ignorance. We must, therefore, turn to spirituality and choose to live a spiritual life. If we continue to live materialistically, we will continue to be miserable. We will continue to run the race to be an ace and we will forever be trapped in a maze. In this world, we experience pain and misery. We suffer. We become victims of negative thoughts and emotions — fear, worry, stress, anger, jealousy. We argue, we fight. Spirituality holds the key to bliss and peace. Spirituality is not about living an ascetic life or renouncing the world and retreating into a forest or cave. It is about realizing the Spirit, our inherent Divinity. We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, rather, spiritual beings having a human experience. Spirituality is awakening to the truth about the Spirit, our true self. We realize that we are all one. A part of the Supreme Immortal Power, SIP. There are no differences, no hate, no vengeance— only love and brotherhood.
One may read spiritual books, one may even have a Guru, a Master, one may listen to audios, watch videos, attend #Satsangs or browse the net for information, but for one’s spiritual growth or evolution, one has to go on a Talaash, a quest or a search for Spiritual Enlightenment. Spiritual Enlightenment is the state of realization – when we realize our true self. We realize that we are not this body that we always thought we were, we are not this mind — the mind is just a bundle of thoughts. Where is the mind, we cannot find. The ego is an illusion. In fact, one has to transcend the mind and the ego ME, because it is this ME that takes us away from spirituality. So, if not the body or the mind, then who are we? We are the Divine Spirit, the Soul, the Atman. This is the ultimate goal of life. This Realization of the truth liberates us from suffering, from all misery and pain; from the cycle of death and rebirth. The truth is that this world is but a cosmic drama, a play, a projection. There are over 8 billion actors acting on the stage we call earth, and we all come, perform our role and go. However, we don’t realize who is managing the show, who is the producer-director of this show. We don’t realize who God is. God is not a person or saint but a Power, the Supreme Immortal Power. Spirituality, as stated before, helps us realize the truth. Therefore, we must embrace spirituality. Spirituality can eliminate our unhappiness. It can eradicate the darkness of ignorance that we live with, paving the way for us to live in the light of the truth. It is important for our well-being and peace. We are so lost in this world of illusions, in ignorance that we do not contemplate that one thing that we must all contemplate – the Spirit, the Life Energy, the Atman, the Soul. Spirituality takes us towards the ultimate goal of life, Moksha. And with the guidance of a Guru, along with the Grace of the Divine, we can attain Moksha.
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