Spirituality means different things to different people. While some connect it with religion, and some with a superpower or Nature, few believe it to be a connection with our inner self. However you perceive it, the benefits of spirituality are many. From inducing a positive transformation in you to making you more content with life, spirituality is multidimensional.
Science and Spirituality have never been at loggerheads in this ancient Indian civilization, but merely cater to the different dimensions of life, one physical and the other subtle. They are not contradictory but complementary to each other. Spirituality is very much essential for a right living and to realize our true identity.
Understanding matter is Science. Understanding ‘Who am I’ is Spirituality
~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Why Spirituality is Important
After all, isn’t our basic identity spiritual, whether we are aware of it or not? Spirituality helps us connect to our inner source and lead a happy and contented life in the present moment, without being bothered by the anguishes of the past and anxieties of the future.
Do you seek the meaning of life?
Are you in some way hungry for that everlasting solace?
Do you find peace when you pray and meditate?
Do you feel deep satisfaction when you show compassion and help others?
Do you feel a sense of security when you surrender to a Higher Power?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you are indeed spiritual. So yes, spirituality is a must for living peacefully.
Anything that nurtures the spirit is spirituality. Proper rest, some knowledge, and expanding your vision, are all part of spirituality. And all of this is needed for a civilized happy life.
~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
7 Ways to Improve Spiritual Practice
Meditation helps you process things around you mindfully. It calms down your senses and improves your reactions to situations. Meditating for even five minutes can help you fight stress, anxiety, and negative feelings of anger, hurt, ego, jealousy, etc. Little details like where you are in the present, being aware of the things around you, and what you are doing are some of the ways to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is greatly enhanced through meditation.
Yoga makes us physically and mentally healthy and increases our vitality, helping us connect easily to our inner self. Yoga is a great technique to provide flexibility to the body by strengthening the core. Pranayama improves our breathing, enhancing our awareness. Yoga and Pranayama are vital if you want to progress on the path of spirituality.
- Compassion and Forgiveness
When you direct your life towards spirituality, away from materialistic pleasures, you cultivate compassion, forgiveness and love. You care for others as you don’t view others as different. Belongingness develops, gradually making you aware of that one underlying divine thread (divine consciousness) that binds all of us together.
Spirituality is a sense of belongingness with all the people in the world.
~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
- Contentment and Gratitude
Practice gratitude and always remember what you have been given rather than complaining about what you don’t have. In the spiritual perspective, the one who is content is considered the richest. Descending into the many phases of life and thirsting for luxuries, people sometimes forget that one day everything will disappear. Knowing that nothing is permanent in life and always being grateful for what you have will help you reap abundance and lead a fulfilled life.
When Gratitude in you stays, that very gratitude flows out of you as grace.
~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
- Rhythmic Breathing
Rhythmic breathing techniques like Sudarshan Kriya helps to expand your lungs, frees you from the shackles of stress, and allows you to look at the brighter side of life. It raises your consciousness and makes you more confident, peaceful and focused on the present. Not only that, Sudarshan Kriya heals better from illnesses and improves immunity.
- Selfless Service
Selfless Service is an essential component of spirituality. One of the most effective ways of practicing spirituality is through helping others. You can choose to volunteer for a cause and help other people. Assisting the underprivileged and giving back to society brings deep satisfaction. It also shows you how fortunate you are and keeps you grounded and humble.
The best form of service is to uplift someone’s state of mind.
~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
- Look Within
Look within to find out what helps you process and transform your energy better. Is it journaling? Is it a hobby like singing, painting, or dancing? People travel to the mountains and spend time with nature. It is said to be very therapeutic. Share your bottled emotions with people you can trust. To find the meaning of spirituality, look within for what is your soothing ‘technique’ and pursue it.
Ending Note
Spiritual strength helps you live without falling for the minor and major setbacks in life. With spirituality, you understand that there is an interconnection of human life and you are not alone in this battle. You evaluate life in a better way and live purposefully with the right values. What’s a better escape from life’s problems than winning over them?
The goal of spirituality is to bring such happiness, which nobody can take away from you.
~ Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
