What are some common misconceptions about your Spiritual?

Every person sees spirituality from a certain angle that fits into his / her viewpoint.

But to know what really is spirituality, one may visit https://www.dadabhagwan.org/path-to-happiness/spiritual-science/science-...

Many people believe that worshipping God, listening to religious discourses, performing religious rituals, etc. is spirituality

But just think about it - After doing all of this, if not even a single fault of ours reduces in our entire lifetime, can that be called spirituality?

There are many who believe in spirituality, one has to do penance

That’s right, but what kind of penance?...

There are actually two types of penances:

1. External penance, and
2. Internal penance

We are well familiar with the external penance that involves fasting, rigorous meditation, etc. The external penance is neither bad nor is it wrong. It is a good thing; but in its true meaning, it is not spirituality.

Spirituality refers to the Internal Penance
Internal penance is the one that takes us into spirituality. It is when no matter how much one insults us or embarrasses us, we remain equanimous. We do internal penance, but don’t see the other person guilty. To see no one at fault is the internal penance. Penance that doesn’t let the adverse meditation happen, that doesn’t allow new karma to be bound, is spirituality.

Many believe renouncing is spirituality

Again, there are two types of renouncing:

1. External renouncing, and
2. Internal renouncing.

One renounces wife, children, home, money, etc., but internally, one continues to cling onto his ego and intellect. Renouncing one’s own ego and intellect is the internal renouncing and that actually is the real renouncing; that’s what spirituality is all about.

On the path of spirituality, one attains the ‘Science’ i.e. the Soul!
When two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen get together, it automatically becomes water. This is because it is science; one does not have to do anything in it. Similarly, the property of the Soul too is to do nothing; its function is to only see and know everything, always!

Generally, the words ‘Religion’ and ‘Spirituality’ are used interchangeably
However, there is a big difference between the two…

To refrain from doing bad deeds and to indulge in doing good deeds is religion

To avoid adverse meditation (thinking about hurting or harming others or one’s own self) is religion. Religion holds us; it doesn’t allow us to slide down the graph of development. However, spirituality is much more advanced. A spiritual person is not only in full control of himself, but he can also inspire others; he never indulges in adverse meditation as he only longs to attain the Soul.

Spirituality refers to the Internal State
One who is on the path of spirituality may be seen rendering his worldly duties and obligations externally, but internally his sole desire remains that of ‘attaining the Soul’. Therefore, day and night, his mind is constantly devoted to the instruments that enable the attainment of the Pure Soul.

These instruments are totally different from the tools used for religious practices. These instruments introduce us to spirituality, ensure that we grow spiritually, and help us flourish to a stage where we actually attain the Soul.

The Primary Instruments of Spirituality are Gnani and His Enlightening Words
Just as only a lit candle can light another candle, similarly the Enlightened One alone can enlighten others’ Soul. So, the Soul can be attained only from the Enlightened One i.e. Gnani Purush!!!

Therefore, a Living Gnani, whose Soul is awakened, is required to awaken our Soul! When we find such Gnani, we must obtain the knowledge of the Self (Atma-Gnan) from Him and follow His words.

Gnani’s words are such, which when applied in our day-to-day life, they clear all the entanglements, instill right understanding and help bring forth meaningful results. Consequently, one attains peace and happiness and ultimately attains Moksha i.e. ultimate liberation.