“Spiritual” and “spiritual advance” are words used frequently in my writing. In this article, I try to lay out a simple description of a “spiritual person” and what I mean by “spiritual advance”.
Often in these posts, I use the works “spiritual” and “spirituality”. These terms may mean different things to different people. So, it’s important for me to explain what I mean by them. Being spiritual means the following three things:
- Being unconditionally happy: this contentment is at the core of spirituality. A person endeavouring to be spiritual soon starts feeling at least some level of happiness that does not depend upon what happens in the world outside. Since it does not come from outside, in a manner of speaking, the happiness comes from within. This flow of happiness is disrupted each time a person feels attachment to the material world. This attachment is usually in the form of want of money, power, fame, material benefits, glitzy things etc. So conversely, some level of emotional detachment with the world could be the starting point of this happiness. When a person is emotionally detached from the world, he will not experience sorrow or a sense of loss when things change in this world. Nor will he feel elated by the changes others may see as positive. But this detachment does not mean apathy towards others. Nor does it mean a barren landscape within, that is devoid of green pastures of happiness. A spiritual person would feel a stable and heightened sense of happiness. He would also as Bhagwad Gita says, “be a kind friend to all beings”.
- Service orientation: being happy within does not mean that there’s no work to be done outside. On the contrary, a spiritual person works with the sentiment of serving others. He is not discouraged by failure of his endeavour or elated by its success (since he is not affected by external events).
- Patient and persistent: A person only slowly becomes spiritual. The path is convoluted while being full of struggles and frequent setbacks and distractions. So, persistence and patience are key. Climbing the beautiful mountain of spiritualism entails scaling many slippery slopes. Three steps forward can be followed by two steps back. And then there are periods of stagnation despite the best effort a person can put in. As Bhagwad Gita says, we have the right to put in our effort but not to the results thereof. In this spirit, the spiritual aspirant works regardless of the results. These results do come after testing the person’s patience and persistence. But they do not come at the time of his choosing.
Being spiritual is its own huge reward. There are no prizes that this world confers. No fame to be won. No applause. No riches. While the world hurries from one moment to the next, the spiritual person finds stillness within. While the world frets over the tiniest of things, the spiritualist is immersed in an ocean of happiness. And while the world drowns in a cacophony of noise and disturbance, the spiritually accomplished person remains anchored to peace and tranquility. It’s as though the world’s sorrows and chaos cannot touch him. He is part of the world and yet he is protected from the waves of disturbances that sweep it.
While the world often does not notice a spiritual person’s wealth of internal peace, he obviously does. It is too profound to be missed. While he keeps experiencing a mental separation from the turbulence in this world, his separateness does not cease to amaze him. He quickly realises that his spiritualism is a priceless blessing. In this material world, this inner wealth is the most precious of possessions.
Closing Note: “Spiritual Advance”
I will also be frequently using the term “spiritual advance” in my articles. It simply means progress in becoming more spiritual. So, if a person becomes more spiritual (as described in the article above), he has experienced “spiritual advance”.
Recommended Reading
Scientific Spirituality: A scientific, experiment-based approach towards spiritualism and ancient Indian texts could serve us well.
There is no happiness without mental peace: If happiness is not unconditional, it will vanish. Vanishing happiness is not what we are looking for. And unconditional happiness can only come from keeping the mind peaceful (using yoga and meditation techniques).
Experience Heaven in this life itself: One does not need to wait for an after-life to experience what heaven might feel like. But it needs focus, effort, and persistence.
The Advanced Meditation Exercise (TAME): This meditation technique is an incredibly powerful way to keep the mind peaceful. It is prescribed in Bhagwad Gita, the primary book of Indian spiritual heritage. It derives its power by activating three key things in us: detachment, stillness, and transformation.
Do we really understand the meaning of religion? According to ancient Indian spiritual texts, religion is being true to oneself. So, each of us must have the freedom to explore and decide for ourselves what our true self is.
