Spirituality IS NOT A Separate Area Of Life
Spirituality is not somewhere you go to sit on a rock and contemplate on the universe. There is a fundamental problem with the way some people view spirituality. They will go on a spiritual retreat, feel wonderful only to return and be exactly the same way they were before.
If you are one of those people you are creating a huge problem for yourself. You are splitting your personality. You are seeing your spiritual side as something to be lived separately from the rest of your life. Even subtle ideas like ‘I am only exhibiting my spiritual side by meditating’ is a massive misconception.
Your actions are not spiritual. Your life isn’t even spiritual. You EXISTENCE is spiritual! I feel however that we do become distanced from the most spiritual core of our being by becoming focused on the mundane. The opposite of being in a place of your original spirituality is being in a very secluded place in your thinking.
Let me explain further…
I was sitting in a park recently on a gorgeous sunny day. I was alone and there were many people in groups surrounding me. For a moment I was a bit self conscious. I let the thought creep in about what people might think of me being there on my own.
That thought gave me a feeling of being very insecure and alone. It’s not a very nice place to be in. But then I shifted my awareness and started to just think about simply ‘being’. Instead I focused on enjoying the gorgeous weather, appreciating the clear blue sky and the nice cool breeze. I suddenly felt much more in tune with my spiritual existence.
I shifted that again to focus on remembering that I am such a small entity in a giant universe and that my body was composed of tiny sub-atomic parts the came together to make the whole. I felt even more in tune and in-line with what I am. I am spirituality expressed.
You need not go anywhere to discover it. It can be discovered right here and right now in this moment no matter where you are and what you are doing.
So the objective is not to go somewhere and feel temporarily spiritual. The goal, no matter when or where, is to become more in tune with what you are. You are aligning your vibration, your thoughts, and your being back to your original spiritual existence.
Don’t split your personality into parts and buy into the fallacy that spirituality is achieved at a retreat center. Spirituality is not a facet of your life. YOUR EXISTENCE IS SPIRITUAL.
You can get in tune with that spiritual feeling while playing a game of poker, while eating a mango, while riding your Harley, at work, at a club, while you’re being mugged, or even while you’re meeting the Queen of England.
Here’s a few thoughts on how to get in tune right now:
1. Step away from mundane thinking. Ask yourself what you could be focussing on instead?
2. Expand your thoughts step by step, move away from the local and go to the global. Then go from the global to the universal. Keep going and pay attention to the way you’re feeling as that is your guide back to being in tune.
3. Don’t buy into the thought that you need to go somewhere special to be spiritual. You can do that right here, right now!
4. Practice this often and allow it to become second nature. Eventually it will become your nature because it is who you are.
Hi Amit,
Very thoughtful post.
One way to achieve the ‘spiritualism’ is by meditation, yoga and prayers.
These 3 wonderful practices connect and disconnect us from the rest of the world in a different positive manner.
Cheers,
Cheryl
.-= New at Cheryl Paris’s blog ..How to Raise Expectations of Yourself =-.
Hey Cheryl perfect and those things can be done anywhere at any time. The can be integrated into the activities on a daily basis.
“Don’t buy into the thought that you need to go somewhere special to be spiritual.” – bingo! That’s the answer, and as you’ve pointed out, you could be at the park, but equally you could be waiting in line to pay for your groceries! You don’t need a special time, place, outfit (although I love my yoga pants!). You just need to make the choice, then follow the steps you’ve outlined. Nice post!
.-= New at Claire – Gratitude Connection’s blog ..Today I’m grateful for… =-.
Hey Claire, thanks for commenting and you mentioned the grocery line. I mentioned that before too or even sitting in a traffic jam and I’ve always noticed without fail they either move faster of my perception of them makes them feel that way.
Very true words, Amit! And a great post! Specially I like the tips you wrote here! Thanks a lot for this!
.-= New at Roman Soluk’s blog ..Useful things to do during a summertime =-.
Always a pleasure Roman 🙂
Hey Amit
Dude, good way of describing this whole concept of not seperating spirituality. I once read that “We are not humans having a spiritual experience, but spiritual beings having a human experience.”
I agree every person’s existence is “spiritual.” Nicely written post.
Hey Baker, I love that saying too and I’m a firm believer in it too. Thanks dude!
Hi Amit,
What we call spirituality is the flow of life as it is happening, the truth of the moment. In a sense, we cannot not be spiritual because we are alive. So it’s a matter of aligning with the reality of life in the moment. We realize this spirituality, this life flowing through us when the mind quiets down, and we are taken away from it when we are believing stressful thoughts.
You gave some great suggestions for helping the mind to quiet. Thanks!
Hey Gail. Eloquently put and thank you for sharing and your input.
Bro I couldn’t agree more! I know so many people who feel the need to go somewhere to be something but the truth is you can be just as ‘spiritually inclined’ sitting alone in your bedroom…or your bathroom for that matter : )
In my opinion, spirituality should be a way of life (2nd nature as you point out) instead of being labelled, catalogued and manipulated. To BE in a state of mind is more effective in its reaction as opposed to DOing somthing to feel that way. Just sit there and BE.
btw, The Emissary is out in 3 days!!!!! : )
Haha I know I often feel very spiritual while sitting on the loo! It is a way of life and you can be that wherever and whenever you choose.
Keep pushing forward with your promotion for the book. Contact more bloggers and ask them if they would be kind enough to read and review your book! 😉
I think life is a mash up of different parts … but they’re all integrated (and that’s a key to our integrity and congruency.)
I see what you’re saying JD but I do believe many people misconstrue what that means. An example, I see people go to the temple, pretend to be holy and then after they finish they sneak off to the pub for a pint. If they can’t see both as being spiritual activities they will forever be at odds with themselves.
Hi Amit, I totally agree with you here. There is a huge misconception on what is spirituality and what is meditation. I like how you explain that both of them relate to our existence because it really does. It’s not about who we are in the future or of the past or where we go, it’s about right here and right now. It’s about being still and being aware!
Hey Hulbert, great to hear from you and super point about the right here and right now! That is the ultimate form of spirituality when you are in this moment right here right now.
Wonderful post Amit,
I agree, it is much more a way of BEing than where you are physically. I feel it when I’m exercising, or oftentimes, when I am in a group of people and talking, I will just allow myself to FEEL it, rather than get all caught up in the drama of the discussion itself – it can oftentimes even bring a whole new perspective to whatever is being discussed.
Thanks for your post.
Hi Tamara, I know what you mean as a golf swing can be just as spiritual as sitting in mosque praying or on a mountain meditating. It’s all relative where you are inside. Thanks for your comment! 🙂
“Don’t buy into the thought that you need to go somewhere special to be spiritual. You can do that right here, right now!”
This made me smile. Cause I think it’s sooooo true. There is no contradiction between living in a penthouse in downtown LA and being spiritual.
That penthouse sounds pretty good, is that what you’re working towards?
Hi Amit,
I loooove this blog. I like to say; If it ain’t practical, it ain’t spiritual. We need not sit atop a mountain with our palms up to be spiritual. It can be as simple knowing that when I am doing the dishes, I am doing the dishes.
It’s rare Rob for me to feel spiritual when I’m doing the dishes…mostly because I get backache 😆 but I know exactly what you mean and where you’re coming from!
Amit –
Great post and wise words. Spirituality can become a dirty word for many in the modern age. For anyone with imagination and ambition though, it really is a beautiful concept to realize that we are part of something bigger. It allows us to act in a way that transcends our selfish behaviour and be conscious of a bigger agenda. I’m glad there are more and more trailblazers like you around to push this idea. We all need to remember that spirituality is what we are, not something we do.
Phil
Hey Phil, thanks for engaging with me and adding your input. I totally agree that I act more nobly the more expanded my thinking. When I shrink my thinking to the local and weak I lose that feeling of resonating with something much bigger. When I get back to that point I have to say it just feels awesome!
My old yoga teacher used to say that she is not religious, just spiritual. Spirituality is a part of life and the preconceived notion of sitting on that rock and pondering the universe is very old and intertwined and clarification is definitely important. Thank you for this, Amit…..What I’d love to see is your definition of spirituality if you feel inclined to share ….!!
Ooh tough question, I like to be challenged! Well Farnoosh I believe that you and I are connected and yet separate at the same time. Our humanity separates us and yet our true nature is what makes us inseparable! We are beings of light and ultimately, one being of light. A pure grand god of existent non-existence, a paradox of contrast that allows us to know ourselves, to experience in the world of contrast. I believe we should allow people to express themselves here on earth as they choose.
I believe that in this moment, in human form, the way I can return to being as near to my truest form is be in that present moment. To recognise all the glory and wonder of everything happening in that single moment. Let take a spiritual golf swing. Knowing that my brain is signals to my arm that allow me to hit that small target and project it with almost pin point accuracy and that ball is using the laws of physics to get there. Being lost in that moment with the greatest thought of what it is.
It goes much deeper but maybe I could write a whole post about that! I return the question to you! 🙂
Amit,
What a fantastic article. I couldn’t agree with your more – unless I’d written it myself!
EVERYTHING is spiritual. Without the spiritual component the material world wouldn’t even exist. We are, as they say, Spiritual beings having a human experience after all.
Thank you for writing this terrific post.
Hi Angela, well thank you kindly and as you said so succinctly yourself, we are indeed in a realm that wouldn’t even be here were in not for our spiritual decision. Thank you so much for commenting, always wonderful to have new commenter’s! 🙂
Amit, I felt the same way last summer in the “Secret Garden” in Regents Park – all along amongst groups of people.
But the moment I let go of my self-consciousness and focussed on just being, my world was transformed. I felt the presence and bliss of nature all around me, and the world came to a standstill:-)
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Hey Arvind, looks like we take these moments and process them in the same kind of way. It’s an awesome feeling when you get that to that place! Thanks dude!