The Magic of Spirituality – The Times of India

Spirituality is not about religion or ritual. It is beyond all that. We can think of religion as a kindergarten and spirituality as the university. Spirituality is the science of the Spirit, the Soul, the Atman, the very life energy that breathes through us. To live spiritually is to live in consciousness of our true self. Without this realization, we exist in ignorance, mistaking the illusion of the body and mind for who we are. The truth is simple yet profound: it is the Soul, the Divine energy within, that gives us life. Without it, there would be no life, no breath, no ‘us’. Everything else —our body, name, possessions — is transient. The only reality that truly exists is this life force, this energy, this Soul that we must realize as our true Higher Self. The Soul, a Spark Of Unique Life, is a part of the Supreme Immortal Power we call God. We are Divine beings, we are Divinity itself, the very God we worship. We are all all Souls; we are one. The goal of spirituality is Enlightenment — the realization of our true nature. Enlightenment dawns when we discover that we are neither the body that dies nor the mind that wanders. The mind, after all, is just a bundle of thoughts. When we ask, ‘If not the body or mind, then who am I?’ the answer unfolds within — I am the Divine Soul, the Atman.This realization is not merely knowledge; it is liberation. It frees us from pain, suffering and the endless cycle of birth and death. It is the ultimate purpose of human life. To attain the state of Enlightenment, we must awaken the MAGIC of Spirituality. What is this magic? MAGIC is the acronym for:M — MumukshutvaA deep and intense desire for the Divine, a yearning for Liberation. Without this longing, the spiritual journey cannot begin.A — Asking QuestionsThe path begins with inquiry. We must embark on a sincere quest with questions such as: Who am I? Why am I here? What is God? Who is God? Where is God? Where are heaven or hell? What is the Soul? What happens after death? This questioning awakens the seeker within.G — Guru’s GuidanceA Guru, one who has transcended darkness and realized the truth, is essential on this journey. Gu means darkness, Ru means light. The Guru leads us from ignorance to truth, guiding us with wisdom born of experience.I — Ignorance EradicationTo progress, we must overcome the illusions, Maya, Mithya, Avidya that veil the truth. Spirituality is not about learning more — it is about unlearning the myths that we have learned, that keep us bound in ignorance, blind to the truth.C — Consciousness of the TruthThe culmination of spirituality is living in constant awareness of the truth, a state of SatChitAnanda — Truth Consciousness Bliss. When we remain conscious of who we truly are, we experience peace, joy and liberation.These five elements together create the MAGIC of Spirituality, the Divine formula that leads us to Moksha, the ultimate freedom and the true purpose of life! Authored by: AiR – Atman in Ravi