Summary

Dr. Preeti Singh's article on Medium discusses her personal understanding of spirituality as a simple, compassionate way of living that transcends religious dogma and is accessible to everyone, regardless of their beliefs.

Abstract

In her article "What Spirituality Means To Me In Life," Dr. Preeti Singh shares her perspective on spirituality, emphasizing that it is distinct from religion and can be seamlessly integrated into daily life. She argues that spirituality is not about isolating oneself or engaging in complex rituals but about embodying love, compassion, and wisdom in everyday actions. Singh suggests that spirituality involves recognizing the significance of our lives within a larger context and striving to be a force of good in the world. She contrasts her approach to spirituality with that of a friend who equates it with abstinence and detachment, asserting that true spirituality is about enjoying life fully while respecting others and avoiding harm. Drawing from the teachings of Guru Nanak and the Dalai Lama, Singh encourages readers to live with joy, spread happiness, and practice compassion as key components of a spiritual life.

Opinions

Spirituality is different from religion; it is about inner values and a personal connection with the universe rather than external practices and beliefs.
A spiritual person can lead a normal life, enjoying nature, teaching, and socializing, without the need for extreme asceticism or isolation.
Spirituality does not require abstinence from life's pleasures but encourages living fully with consideration for others.
The author believes that God does not demand abstinence but rather encourages enjoying life while being kind and not causing harm to others.
Inspiration for spiritual living can come from the examples of enlightened individuals and does not necessitate a solitary life or endless prayers.
The essence of spirituality lies in love, compassion, wisdom, and truth, and it is about being a good person in ordinary, everyday life.
Spirituality is about recognizing the interconnectedness of life and acting with kindness and empathy towards all beings.
The author values the importance of spreading joy and touching the lives of others with love as part of a spiritual journey.
True spirituality is characterized by actions that reflect compassion and a desire to help others, rather than performing meaningless rituals.
Inner peace and joy are achieved through love and compassion, which are seen as the keys to happiness and spiritual wisdom.

SPIRITUALITY

What Spirituality Means To Me In Life

Make spirituality simple in daily life

Approaches to spirituality

If you are spiritual does it mean that you shut yourself from the world all day? Is it only the believers of God who are spiritual? What about atheists? How about the agnostics? So many questions come to your mind.

There are different approaches to spirituality. According to my thoughts, spirituality is different from religion.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says

“We need to move from religion to spirituality. Religion is like the banana skin and spirituality is the banana inside.”

A spiritual person is a normal human being. To me, spirituality means that it has to be simple in my daily life to follow it.

I live a normal life. I love nature. I like to teach. I dress up and go out. Am I not spiritual?

A friend of mine said that she was in some other world and I cannot even fathom where she is. She is in a state of being. I am there, so I am existing. My needs are being fulfilled and I don’t have to rush for things here and there.

The conversation between my friend and me

I said, “I really want to go to Pondicherry. It is a beautiful peaceful place”. I again said “oh let us go! I want to go badly. None of my friends are interested. Let us make a program together if you are also interested. She said, “I am never so keen as to take the right or pull something from someone.: Well, it was just a way of talking I said, if I wish to go somewhere I am using the expression excitedly that I want to go. How am I pulling away from someone’s right?

She and I were simply not on the same plane. I was in a state of euphoria. The love of living and life and she was in a state of abstinence. To me, God never said abstain from anything to be spiritual. He said enjoy your life to the fullest. Live, laugh, and have fun but do not be a nuisance to other people. Do not hurt them. Do not touch their sensitivities. If you have accidentally done so ask for forgiveness and move on never to repeat your mistake. She was in the state of abstinence and to be where she was. If a plan materialized easily she would go.

My simple understanding of spirituality

Spirituality means knowing that our lives have significance in a context beyond an everyday existence of biological needs that drive selfishness and aggression.

It means knowing that we are a significant part of a purposeful life in our universe. To me, spirituality does not mean to go to the forest or lead a solitary life or to do mumbo jumbo of prayers and go out and drink, eat, rape, forcefully pick up women or go to war. It means being a good person in your ordinary normal life.

Spirituality consists of love, compassion, wisdom, and truth, with the thought that some enlightened individuals have achieved and manifested higher levels of development than ordinary people. Inspirational examples become an important part of the journey through life for spiritually inclined people.

I was inspired by the simple story of GuruNanak that my mom narrated to me often and told me to be a spiritual person. Although she was deeply religious she put no condition on me. She said to be a good spiritual human being and that is what I ask from you. The house of God is everywhere.

Guru Nanak was lying down in the open on a starry night in Mecca. A person rudely woke him up and said “Hey man do not sleep with your legs towards the Kaba.” Guru Nanak said, “turn my legs wherever there is no mosque because I see the house of God in all directions”. The man turned his legs and wherever he turned the mosque showed.

For those who believe in God, the house of God is everywhere. I don’t think it matters where you keep your hands' legs arms etc. Be a good person. A kind person, love human beings. This the wish of God.

The takeaways

The takeaway from this is the understanding of spirituality and how we need to follow a spiritual life of compassion and love amongst living people.

#1.Values: Spirituality shows you the thread uniting life. It is a vision of values like compassion and love.

#2. Spread happiness: You are the same person, you enjoy life. God has given you life so it must be lived with joy. The joy should however be one to give happiness to others as well. You should try to touch the lives of people with love.

#3. Be Compassionate: If you read scriptures, do several religious exercises, have prayers in your house but you have no compassion. You indulge in oppressing the weak. You try to be nasty to the poor and indulge in rape and murder you are not spiritual. For spirituality to exist there should be compassion always.

To conclude

Spirituality leads to opening the heart towards compassion and a desire to help people. The daily dose of spirituality is to spread love, be compassionate, serve others, and share resources with others.

I loved the following quote by Denis Waitley, a motivating speaker, and consultant

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude. A smile is a light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside”.

Dalai Lama said “This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”

Thus love and compassion are the keys to happiness and to spiritual wisdom too. It gives inner peace and joy.

Practice a simple spiritual life that can continue in your daily life. Forget meaningless rituals but take good actions.