The real meaning of spirituality

Spirituality is the most exquisite pursuit. It is not something that you can pick from the shelf, and start practicing. It is not something you choose. But spirituality finds its way to reach out to you.

Man is really not born to go beyond. Humans are born to be an individual entity, but in their course of life they actually enter the realm of materialistic world where they are driven by some desires. Having the potential to be alacritous, they can easily reside in whatever life offers us.

And in case life doesn't offer what they desire, then they strive to turn their dream into reality. Hence, being surrounded with the worldly temptations, it is very difficult to break free from such desires and enter a life of discipline and spirituality.

Spirituality is for those who are not at all content with what the world can maximally offer and are not content with what they already have. They who are not even satisfied with the best that the world can potentially offer, these are the people who are more susceptible to find solace under the roof of spirituality. Those are the ones who must take the spiritual path.

Others must satisfy themselves with the worldly beauties.

You don't have to force yourself, imitate someone or be under someone else's influence to lead a spiritual life. It is the inner voice, a call which you get from within, a moment of enlightenment which is realized where one never indulges himself/herself in incorporating it as a part of the life but without their being aware it becomes a part of their life.

Most people are condemned to almost succeed in the world. The misfortune of most people is that they never get beaten up so soundly that they will see the futility of the world. So they should remain well-adjusted and compromised, they should continue with the worldly life, they should not unnecessarily invite spiritual trouble.

Spirituality is only for the ones who are ripe enough.

If you are not ripe enough, keep hanging by the tree; enjoy the birds and the breeze.

A time comes when you are ready.

Spirituality has never been for the unprepared ones, or for the general masses.

Never!

Spirituality begins when you have a strong feeling that things are not the way they must be.

If you are alright and well-adjusted, then stay well-adjusted. But to begin, first of all you must know what is going wrong. If you do not know your disease, to which doctor will you go? Even to go to a doctor, even to benefit from the guidance of a doctor, you at least need to go to the right department, don't you? So, you have to begin with yourself. You have to honestly ask yourself, "What is this going on?"

This is the stepping stone.

If you are attentive to your own situation, you know what is really going on.

Your very attention is the final judge.

In that honesty, you immediately sense discomfort when you are not acting from the right point. Then your responsibility is to not let that discomfort continue, and bring a change in yourself and your actions.

That is spirituality!

The Prerequisites of Spirituality

In spirituality, there are four prerequisites. First thing that is needed is viveka (discretion). Second, vairagya (dispassion). Third is shad sampatti, the six qualities (shama, dama, uprati, titiksha, shraddha, samaadhaan). And finally, and most importantly, you need mumuksha (desire for liberation). When you see that you have all these, only then must you turn a seeker.

Do you have discretion? Do you clearly see what is eternal, and what is ephemeral? Do you clearly see what holds substance, and what is insubstantial? If not, then you are disqualified in the very first test.

There are four tests. The very first one disqualifies you.

The second test is a little more stern—vairagya, and then, there is the shad sampatti: six tests at one go—rapid fire.

And finally, do you have a burning desire for liberation, mumuksha?

If you do not have a burning desire for liberation, stay away!

Go and enjoy the world.

(The writer is a Vedanta teacher & founder of Prashant Advait Foundation.)