The Cowherd

Spirituality is essentially the process of seeking. It rejects the idea that this world is all that is. It questions how one can achieve supreme bliss and get out of this stranglehold of life which bogs us down with many a misery and suffering.

1. What are the 3 elements of spirituality?
2. What are examples of spirituality?
3. What is a spiritual person?
4. How do you practice spirituality?
5. What exactly is spirituality?
6. How do I find my spiritual center?
7. What are the signs of spiritual awakening?

What are the 3 elements of spirituality?

At one level, the 3 elements of spirituality are: body, mind and soul. Humans have 3 states of being: wakeful, dream and deep-sleep. In waking state, we identify ourselves with our body. Whereas, in the dream state, we do not associate ourselves with our physical body. One may say, we are in an astral plane. To put in simple terms, we associate ourselves with our mind, not body. Thirdly, in the deep sleep state, both the body and mind are beyond our consciousness. We know nothing while we are in deep sleep. We only realize in retrospect after waking up that we had a sound sleep. We’re never bored of such a good sleep. Every night we go back to that state. This state, in which we’re pure consciousness, is the 3rd state.

What are examples of spirituality?

Some of the greatest examples of spirituality from the recent times are Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi and Kanchi Paramacharya. Any realized person is the ultimate example of spirituality. There are innumerable such examples in India.

What is a spiritual person?

A spiritual person is someone who has a dispassion for the worldly life, has been initiated into a specific spiritual practice by a guru, someone having a sincere devotion to a personal God, or even a yogi. The fundamental characteristic of a spiritual person is that he recognizes the existence of something beyond the worldly and strives towards that.

Here’s an interesting article on the spiritual meaning of a stray cat choosing you.

How do you practice spirituality?

One can start with a simple pranayama, which is a great breath control exercise that helps control one’s mind. One could also start developing a sense of devotion to any personal God, from any religion. One could, start reading Vedantic texts and start approaching the same truth intellectually. There are many paths, depending on one’s temperament and personality.

What exactly is spirituality?

Spirituality is the process of achieving liberation from the cycle of birth and death. In other words, it grants one limitless bliss and freedom from all bondages. It’s a singularity, of pure consciousness that’s the natural end of the human evolution process. Practising spirituality means that this gradual process is accelerated.

How do I find my spiritual center?

Most authentic texts declare that one’s spiritual center lies in the heart. This may not be same as the organ that pumps blood. One can find it oneself by sincerely practising any of the various established paths to liberation.

What are the signs of spiritual awakening?

The ultimate sign of spiritual awakening is peace. There could be various super-human powers that one may start acquiring during the process, but those are no signs of spiritual awakening. If one is able to remain established in one’s heart, without thoughts arising in one’s mind, in a state of pure consciousness and bliss, one is said to be in a samadhi state. That’s the ultimate sign of awakening.

There are many new age definitions on spiritual ideas, which do not have a scriptural backing. It’s always advisable to go with traditional sources. Here’s an interesting lecture by Swami Sarvapriyananda.

Continue reading, are you spiritual but not religious?