What is spirituality? A close look at the idea

We rarely think or talk about spirituality, or we may not even have a clear idea of what it is. Yet it is spirituality that lets us recognize the main aims of life, experience true happiness and remain human in any circumstances. Without this reliable support it is hard to live, both for the individual person and for all of present-day humanity.

Let us work out together what spirituality is, why we need it, and how to develop it in ourselves.

The general idea of spirituality

An example from life will help us picture what spirituality is. A person who is well off materially feels unhappy. Yet for someone else even a small income is enough to enjoy life. What is the difference between them, and what is truly needed for real happiness?

People are not only a body and a mind; first and foremost they are spiritual beings, and each of them has a soul. The soul comes into the world with its own values, needs and goals. Whether we acknowledge them or not, they have an enormous influence on us.

In our example, the rich man is disappointed with what is happening because he has forgotten about his soul. For the soul, the highest value is not money but love and the wish to express that feeling through one's actions. The other person intuitively listens to their soul and follows it, and so they are happy regardless of their material means.

The striving to live in harmony with one's soul — that is what spirituality means. In a broader sense the term also covers the non-material values, ideas and principles that matter to all of present-day humanity.

The foundations of spirituality

At the foundation of spirituality are the needs of the soul. They are nothing secret or lofty and remote; they coincide with high human values. We build our lives around them by listening to the voice of intuition. Love, care for others and an interest in being active accompany us from birth.

Sometimes, however, we ignore the soul's wishes, and this leads to suffering and a feeling of dissatisfaction.

The idea of unconditional love

The most important thing for the soul is unconditional love — when we are loved not for our outward actions, achievements, physical beauty or talents, but simply because we exist. The soul selflessly loves everything in the world: itself, others, nature and the works of human hands. The central principle of spirituality says: each of us is worthy of love by right of birth.

In unpleasant situations it can be hard to treat someone positively and with love. Its place is easily taken by resentment, anger, irritation and, at worst, hatred. So as not to fall under the sway of such emotions, we need to develop the feeling of love in ourselves. This is what our soul lives for. It learns to love despite outer circumstances, trials and difficulties.

It is important to understand that unconditional love does not mean agreeing with everything other people do. We have the right to stand up for our opinion and to defend ourselves — only not out of resentment and hatred, but out of love for ourselves and for our opponent. It is hard to understand or imagine how this is possible, but as spirituality develops, this quality of unconditional love gradually comes too.

A spiritual person knows that not everyone likes or approves of them, yet they still go on loving the people around them. This is incredibly difficult; reaching such a state takes years of working on oneself with the help of meditation and spiritual practices. But a worthy reward awaits: a feeling of complete happiness and harmony with the world.

Expressing unconditional love

The soul is happy when others around it are happy. That is why its love is not limited to a kindly attitude toward people; it shows in our deeds. We talk with one another, help as much as we can, invite people to our homes, and start families so that we can care for those close to us.

The need to express love awakens in us the wish to be useful to society. We master a profession, take a job or build a business, or perhaps simply tidy up around our home. The process of creating or improving something brings us sincere joy. The soul's active, creative nature does not let us sit idle.

Realizing that we are helping other people with love, and not merely carrying out our duties at work and earning money, can radically change our attitude to work. Once we understand this high purpose, it is as if we grow wings. Work begins to bring joy, we want to do it, and difficulties are easily resolved.

From the point of view of spirituality, any action of ours can be seen as an expression of love. In return we receive gratitude, love in return and, by agreement, money.

Obstacles on the way to unconditional love

Inside each of us is an inexhaustible source of love and happiness — our soul. But its voice is often drowned out by negative emotions: greed, when it seems we still don't have enough material goods, or anger, when someone does not act the way we would like.

The ability to accept any situation without aggression helps us come to unconditional love. We ourselves choose how to react to a given event. It is dangerous to be led by our emotions; we need to strive for conscious choice. For example, we can train the position of the observer — the ability to look at ourselves and our feelings from the outside. It helps to ask ourselves: "What is happening to me right now?" In this way we separate part of our personality from the emotion of anger, and a level-headed observer appears inside us who is able to cope with the indignation.

If it seems that we lack something, we should start giving thanks for everything that is present in our life. Then we will see how rich we really are, reach a state of perfect contentment and be happy simply to be alive. The joy of acquiring things fades quickly, but love is boundless. Sadly, in today's conditions we forget this.

We need to develop in ourselves non-attachment to material goods, and acceptance. And at the same time we should try to give the world more love. Love has an amazing property: if you begin to share it, there is more of it. Say we buy food for someone who needs it. We have less money, but more love. With love we feed the hungry person, and they answer us with their love. Our soul feels happiness.

The difference between spirituality and morality

Spirituality and morality are close to each other, but the words are not synonyms. Moral laws were created on the basis of spirituality and became unwritten rules that are handed down from generation to generation and help to shape character. Their purpose is to preserve and multiply love in society.

Let us take one of the principles of morality — honesty. An honest person will not deceive; they will never put their own interests and desires above the truth.

Morality is the practical expression of spirituality; it tells us how to live in order to find happiness in the material world.

The universal moral principles of today include equality, respect, mercy, kindness, duty, responsibility, conscience, justice, honor, pride, patriotism and freedom.

Without spirituality, morality turns into self-deception. One can behave outwardly like a moral person while denying spirituality and its high values — love, acceptance and forgiveness. One can despise others, smile at them, yet hate them inside. People will sense such an attitude, stop trusting and try to avoid contact.

Moral laws should be followed without forgetting spirituality, with love in one's soul. Otherwise they lose all meaning.

What spirituality means for the individual and for all of humanity

Spirituality is part of a human being, just like the body or the psyche. It makes us human. Without it we would be close to animals and would live by the harsh laws of nature, blindly following the call of instinct. Modern society would not have reached such a high level of development and progress.

For the individual, spirituality serves as an inner support. We don't know what tomorrow will bring; we may suddenly lose our material goods or our loved ones. But our soul and its high values will always be with us. They will help us overcome difficulties.

Relying on spirituality also keeps us from becoming slaves to material goods. A spiritual person is always happy and lives in harmony with the whole world. They know that true happiness lies in expressing unconditional love.

For all of humanity, spirituality sets the direction of development.

Everything that goes against spirituality harms society and the world.

Everything that develops spirituality leads to universal happiness.

Abandoning spiritual values can lead to the deaths of people, as happened in wars. That is why the task of all humanity is to raise the level of spirituality, so that life on the planet goes on and suffering decreases.

Modern society must uphold high spiritual values. Then people will be less inclined to conflict, crime and violating moral principles.

Ways to develop spirituality

We can contribute to the growth of spirituality in the world if we start with ourselves. No special conditions are needed for this. Every day offers many opportunities to work on ourselves. We need to do all our tasks and duties with love, treat those around us kindly, forgive offenses and not give in to negative emotions. Even then, life will become much happier.

The following ways are also good for finding and developing spirituality:

1. Keeping a gratitude journal.
2. Selfless help.
3. Donating to good causes.
4. Reading books and listening to lectures on spirituality.
5. Spending time with elevated people.
6. Spiritual practices: prayer, mantrasA sound or set of sounds that, repeated with its meaning in mind, carries the mind toward the Infinite., meditation.
7. Conscious observance of religious traditions.

These activities are aimed at changing our emotional state and let us taste spiritual happiness. They help us understand what inner life is, and how beautiful and rich it is.

The bonus of developing spirituality

Whether to develop spirituality or not is each person's own business. But as soon as you begin taking steps toward it, there will be many more positive events. This is not magic; it all happens quite logically. First a person works on developing their spirituality, then people trust them more and want to be around them. They feel that this person treats them with love, they are drawn to them, and they give help and support. All doors open before such a person, and they easily reach their material goals.

Spirituality changes a person from within. We increase the amount of love in our soul, and in response the world surrounds us with love.