Spirituality is not just a set of concepts or beliefs that need to memorized. It is an endeavor in itself; an endeavor to know ourselves better and unveil the true nature of consciousness. In layman’s terms, spirituality is something that relates to having the nature of spirit; not concrete or anything materialistic.

The meaning of spirituality is very often associated to dualism, in-corporeality and eternity. If you turn over the pages of some of the philosophical or spirituality books or even search the net, you will find that in most cases, spirituality has been posed as an idea that has been long associated with deities, religion, the paranormal, and eternal life.

Turning to religious gospels and writings, spirituality has also been equated with religion. In this context, it should however be clarified that the two are completely separate. Religion is a path through which people can experience spirituality, whereas, spirituality typically involves acts of introspection, developing one’s inner self through practices such as prayer, meditation, and contemplation. While people may practice prayer and believe it affects their health, there is no scientific evidence that supports the value of prayer. Combined with the general increase in interest through spirituality and balancing and alternative treatments, prayer has thus garnered immense attention among some behavioral scientists.

 If spirituality is looked upon as the path leading to the development of inner peace, then spiritual practices are actually necessary for personal well being. If a person believes and feels that a relationship with a supernatural being is the basic foundation to happiness, only then should the spiritual practice be pursued, and not otherwise. Many techniques and practices have been developed and are being explored in religious contexts to attain spirituality. Meditation is one such truly precious skill, a skill that helps in organizing the important aspects of one’s inner life.

Spirituality is something that influences our  thoughts and actions. Only if you summon the courage to embrace spirituality and follow it for the highest good of all mankind, will you realize the actual definition of spirituality. In practical terms a major aspect of spirituality involves resolving the conflicts within your life and helping others in resolving their complications and conflicts.

By MaryAnn Roche