Every living being from the smallest insect to the more evolved human being desires to be happy and constantly makes attempts to acquire it. Happiness which is continual and of supreme quality is called Bliss and the science which teaches how to acquire it is Spirituality. Spirituality also known as ‘adhyatma’ is derived from two words - adhi and atma. Adhi means pertaining to the topic and atma means the soul. Therefore Spirituality (adhyatma) means pertaining to the soul (atma).
However, spirituality means different things to different people. For me, being spiritual is going from incompleteness to absoluteness or from the impermanent to the permanent. It is the discovery of the self. It is the way you find meaning, hope, comfort, joy and inner peace in your life. Many people find spirituality through religion. Some find it through music, art or a connection with nature. Others find it in their values and principles.
Each of us has a spirit and, therefore, a spiritual life, and we must be conscious about this fact. It’s important to look for and find hope and joy in whatever we do. Without hope or joy, we feel empty. When we connect to something bigger than ourselves, we feel better. We might even find purpose in our lives. Most people think you must belong to an organized religion to find your spiritual connection. Becoming part of a religious community is a good way to meet people with beliefs like your own, but it’s not the only place to find a spiritual life.
That something we connect with might be God, or peace, or nature. It could even be the goodness of humanity. Whatever you call it, believing in something helps us find our way in a complex and lonely world. When your life has purpose, you have the strength to weather the storms of life. You are more likely to make positive choices than to avoid the pitfalls of addiction and stress-related problems.
Several researches have shown that people who have a spiritual life are less likely than others to get sick and more likely to bounce back, if they do. Today, medical science has also confirmed that spirituality can have a profound effect on mental states. In a study of men who were hospitalized, nearly half rated spirituality as helpful in coping with their illness. The study also revealed that high levels of hope and optimism, key factors in fighting depression, were found among those who were spiritual. Being spiritual will make you feel better, give strength, prevent some health problems and help you cope with illness or death.
Remember, that everyone is different, so what works for others may not work for you. Do what is comfortable for you. Identify the things in your life that give you a sense of inner peace, comfort, strength, love and connection. Set aside time every day to do the things that help you spiritually. These may include doing community service or volunteer work, praying, meditating, singing devotional songs, reading inspirational books, taking nature walks, doing yoga, playing a sport or attending religious services.
Spirituality is a powerful and important source of strength but labeling yourself as spiritual does no good. It’s wise to surrender your search for happiness, serenity and contentment in the external world and realize that BLISS lies within us rather than anywhere else.
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