Spirituality means different things for different people. But the underlying theme in all these different shades of opinion is the fact that it is a means to attain peace and quietitude of mind.
What is spirituality really? To some, who are religoiusly inclined, it means following the tenets of one's religion including faithfully observing all the practices that are ordained in one's faith. To others, it simply means following their conscience and living according to its dictates. Some people actually dislike the term "spirituality" since it is , according to them, allied closely, or rather too closely to religion. And they themselves deny that they are "spiritual" and they debunk the very term.
Well, then what does the term convey actually? It simply means improving the quality of one's thougthts and thereby the quality of one's life. A spiritual person need not be a believer. Any person, who is desirous of improving his inner self and thereby his outer life can be termed as spiritual. This is because ultimately, by following all the religious practices and reading the religious texts, one hopes to attain that elusive peace of mind which can also be attained by anyone who learns to control his thoughts. Purity of thought and deed results in peace of mind and so it is essential that no negative thoughts disturbs our mind and prevents us from attaining that state of mind which we aspire for. You can never be really spiritual when you are attracted to those stories and news that speak of mayhem.
"Just what is the connection between my thoughts and my state of mind?" you may wonder. In these days of mind-body medicine, it is an incontrovertible truth that we are what we think. And if we constantly think of negative things and live in negativity, then negativity is all we are going to get in return. Don't believe it? Try to go on a "news fast" for a week. Don't read or watch any bad news for a week. Focus only on the good, uplifting news be it the story of some invention which will benefit mankind or the story of someone's success against all odds. The change is perceptible after a week. You are much more relaxed, and feel at peace more than ever before. This then is the secret of spirituality: Get rid of the morbid fascination for negative things and you will be at peace with yourself and the world or to put it diffently, a "spiritual" person.
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