In modern times, some people consider spirituality as disciplines that may include prayer, meditation, chanting, breathing exercises, ceremonies and/or rituals. Spirituality is much more than this. These disciplines help your spiritual life. Furthermore, a lot of people practice these disciplines without focussing on the ONE. They think that just by doing these disciplines, it will make them spiritual. Spirituality is a way of life. The most important message of spirituality is love, because that is who you truly are. You are Love and Truth. The disciplines foster love in your life, so that you may practice love with more intensity, as part of your life.
Some people consider themselves atheist. They believe that they can be spiritual without GOD. These unfortunate people do not realise that they are part of the ONE and so they are GOD. People are confused by the plethora of ideas from different gurus or spiritual teachers, advocating their own beliefs about spirituality. Their followers, or disciples are led astray from true spirituality. There are others who have made spirituality into a business, focussed on profit. Clearly, in this age of the Kaliyuga (dark age) there are elements who spread confusion to others because they themselves are confused. There are the celebrities and other neo-gurus who tout their beliefs, fashions, food, health and beauty products to their followers. They influence a lot of people in the worldly ways, taking them further away from God.
Remember You are God
Spirituality means training the mind to remember that you are God. When you pray, meditate, or serve others, your focus should be on God. As I have said in other blogs, all that exists is energy. The whole Universe came into being from the love of the ONE, that is God. Spirituality means practising the presence of God in everything you do. Our consciousness has sunk to the level of the desires and attachments in the mind. We cannot perceive the greater reality, we have become blind to it. The blind now leads the blind, advocating body consciousness in its myriad forms. Everything that we see with our physical eyes is in the mind. In a way you can say it is a delusion, as it is relative to our consciousness. Even those who are connected strongly to God, could have this connection broken temporarily because the delusion of the world can prove stronger. You can see this in the bible.
In Mark 15:34
At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Even Jesus experienced this disconnection when he was on the cross, because he was affected by those who mocked him, his disciples deserted him and he felt that even God deserted him. The mind is extremely powerful.
What stands between Self and non-self (Atma and Anatma ), worldly and spiritual, good and bad, and merit and sin is the human mind. It is like a wall in the mansion of life, which causes division in unity. One can experience unity when one removes this obstacle of the mind. The One willed to become many (Ekoham bahusyam ). Only one manifested into many. People see diversity in unity due to the mental delusion caused by their ego and attachment.
Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 26 (1993)
Seeing God in Everyone
We have to constantly think of God, in all the things we do. Spirituality is about seeing God in everyone. When you see God in everyone, you will not be unkind or cruel to anyone in thoughts, words, or deeds. If you truly belief and have faith that you are God, you will not be interested in the worldly ways or have any attachment to it. You will be undisturbed and have complete peace.
Where there is FAITH, there is LOVE; Where there is LOVE; there is PEACE; Where there is PEACE; there is GOD; Where there is GOD; there is BLISS.
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
About the author
Eddie Appoo is a spiritual teacher and author dedicated to guiding others on their journey of Self-Realisation. He embarked on a journey of spiritual exploration from a young age and had his first glimpse of Self-Realisation in the early 1980s. In 1992, Eddie experienced himself as Atma (One with God) guided by his spiritual master Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Alongside his wife, he co-created LiberatingTouch®, a spiritual development system. Eddie’s teachings and writings, including “Detachment: The Secret to Infinite Peace,” reflect his dedication to sharing joy and facilitating spiritual progression.