We've Unnecessarily Divinized Spirituality
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
21 February 2025
I read somewhere that the greatest form of spirituality is found in self-awareness and understanding of one's own mind. So very true! In a world brimming with external distractions, it's important to turn inward to explore the depths of our consciousness. True spiritual growth lies not in blindly following rigid dogmas or external rituals, but in developing a deep understanding of our own thoughts, emotions, and inner workings.
By cultivating self-awareness, we unlock a limitless potential for personal growth and transformation. This quest for self-understanding empowers us to unravel the complexities of our minds, transcend limiting beliefs, and ultimately find a sense of purpose and fulfilment. The pursuit of spirituality is not confined to religious doctrines but rather lies in the realm of our own introspection and self-discovery.
True spirituality is striving towards a world where our actions are driven by empathy and compassion, not fear and prejudice. By placing empathy at the centre of our interactions, we can dismantle the barriers fuelled by prejudice and bias. Fear and prejudice often lead to division, injustice, and conflict, hindering our growth both individually and collectively. Ultimately, we all must collectively strive for a future where our actions are driven by empathy and compassion, paving the way for a more harmonious and inclusive society. This is the essence of spirituality without a ruse of feel-good divinity and esoteric pillow-talk.
We've unnecessarily divinized spirituality to the point of relegating it as a euphemism for religiosity. A hard-core atheist can also be spiritual if he's endowed with the finest human attributes. Your innate goodness is your godliness.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian.
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