In a religious country like India, we are taught since birth that God created the universe. The word “God” denotes infinite power. So when humans were unable to comprehend infinity, they invented God.

When they realized that they could not attain God or could not experience him, religion came into existence. Through religion, they found a graspable rope that reached all the way up to an imagined heaven.

“Steeples that touch the sky, grandeur temples that dwarf us, bells that advertise the presence of something otherwise ineffable, smells that wrap themselves around us; religion uses our senses to speak to us.” (Source: TOI’s compilation of God & I)

Spirituality is not new to Indians but it has not taken full shape yet. It can be called a gentle form of discovering God. Whereas religion is about achievement, spirituality is about celebration.

Spirituality is waking up to the world, not running away from it. I never say that practicing religion is idiotic because one has to sacrifice all materialistic comforts. But spirituality can do it by relishing every moment of life. Life has many flavors and spirituality makes us taste mingled sensation of all flavors.

Religion was created by people in order to instill control into an undisciplined life as well as to jerk off one’s ego by inspiring within them a fear of the Almighty.

On the other hand, Spirituality is a sort of science to understand the walk of life. It’s a conscious walk of life with your inner eyes open.

Spirituality is something that is found deep within oneself. It’s the way one accepts, loves & relates the world and people around him, which can’t be fostered in Churches or Temples.

One doesn’t need to be religious in order to be spiritual. One doesn’t need to sacrifice his/her family life in order to attain deliverance through mantras. Spirituality is all about attaining an inner feel of calmness and maintaining a balance in life through managing work & family simultaneously.

Human nature is complex. Sometimes, we cling on to certain things, people & desires which further complicate our lives and put a question mark, which is detrimental to our spiritual growth.

Spirituality makes us strong enough to go with the flow by discovering ourselves and finally achieving a sense of fulfillment and inner peace. It’s a sort of introspection to measure our strength & weakness. Spirituality is enjoying whatever we are doing and thus feeling connected with our inner self.

Spirituality is living for the moment. Religion is worrying for the coming moment.

Though planning for the future also has its role in this super simple but yet curvy complex life of human kind.

Spirituality has many facets. It’s about loving oneself, which ultimately leads to loving God. It includes forgiveness, responsibility, confronting one’s dark sides, accepting changes & going with the flow. Practicing yoga, observing nature & introspection can open the doors to eternal bliss.

The spirit of joie de vivre is the essence of Spirituality.