I.

Introduction

Spirituality is not an easy thing to define, primarily because it is an inner personal pathway that
most of us would describe differently. When independent of a religious group, spirituality is
perceived as somewhat ambiguous. It is a common thing to hear someone say, ‘I'm not
religious, but consider myself a spiritual person.’ Without having a religious reference point as
a label.

Spirituality is something that’s talked about a lot but is often misunderstood. Many people think
that spirituality and religion are the same thing, and so they bring their beliefs and prejudices
about religion to discussions about spirituality. Though all religions emphasise spiritualism as
being part of faith, you can be ‘spiritual’ without being religious or a member of an organised
religion.

According to Jaggi Vasudev (Sadhguru) “Spirituality does not mean any particular practice. It
is a certain way of being. To get there, there are many things to do. This is like a garden in your
house. If the soil, sunlight or stem of a plant is in a certain way, it won’t yield flowers, you
have to do something. You have to take care of those things. So if you cultivate your body,
mind, emotions and energies to a certain level of maturity, something else blossoms within you
that is what spirituality is. When your rationale is immature, it doubts everything. When your
rationale matures, it sees everything in a completely different light.”1

According to Sri Aurobindo “Spirituality feels that all faiths are valid; like the analogy of many
paths leading to the same goal. Spirituality embraces all the world religions, but at the same
time, is not constrained by any religious dogmas or forms”.2

In short Spirituality exists within a unique, unbreakable relationship between the heart and the
mind. It is an internal harmony that allows one to endure the most harrowing of circumstances.
Even when lacking in material possessions and physical freedoms, this relationship endures
and enables its host to continue to offer compassion to others.

Spirituality is an internal sanctuary, free of the rules and expectations of the physical world, it
is a place where one can submit to one's mortality and rest properly, without worry, anxiety,
desire and striving. Spirituality offers liberation in the knowledge that as long as one has the
freedom to think for oneself, one will always have the freedom to positively influence the lives
of others through love and kindness.

1
Jaggi Vasudev, Essential Wisdom from A Spiritual Master (Bangalore: Jaico Publishing House, 2008) 66.
2
Pettinger Tejvan,“Biography of Sri Aurobindo” Oxford, UK (3 August 2009) 17: www.biographyonline.net.

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 II. Difference between Religion and Spirituality

Spirituality extends beyond an expression of religion or practice of religion. There is a pursuit

for a spiritual dimension that not only inspires, but creates harmony with the universe. That
relationship between ourselves and something greater compels us to seek answers about the
infinite. During times of intense emotional, mental, or physical stress, man searches for
transcendent meaning, oftentimes through nature, music, the arts, or a set of philosophical
beliefs. This often results in a broad set of principles that transcends all religions.

While spirituality and religion remain different, sometimes the terms are used interchangeably.
This lack of clarity in their definitions frequently leads to debates. Suppose one’s spirituality
leads to the formation of a religion? Is it necessary for a spiritual person to be religious?
Through certain actions, an individual may appear outwardly religious, and yet lack any
underlying principles of spirituality. In its broadest sense, spirituality may include religion for
some, but still stands alone without a connection to any specific faith.

1. There are no rules to Spirituality

Spirituality is where we follow our heart, we follow our own path and we bask in the knowledge
of our own reality. They are not chained are not expected to perform rituals. It is not an attempt
to underplay the importance of religion or to degrade but it is to simply affirm that Spirituality
is indeed natural and it comes to us naturally.
2. There is only Love in Spirituality
The founding base of Spirituality is love and there is no place for fear or societal propaganda.
It is a fact that scattered through the fabric of religion is fear (fear in name of God, rituals,
people and so many other aspects) but Spirituality is free of all these clutches.
3. Religion states Truth; Spirituality helps us Discover
This is one major difference between religion and spirituality. When we have realised that we
are the part of the cosmos expressing itself as human, we tend to understand so many aspects
on our own without anybody stating facts for ourselves. Religion will always tell us the truth
but Spirituality will always give us our space to discover and re-discover our truth.
4. Soul Path of Spirituality
Whilst Religion confines us to set norms and practices. It tells us how things are done
differently and in a particular manner, all Spirituality will do to us is our will question what
needs to be questioned and let go of what is unimportant. Our Soul Path is our higher calling
and when we walk the spiritual path we tend to understand and see the things in a different
light.

There are some pretty clear ways in which religion and spirituality differ. Religion is a specific
set of organised beliefs and practices, usually shared by a community or group. Spirituality is
more of an individual practice, and has to do with having a sense of peace and purpose. It also

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relates to the process of developing beliefs around the meaning of life and connection with
others, without any set spiritual values.

In the terminology of the Bhagavad Gita, it be called Buddhiyoga or the Samatvarupayoga.

Some treat spiritualism as identical with religion, religious cults and practices. Spiritualism is
also considered as an experimental aspect of religion and not merely a ritual or theological.
Basically, spiritualism differs from religion. As the religion affirms a faith or belief about
God’s supremacy over the beings and the matter, and also enjoins man’s faith in the rituals and
cultic practices.

Whereas spiritualism exhorts his faith in the collective reality of the world and imparts
knowledge of oneness of the God with the whole world. Hence, spiritualism should be treated
as a theoretical approach to truth; and religion as the practical approach to the same goal. As
spiritualism also deals with some religious practices, that way according to some, even the Fine
Arts, music, dance and painting, are also part of spiritualism, since they also represent the
experimental aspect of the religious spirit.

Spiritualism is also defined as the science of soul or ‘adhyaatmavidya’, the higher knowledge
which helps man to rise above the worldly agonies; knowing which everything else of the world
is known3. It is also believed that a person bereft of spiritual knowledge can never bring any
worldly activity to success. Thus, there is great importance of spiritualism in Indian life.

III. Religious Pluralism and Multi Religious Context

“Religious Pluralism” is a contested concept across national, political, and disciplinary

contexts. In theology the term often suggests harmony, convergence, or compatibility across
religious traditions-in opposition to religious exclusivism. In Sociology, pluralism can refer to
the diversity of different religious traditions within the same social or cultural space. According
to Thomas Banchoff, “religious pluralism refers to patterns of peaceful interaction among
diverse religious actors-individuals and groups who identify with and act out of particular
religious traditions.”4

According to Herold Netland, the term “religious Pluralism” itself is, of course, ambiguous and
can be used in either a descriptive or a normative sense. Descriptively, it refers to the
undeniable fact of religious diversity-people do indeed embrace different religious
perspectives”.5 Normative sense is, an egalitarian and democratized perspective holding that
there is a rough parity among religions concerning truth and stereological (Salvation)
effectiveness.

3
J.P. Vaswani, Many paths: One Goal, (Pune: Gita publishing house, 2013), 119.
4
Dr. Pawan Kumar, “Religious Pluralism in Globalised India: A Constitutional Perspective.” IOSR Humanities
and Social Science 3/3 (Sep-Oct. 2012): 5.
55
Dinan L. Eck, “Prospects for Pluralism: Voice and Vision in the Study of Religion.” American Academy of
Religion 75/4 (December 2007): 45.

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According to S.R. Bhatt “religious pluralism leading to secularism stands for a complex
interpretative process in which there is transcendence of religion and yet there is a unification
of multiple religions. It forms a bridge between religions in a multi-religious society which
enables each to cross over the barriers of their diversity”.6

As well as many languages and cultures, God has also ordained many religions, Emmanuel
Lartey told the NACC (National Association of Catholic Chaplains) conference.7 “God wishes
there to be many different religious traditions and for people to belong to many religious
journeys,” said Lartey, a professor of pastoral theology at Emory University in Atlanta.
Religious plurality is divine, God often reveals God self through encounters with strangers,
people of different cultures, languages, religious traditions. People we despise or ridicule. May
we use our traditions as steppingstone points of contact to reach out to God beyond us all.

IV. Spirituality in India

Spirituality in India is not just an esoteric philosophy or practice, it has found its place in the
most commonplace routines and daily lives of India's people. It is the part and parcel of Indian
culture. It have unique nature of spiritual pursuit in India, which is found in various forms: as
ascetic practices, the study of scriptures, devotion or bhakti, pilgrimages and temples. Dr Asha
Goswami says that, “in India, spiritualism is not an obsession of the human mind, rather it is a
heritage as well as a continuous tradition”.8 Out of the varied values of Indian culture, those
based on spiritualism have contributed a lot to the spirit of the Indians throughout the ages. It
has been also possible due to the fact that the Indian life is dominated by the temperament
which is well marked with spiritualism.

India contributed various thoughts of philosophy and spiritualism and gave to the world
maximum number of systems of spiritualism in the form of philosophical thoughts such as
Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Yoga and Vedanta. The Vedas provide spiritual orientation to the Indians
giving them the basics of spiritual and moral life. Hence, the Vedic rishis9 should be acclaimed
as the earliest spiritual masters on earth as their mantras10 resound with the kernel of
spiritualism, and the Indian nation as the cradle of spiritualism. In India, spiritualism is not an
obsession of the human mind, rather, it is a heritage as well as a continuous tradition.

From the Vedic times, India has enjoyed a rich spiritual tradition. The Indian scriptures also
throughout covering a saturation of every human emotion and aspiration have made a great
contribution to Indian spiritualism. The evolution of Indian spiritualism can be traced back to
the Vedic age. Thus, the Indian spiritualism be termed as a form of philosophy, darshana or

6
Dr. Pawan Kumar, “Religious Pluralism in Globalised India: A Constitutional Perspective.” IOSR Humanities
and Social Science 3/3 (Sep-Oct. 2012): 11.
7
Lewellen David, “Many paths, one truth; many faiths, one God,” nacc, accessed on 7 October 2019,
https://www.nacc.org.
8
Dr Asha Goswami, “Spiritualism in India”, anti-superstition accessed on 7October 2019,
http://antisuperstition.org/spirituality-in-India.
9
sage
10
A word, phrase or sound that is repeated again and again, especially during prayer or meditation.

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sight, and the Upanishads be held as proper sources of Indian spiritualism. As to the question
what is spiritualism, the answer would be it is the inner quest; a pathway for reaching the higher
truth in life; a composite thinking for enlightening the realities of life, for considering
challenges of life, human values and their evaluation.

Indians prefer spiritual pursuits to other pursuits of human life ‘artha’ 11and ‘kama12’ which
are much subordinate to it, as the same leads them to attain moksha, a state of existence of
a ‘jeevanamukta’ or a liberated soul. So Spiritualism in India is a complete philosophy of
human life, the correct way of living and right way of thinking. A spiritual man is one who is
detached from the dual effects of karma (success or failure); who is devoid of self-interest, ego-
hood and sees God everywhere, permeated in all the beings; who keeps himself in continuous
communication with God, and hence is messenger of God and the benefactor of mankind.

V. Spirituality in multi Religious Context

Religions are belief systems that relate humanity to spirituality. The following definition of
provides a good overview of the many dimensions of religion. “Religion is a collection of
cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that relate humanity to spirituality and,
sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred
histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to explain the origin of life or the universe.
They tend to derive morality, ethics, religious laws or a preferred lifestyle from their ideas
about the cosmos and human nature.”13

1. Spirituality in Hinduism

“Hinduism” is a term used to designate a body of religious and philosophical beliefs indigenous
to the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religious traditions, has no
beginning it precedes recorded history. It has no human founder. It is founded upon what is
often regarded as the oldest surviving text of humanity: the Vedas. It is a religion practiced the
world over. Hinduism has four main denominations; Saivism, Shaktism, Vaishnavism and
Smartism. Hindus believe many diverse things, but there are a few bedrock concepts on which
most Hindus concur. The following nine beliefs, though not exhaustive, offer a simple
summary of Hindu spirituality.

 Hindus believe in a one, all pervasive Supreme Being who is both immanent and
transcendent, both Creator and manifest Reality.

11
Sanskrit word for “wealth” or “property”.
12
Longing and desire, often with a sexual connotation. But the broader concept refers to any wish, passion, and
pleasure of the senses, affection, love or enjoyment of life.
13
Morreall, John and Sonn, Tamara, Myth: All Societies Have Religion: 50 Great Myths of Religion, (USA:
Wiley-Blackwell, 2013), 13.

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 Hindus believe in the divinity of the four Vedas, the world's most ancient scripture, and
venerate the Agamas as equally revealed. These primordial hymns are God's word and the
bedrock of Sanatana Dharma, the eternal religion.
 Hindus believe that the universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and
dissolution.
 Hindus believe in karma, the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his
own destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds.
 Hindus believe that the soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas
have been resolved, and moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth, is attained. Not a
single soul will be deprived of this destiny.
 Hindus believe that divine beings exist in unseen worlds and that temple worship, rituals,
sacraments and personal devotionals create a communion with these devas and Gods.
 Hindus believe that an enlightened master, or sage, is essential to know the Transcendent
Absolute, as are personal discipline, good conduct, purification, pilgrimage, self-inquiry,
meditation and surrender in God.
 Hindus believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and therefore practice ahimsa,
non-injury, in thought, word and deed.
 Hindus believe that no religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others, but that
all genuine paths are facets of God's Light, deserving tolerance and understanding.14

2. Spirituality in Hindu Philosophy: the Sad-Darsanas

Hindu philosophy is classified into six schools of thought, known as Darshanas. Samkhya
philosophy is a strongly dualist theoretical exposition of mind and matter. Yoga philosophy
emphasizes meditation closely based on Samkhya. Nyaya philosophy and Vaisheshika, an
empiricist school of atomism relate to Hindu philosophy. Mimamsa is an anti-ascetic and anti-
mysticism school of orthopraxy, while Vedanta and opposes Vedic ritualism in favour of
mysticism.

In Hindu philosophy, Yoga is the name of one of the six orthodox philosophical schools and
the Yoga philosophical system is intimately associated with the Samkhya School. The Yoga
school as explained by Patanjali concept, it is related to the Samkhya psychology and
metaphysics, but is more theistic than the Samkhya. The Nyaya School is based on the Nyaya
Sutra and was written by Aksapada Gautama.

The Hindu philosophy includes the thoughts of the Upanishads that are referred to as the
Vedanta, the 'end of the Veda'. This is a term which is also used for the theological tradition
developing from them. This immensely rich tradition is so influential that, at a popular level in
the West, 'Vedanta' is taken to be Indian philosophy par excellence. The Vedanta tradition is,
however, divided into two main developments which are both referred to as schools of exegesis
or enquiry (mimamsa). Advaita is probably the most recognized of all Vedanta schools of

14
J.P. Vaswani, Many paths: One Goal, (Pune: Gita publishing house, 2013), 119.

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Hindu philosophy. Three categories of existence, namely Brahman, soul, and matter are
followed by this school of thought. Shuddhadvaita by Vallabhacharya and Achintya Bheda
Abheda by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu were the important thoughts of Hindu philosophy in later
ages.

The most influential school of theology in India has been the Vedanta, exerting enormous
influence on all religious traditions and becoming the central ideology of the Hindu
Renaissance in the nineteenth century. It has become the philosophical paradigm of Hinduism
par excellence. Hindu philosophy with its entire reality, spirituality, theories of creation is one
of the colossal and unlimited areas of cultivation and research for the Indian scholars. The
different schools of thoughts still prevail in different sects of the nation.

“Indian Philosophy is essentially spiritual”.15 It is indeed the intense spirituality of India and
the history of Indian thought which has developed, structured and turned into a part Hindu
belief system. The ultimate truths are truths of spirit, and in the light of them actual life has to
be refined this very crux echoes the spirituality in Hindu philosophy in perhaps the most subtle
way. The very presence of the metaphysical God, ideally unifies with the absolute reality in
Indian philosophy whilst reverberating the aura of spiritualism in the most eloquent way. The
beauty of the Hindu philosophy here gains dimension as it colossally unifies the Metaphysical
God who is the Absolute Reality and the substratum of all existence, with the Personal God
who is the basis of all morality, ethics and the inspiration to lead a meaningful life.

The pride of the Hindu philosophy lies in this magical blend of the concept of reality with that
of the existence of personal God. This immense fusion further crafts Indian philosophy as the
most tolerant religions. The concept of Ishvara is the very core of Indian Philosophy. Ishvara
in Sanskrit means, the Lord. In Indian philosophy therefore Ishvara is reckoned as the ultimate
Ruler, the supreme power and is indeed the preternatural being of the Cosmos:

"The whole of this Universe is pervaded by me in my Un-manifested form (Avyaktamoorti). I

am thus the support of all the manifested existences, but I am not supported by them"16, this
eternal law is the very basis of Indian philosophy and is also the main concept of spiritualism
in Hinduism.

God is the creator, the preserver and the destroyer of the cosmos. He is the divinity and this
very idea is the crux of Indian philosophy. The concept of Brahman in Indian philosophy again
offers a rather spiritual facet to Indian philosophy; as according to Krishna "Into Brahman I
plant the seed giving birth to all living beings."17 Brahman therefore remains as the logo of the

15
Satischandra Chatterjee and Dhirendramohan Datta, An introduction to Indian Philosophy,(New Delhi: Rupa
Publications, 2007), 4
16
Bhagavad-Gita 2:28
17
J.P. Vaswani, Many paths: One Goal, (Pune: Gita publishing house, 2013), 81.

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Divine essence of the cosmos. The reference of Brahman is there also in Mundaka Upanishad,
which structures the base of the Indian philosophy.

This inviolate Truth about spirituality in the form of God or Ishvara is imparted in the
Bhagavada Gita, the Ultimate Literature of Life, as it has been reckoned. In Gita, the words of
Lord Krishna, echoes the authentic aura of spirituality, which delicately defines the Indian
Philosophy as a "spiritual journey". The presence of God as the supreme power, the concept of
"Omnipresence of the Omnipotent" therefore finds a divine dimension amidst the concept of
Indian philosophy. Indian philosophy suggests that all that exists in this universe is the ultimate
manifestation of God. The words of Krishna further support this. As Krishna says:

"I am the original fragrance of earth and the heat of fire. I am the life of all that lives and I am
the penance of all seekers. I am the consciousness of all who have developed their
consciousness. I am the splendor of all which is fine." 18

This is the part where Indian philosophy ultimately offers a definite contour to the term
"Spirituality". As this is when, finally the Ultimate Consciousness is emerged which leads one
towards felicity and towards that eternal bliss. This is the very halo of spiritualism in Indian
philosophy, which finally binds the religiosity and the phantasmal elements with that sheer
thread of tenet and feelings.

3. Spirituality in Christianity

Christian spirituality is generally defined as a set of beliefs, values, and way of life that reflect
the teachings of the Bible, the holy book of Christianity. Many people has been devoted to this
topic, ranging from practical to academic and find many different opinions. But here I am going
to concentrate more on what does the Bible says about spirituality;

First, Christian spirituality is biblically defined as the practice of the beliefs of the Christian
faith. It includes both knowledge and action. James 1:25 notes, for example, "But the one who
looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but
a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." From the earliest writings of the New
Testament, the principle of integrated and authentic faith and action has been taught as essential
to Christian spirituality.

Second, Christian spirituality relies on the power of the Holy Spirit to live according to God's
will. The Holy Spirit serves to lead us into all truth (John 16:13), gives joy (Ephesians 5:18),
and convicts when we sin (Ephesians 4:30). For example, 1 John 1:5-8 teaches, "This is the
message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no
darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and
do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship

18
Bhagavad Gita 7:9.

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with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no
sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." True spirituality depends on the
supernatural power God gives through the Holy Spirit rather than dependence on human
strength.

Third, Christian spirituality is concerned for all of a person's life. Rather than separating
spiritual, physical, financial, social, and other life components into distinct areas, Christian
spirituality is concerned with how all of life connects to our relationship with God. For
example, the use of our finances reflects the attitude of our heart (Matthew 6:21). How we treat
our body reflects our spiritual life in important ways (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Finally, the pursuit of Christian spirituality will result in what the Bible calls the fruit of the
Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). When a
believer lives by the power of God's Spirit, it produces godly qualities as well as brings honour
to God. As Jesus taught, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may
see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Seen
from this perspective, Christian spirituality is for the honour of God, personal maturity, and
serves as a blessing to others, both through the good deeds that take place as well as a heart
attitude that points others to God.

4. Spirituality in Islam

“Spirituality in Islam is more than just a feeling. It is true knowledge of ‘The Source of the
Spirit’, sincere pursuit of Him (Allah), persistent connection with Him and commitment to
loving Him and remaining on His path until The Day we meet Him. So, it is a life journey of
growth, sincerity, and commitment to The Creator (The Source of the spirit), not a fleeting
moment of excitement or spiritual boost.”19

Worship in Islam is that pursuit of spiritual health and growth beyond the material
existence. God, knowing how important this is to our spiritual health and also knowing how
distracted by the material world we can get (He’s the Creator and All-Knowing after all), has
directed us to the five pillars of religion to refocus our lives, our energies, and our love toward
Him. All of this is echoed in the testimony of faith- There is no god but God and Muhammad
is His messenger. God is our Source, the source of guidance, love, peace, and contentment.
And every pursuit should be done in an effort to draw nearer to Him.

Spirituality is the direct result of the kind of intellectual development that takes place
when a believer ponders over the Creator and His creation. The distinguishing feature of
the wise people described in the Quran is that, they continuously derive such sustenance from

19
Hazrat Mizra Ghulam Ahmad, Philosophy of the teachings of Islam”, (Kerala:Islam international
Publications, 2013), 24.

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their environment, thus maintaining their intellectual and spiritual well-being. This is
elaborated upon in the Quran as follows:

“In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the succession of night and day, there are
signs for men of understanding; those that remember God when standing, sitting, and lying
down, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth (saying): ‘Lord, You have not
created these in vain. Glory be to You! Save us from the torment of the fire, Lord.”20

If materialism is to live a life of limitations, spirituality is to live in limitlessness. God

created a perfect and complete world as an eternal abode for Man. Then, He wanted to know
who was worthy of inhabiting that eternal world. For this purpose, He created the time-bound
and imperfect abode in which we are now living. This life, therefore, is only a test. Man is
constantly under the observation of his Lord. With every utterance and movement, Man is
writing his own eternal destiny. One who, during his pre-death period proves himself through
his conduct deserving of that world will, in his post-death period, be rewarded with admission
into it.

Criterion of Spiritual Development: In Islam, spiritual development is synonymous with

nearness to God. Similarly, he will not be able to get near to God if he is lazy and disobedient.
And distance from God signifies, in Islam, the spiritual fall and decay of man. From the Islamic
point of view, therefore, the sphere of activity of the religious man and the secular man is the
same. “A secular person will be indifferent towards God and will be guided in his actions only
by his personal motives. This difference makes the whole of the material life of a man of
religion a totally spiritual venture, and the whole of the life of a secular person an existence
devoid of the spark of spirituality.”21

5. Spirituality in Buddhism

Buddhism is a path of practice and spiritual development leading to insight into the true nature
of life. It has its origins about 2,500 years ago. The word comes from 'budhi’ - to awaken. Its
philosophy is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gotama, known as the Buddha.22

Because Buddhism does not include the idea of worshipping a creator god, some people do not
see it as a religion. The basic tenets of Buddhist teaching are straightforward and practical:
nothing is fixed or permanent; actions have consequences; change is possible. Thus Buddhism
addresses itself to all people irrespective of race, nationality, or gender. Buddhist practices such
as meditation are means of changing oneself in order to develop the qualities of awareness,
kindness, and wisdom.

20
The Quran 3: 191
21
Hazrat Mizra Ghulam Ahmad, Philosophy of the teachings of Islam, (Kerala: Islam international Publications,
2013), 27.
22
P.S. Daniel, David C. Scott and G.R. Singh, Religious Traditions of India, (Delhi: ISPCK, 2018), 198.

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The path to Enlightenment is through the practice and development of morality, meditation and
wisdom. Buddhists believe that life is both endless and subject to impermanence, suffering and
uncertainty. Existence is endless because individuals are reincarnated over and over again,
experiencing suffering throughout many lives. It is impermanent because no state, good or bad,
lasts forever. Our mistaken belief that things can last is a chief cause of suffering.

Buddhist spirituality is concerned with the end of suffering through the enlightened
understanding of reality. The holy life in Buddhism begins and ends in practice, not belief and
doctrine. Seeking answers to unanswerable questions diverts precious time and energy away
from the real of heart of spirituality: the quest of wisdom and compassion. Buddhist spiritual
practice (the noble paths or truths), therefore, is a matter of training: learning and acting to be
the persons we truly are. The Noble Path comprises eight interrelated disciplines that are
simultaneously pursued by the aspirant. Each discipline is intended as a guide for helping us to
recover our essential natures. The first aspect of Buddhist discipline is moral behaviour,
Morality is understood to be rooted in our very natures as persons. We ought to act in a moral
way because it is in our essential natures to be compassionate.

In Buddhism, the first element in moral practice is wholesome action, which is epitomized in
the Five Precepts, vows taken by all followers of the Buddha's teachings, whether ordained or
lay. The other aspects of moral practice in Buddhist spirituality follow the principles
established by the discipline of wholesome action. Just as self-centred habits obscure the basic
compassion of the human heart, deluded patterns of thinking hinder our ability to understand
the world.

The four disciplines of wholesome concentration, wholesome mindfulness, wholesome

thinking, and wholesome understanding are ways of restraining the mind and harnessing its
considerable powers for the benefit of others and ourselves. Meditation and meditative
awareness creates the space for insight and clarity to occur. The thoughts of a clear mind are
free of attachment, hatred, and confusion; the thoughts of an insightful mind are compassionate
and selfless. Such thoughts constitute wholesome thinking.

Considering all other religions a person considers a thing he needs to be of importance; he does
not give importance to other things. The same is true with Spirituality in religious life. We
realize the importance of spirituality in religious life only when we require it. A person who
does not require it says, “I am content with my family and worldly life. What will I achieve by
chanting God’s Name, meditating and undergoing suffering? Besides, I cannot find the time to
spare for it too.” However, once the importance of Spirituality in religious life is understood
intellectually, a firm resolve to attain Final Liberation in this very birth is made mentally and
the effort to attain the liberation is commenced.

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VI. Conclusion

Everyone, even atheists, have had experiences in which they feel some sort of connection to
the world around them, be it through scientific ideas, nature, or God. My personal belief is that
what the religious call ‘God’ is this universal consciousness that everyone is aware of on some
level. But even to those who don't agree on that point, it can still fit within their belief system.
I'll take Christianity as an example because I'm more familiar with its teachings than anything
else. Christians believe that God loves everyone and reaches out to everyone to bring them to
Him. If God is the omnipotent being He is reputed to be, why He could not be reaching out to
me in a way that I am willing to accept. If He wanted me to follow the Christian, Muslim,
Buddhist, Hinduism, etc. He would guide me to them. But I can connect with Him most
effectively in the way that I started to describe above. Who then, can tell me that my path is
wrong, when I think your God has led me to it himself? I think the God of every religion and
non-religion is proven all the more powerful when He can come to us on a personal level and
know what we need and provide it both spiritual and material.

All the religions of the world are based on certain common beliefs like carrying for the
humanity, human improvement, sharing for others, social upbringing, etc. However, if we
assume that all the religions of the world are same then we can say that there would be no need
for sectarian violence. People in the modern era and even in ancient times use to say that my
religion is better than you which actually depicts a scenario that my way of life and my culture
is better than yours. Such situations the study of spirituality is needed and it can bring a
conclusion that many paths one goal. However, different strategists and analysts are
considering the fact that people belong to different races, cultures and traditions are
appropriately different from each other that is the reason why it cannot be said that these
religions of the world are appropriately the same.

Thus, spirituality is all about showing respect to all living beings, animals, trees, rocks and
even water and lead a positive and healthy life. It is believed that the supreme Creator has put
each one of us in this world for a purpose and that purpose is to be compassionate, caring and
loving to one another. As mentioned earlier, the great Indian spiritual personalities and gurus
have played an important role in spreading the message of love, care and the need for positive
living all over the world.

All the religious texts are gave more emphasis on love each other. Jesus is very clear about
love and humanity in His teachings “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and
with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a
second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments
hang all the law and the prophets.”23 The Islam says that “Serve Allah, and join not any partners
with Him; and do good- to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are near,
neighbours who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer (ye meet), and what

23
The Holy Bible, Matthew 22:37-40.

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your right hands possess: For Allah loved not the arrogant, the vainglorious.”24 The Sunni
Muslim also gives us a clear picture that, this one is basically the Golden Rule - “None of you
has faith until he loves for his brother or his neighbour what he loves for himself.”25

Humility is a big thing in any religious tradition, theist or not. For example, take Theravada
Buddhists. They don’t believe in God, and there’s an enormous reliance on one’s self as the
transformative agent as the one who achieves nirvana. That’s the ultimate end; while we search
to be in union with God, they search for nirvana. Therefore, for Theravada Buddhists, humility
is the recognition that there is no self. Anything they want to attach themselves to or identify
with; it all comes down to that lack of self. For Christians, on the other hand, humility is seeking
to encounter a living, personal God. That God is so overwhelming that our soul recognizes its
dependence on God and the fact that we have meaning only in God.

“Truth is one; sages call it by various names,”26 the Rig Veda, one of Vedanta’s most ancient
texts, declared thousands of years ago. Truth is one, but it comes filtered through the limited
human mind. That mind lives in a particular culture, has its own experience of the world and
lives at a particular point in history. The infinite Reality is thus processed through the
limitations of space, time, causation, and is further processed through the confines of human
understanding and language. Manifestations of truth scriptures, sages, and prophets, will
necessarily vary from age to age and from culture to culture. Light, when put through a prism,
appears in various colors when observed from different angles. But the light always remains
the same pure light. The same is true with spiritual truth.

However, there are different philosophers that actually agree with the fact that all the religions
of the world are same because all of them are worshiping the same God but their ideology
towards God is different. The Bhagavad Gita which is considered as the religious scripture of
Hindus states that “Howsoever men may approach me, even so do I accept them; for, on all
sides, whatever path they may choose is mine.”27 The Bible says the same “Everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”28 The Quran also consider the believers in the same
way “O you who believe! Seek assistance through patience and prayer; surely Allah is with the
patient ones.”29 Therefore, through different religious scriptures of the world one can say that
all the religions are quite different from each other as far as the philosophies and beliefs are
concerned. So the religious traditions may differ the love of God towards all humanity is same.
All are equal before the eyes of God the Supreme Being.

William Blake says that “All Religions are One is closely associated with and there is No
Natural Religion.”30 All the religions of the world are based on certain common beliefs like

24
The Holy Quran, Surah An-Nisa 4:36.
25
The Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 2, Hadith 12.
26
Rig Veda Samhita 1.164.46
27
Bhagavad Gita 4:11
28
The Holy Bible, Romans 10:13, Joel 2:32 and Acts 2:21.
29
The Holy Quran, AYAH al-Baqarah 2:153.
30
William Blake, “All Religions are One”,accessed on 9th October 2019, http://www.blakearchive.org/work/aro.

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carrying for the humanity, human improvement, sharing for others, social upbringing, etc.
However, if we assume that all the religions of the world are same then we can say that there
would be no need for sectarian violence. People in the modern era and even in ancient times
use to say that my religion is better than you which actually depicts a scenario that my way of
life and my culture is better than yours. However, different strategists and analysts are
considering the fact that people belong to different races, cultures and traditions are
appropriately different from each other that is the reason why it cannot be said that these
religions of the world are appropriately the same.

Imagine that three people are all touching a part of an elephant. The first is touching the
elephant’s leg and says that the elephant is like the truck of a tree. The second is touching the
elephant’s trunk and disagrees with the first. They think that the trunk is more like a large
snake. The third person thinks that the elephant is more like a great wall because they are
toughing the side. Each person is convinced that they are right and the others are wrong because
of what they know and have experienced. What they don’t realize is that they are all technically
right because they are each describing a different aspect of the elephant. The same analogy can
be applied to the major religions of the world.

Therefore, through different religious scriptures of the world one can say that all the religions
are quite different from each other as far as the philosophies and beliefs are concerned. I feel
that all religions stem from the same source. Just what the source is, I am not sure. Call it
whatever you wish. We are all also a part of that source. We are one. One human family, one
world, one universe. I want to conclude and prove my standing point with the following
quotations:

"All human beings come from a mother's womb. We are all the same part of one human family.
We should have a clear realization of the oneness of all humanity." "All religions are essentially
the same in their goal of developing a good human heart so that we may become better human
beings."31

“As different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea,”
says an ancient Sanskrit prayer, “so, O Lord, the different paths which people take through
different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.”32

31
J.P. Vaswani, Many paths: One Goal, (Pune: Gita publishing house, 2013), 119.
Swami Vivekananda, “Addresses At The Parliament of Religions - September 11th 1893, accessed on 9th
32

October 2019, https://www.ramakrishna.org/chcgfull.htm

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VII. Bibliography

Vasudev, Jaggi. Essential Wisdom from A Spiritual Master. Bangalore: Jaico Publishing
House, 2008.

Vaswani, J.P. Many paths: One Goal. Pune: Gita publishing house, 2013.

John, Morreall and Sonn Tamara. Myth: All Societies Have Religion: 50 Great Myths of
Religion. USA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.

Chatterjee, Satischandra and Dhirendramohan Datta. An introduction to Indian Philosophy.

New Delhi: Rupa Publications, 2007.

Ghulam, Ahmad Hazrat Mizra. Philosophy of the teachings of Islam. Kerala:Islam

international Publications, 2013.

Daniel, P.S., David C. Scott and G.R. Singh. Religious Traditions of India. Delhi: ISPCK,
2018.

Bouyer, Louis. Introduction to Spirituality. Translated by Mary Ryan. London: Liturgical

Press, 1961.

Cheslyn, Jones. The Study of Spirituality. New York: Oxford University press, 1986.

M, Hiriyanna. The essentials of Indian philosophy. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass

Publishers, 1995.

Mabry Hunter P. A Manual for Reasearchers and Writers. Bangalore: The Board foe
Theological Education, Senate of Serampore, 2018.

Dr. Kumar, Pawan. “Religious Pluralism in Globalised India: A Constitutional Perspective.”

IOSR Humanities and Social Science 3/3 (Sep-Oct. 2012): 3-5.

Dinan, Eck L. “Prospects for Pluralism: Voice and Vision in the Study of Religion.”
American Academy of Religion 75/4 (December 2007): 45-52

Biography of Sri Aurobindo by Tejvan, Pettinger. http//www.biographyonline.net.

(5 October 2019)

Many paths, one truth; many faiths, one God by Lewellen David. https://www.nacc.org.
(5 October 2019)

“Spiritualism in India, anti-superstition”, http://antisuperstition.org/spirituality-in-India

(7October 2019)

Vivekananda, Swami. “Addresses At The Parliament of Religions - September 11th 1893”,

…https://www.ramakrishna.org/chcgfull.htm (9th October 2019)

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