What is Spirituality?
“The Spiritual Path is more complicated than the Amazon.”
-Grand Master Choa Kok Sui
If you ask a person whether he or she is a religious person or not, the answer is quite spontaneous (whether it reflects the person’s real level of involvement with his/her religion or whether it is just a socially acceptable answer, is a different matter). However, if you ask the same person whether he/she is a spiritual person, the answer is not quite that “ready-made” and the person would usually give it a moment’s thought before responding. So, what is it about spirituality that gives it this aura of mysticism? What is spirituality?
The meaning of spirituality has been explained in various ways by different gurus. Spirituality might mean different things to different people but these differences are probably superficial. This is sort of like the apparent divorce between science and spirituality. In modern times ,however, the hiatus between the physical sciences and the inner science of spirituality is in the process of being bridged. This is clearly seen as quantum physics and mysticism unite on the same plane and energy healing techniques are gaining ground as being complementary to traditional healing systems. Master Choa Kok Sui’s definition of spirituality as a way of life is simple but speaks of a profound truth.
The Path Less Traveled By
As a person resolves to start walking on the path of spirituality, besides being determined, the person is often filled with feelings of awe and confusion. Our spiritual toils and battles tend to unsettle us and without the right teacher to guide our efforts, we might end up feeling rudderless in an immense ocean. Grand Master Choa Kok Sui made a very important and valid point when he clarified that spirituality is “not just doing meditation”.However, to be able to even connect to the teacher on the same plane, requires a certain level of spiritual development. How does one achieve such evolution? Most spiritual practitioners would speak of how service, meditation and the attainment of stillness in one’s thoughts and actions are steps towards the ultimate goal of spiritual awakening. The question to be asked here, is not “How to become spiritual?”, but rather, “What is spirituality?”. Is it a process or is it the ultimate state of existence that we all seek?
A Journey or a Destination?
Taking a rather diplomatic stance, we can probably say that spirituality is both the process and the goal. Therein lies the circularity of spiritual growth. While complete clarity of thoughts and emotions are pre-requisites for spiritual advancement, in reality, the student is frequently under the sway of strong emotions and is pulled in various directions.This leads to doubt and a student might feel overwhelmed by confusion. However, these are mere tests. While the path of spirituality is not an impossible one to walk on, it is not an easy path either.Your Body is Not the Only Thing that Needs Training
Your emotional body is made to undergo rigorous training. You need to realize that you control your emotions and not the other way round. Mastery over your emotions is the key that unlocks many doors on your spiritual quest.Just as yoga is painful initially but trains you to gain control over your physical body, controlling your emotions too requires great effort and dedicated practice, but is ultimately rewarding. Just like yoga makes your external body strong, flexible and light, learning to rule over your emotional body provides you with inner strength, inner calmness and inner flexibility.
It is a blessing indeed to have Grand Master Choa Kok Sui as a teacher who is intensely loving and kind and watches over his students with great care, always there to guide his students’ spiritual endeavours. He is like the Pole star, ever-constant and always preventing his disciples from getting lost on the vast sea of spirituality.
On your spiritual journey, you are bound to face hurdles and obstacles. All you need to do is to keep calm, remember and follow the simple instructions that have been imparted to you in the Pranic Healing and Arhatic Yoga classes. Even if you aren't a part of the Pranic Healing school yet, you might be spiritual in your own way and it's never too late to start!
Sources: Creative Transformation, The Golden Lotus Sutras on Spiritual Practice by Master Choa Kok Sui The Existence of God is Self-Evident, Second Edition by Master Choa Kok Sui
