What the terms spirituality and religion connote exactly and how these two intrinsically interwoven with each other and how useful these two for the overall development of a student are being explained in simple terms here.
"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."
"Spirituality also relates to the process of developing beliefs around the meaning of life and connection with others."
"Spirituality gives us the ability to discern between what is right and what is wrong."
"Spirituality is doing what is right regardless of what you are told. Religion is doing what you are told regardless of what is right."
Divinity is in you, as it is in me. We should learn to honour the "God" or "Supreme Holy" in all of us. Spirituality shows us that we are not separate entities, there are no borders, no races and no cultural divides. We are all one with the only constant "Love".
"Religion separates whereas spirituality unites."
In the present day world we see that there are many religions which preach us that their story is the right story. Spirituality tries to see the truth in all of them and unites them because the truth is same for all of us despite of our differences and uniqueness.
"Religion tells you the truth whereas spirituality lets you to discover it."
Instead of age-old stories about angels and gods, spirituality encourages you to make your own path and create your own stories. This sets on a journey of enlightenment.
All religions are usually having different rituals and teachings. For instance, Hindu religion as a whole follow a wide range of religious and spiritual beliefs. Similarly Christianity and Muslim religions follow their own religious practices. If you look at a religion, it all stems from a deep spirituality. Jesus and Prophet Mohammed for example all had deeply profound spiritual journeys before they embarked on their own journeys. Learning about the various religious practices will help you to become more understanding and more respectful of people who hold beliefs that differ from your own. A person should never clash with another over religious or spiritual beliefs. Both religious and spiritual differences have been used over time to discriminate the people among themselves.
In this context, let us all know about the 2 towns which exists in India. The first one is Port Blair, a small town situated in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. After India became independent in the year 1947 all the British people left India. Many men and women who were taken as war prisoners to Andaman earlier to 1947 were stranded there without any transportation to main land India. They had decided to stay back and live there as they do not know about the well being of their family members in main land India. The men and women became husbands and wives and started living there in Andaman as independent families. In this way the town of Port Blair is now having families consisting of its members from different States of India and from different religions. Now all the families together are known as "Mini India" and most of them left their religious practices. As time passes, their children know nothing about religion and spirituality. Just as a casual tourist they visit any religious place in the main land India even now.
The second town which is devoid of any religion and spirituality is known by name as Auroville. This town was established in the year 1968 due to a supreme vision of Mirra Alfassa, The Mother, from Sri Aurobindo Ashram at Puducherry. Auroville , the City of Dawn, is located in south India, mostly in the State of Tamil Nadu with some parts in the Union Territory of Puducherry. Auroville is an International township where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity in diversity. Auroville had drawn various people to it. The people of Auroville are from some 50 countries, from all social classes, backgrounds, cultures and religions representing humanity as a whole. The population of this township is growing and currently stands at 2500 people. Auroville belongs to nobody in particular. Auroville belongs to humanity as a whole. Auroville is not meant to be a place for a new religion, or where religion is practiced. Spirituality, for them, meant something personal that varied from one individual to another, something that must always be renewed and expanded and re-examined, as opposed to religion, which often becomes calcified, stagnant and dogmatic.
A few more important places in India where people of all religions and faiths visit are briefed here. One such place is known by name Ajmer situated in the State of Rajasthan. The Ajmer Sharif Dargah is a Sufi shrine (Dargah) of sufi saint, Moniuddin Chishti and his grave (Maqbara) is placed here. It is being visited by lakhs of devout pilgrims of all castes and religions from all over the world. They offer free food, flowers or chadar and the like here.
Another place is known by name as Bara Shaheed Dargah. It is located in Nellore in the State of Andhra Pradesh in India. The name of this shrine literally means "shrine of twelve martyrs". A festival known as Rottiyam ki Eid or bread festival is celebrated every year in the month of Muharram. Many pilgrims irrespective of their caste or religion visit this place and exchange bread with others during the festival time.
Another place known as Nizamuddin Dargah is located in Delhi. This shrine is visited by people of all faiths throughout the year. The sufi saint Nizamuddin gave importance to the unity of mankind and shunned distinctions based on social, economic and religious status.
It is often heard that not every person or student is having any spiritual or religious beliefs, and that's fine. But all need to be "being informed". The initial way a student can begin to respect different forms of spirituality is to learn about them. This can be done in the methods such as
- read books about spirituality,
- go to talks and presentations on different forms of spirituality, and
- talk to people who are well versed with various spiritual practices and ask them about their experiences.
A student should learn
- what makes someone 'spiritual' or 'religious' and
- how "being spiritual" differs from "being religious".
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