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Swamiji: Spirituality, in reality, is refined religion. It is more an individual, personal pursuit and enrichment than otherwise. To practice spirituality, in fact, one has to outlive and transcend religion. A spiritual person always looks to his mind, intelligence and ego, to refine and enrich them at every step. It is thus a full-fold, all-time pursuit rather than a piecemeal, time-bound or short-lived one, as religious practices are. Spirituality has the aim of accessing the inner personality and strengthening it at every stage. It does not look to any external factors. By 'spirituality', I mean the kind of wonderful source which encompasses all the powers and potentials that you find manifest in the whole creation surrounding you.
Who is a spiritual man?
One who is able to live and interact with this world harmoniously, with sufficient integration, without finding any interaction troublesome, tormenting or producing imbalance or tension? The Spirit is superior to matter. The mighty literature of this land is pivoted on this unique concept of 'The Power Within', which is also the Power behind the entire creation. All the scriptures sing in unison the supremacy of this Invisible Presence.
When we analyze our lives, we find that to live a life of fulfillment there must be two basic abilities. One is involvemental in nature. We have to go ahead in life, getting involved in whatever is necessary from time to time. For this, we must have the necessary attitude, inspiration and compulsion. We must be ready to take up whatever we are expected to do and get involved in it with full dedication and sincerity.
The other is the ability and readiness to withdraw from any involvement and remain peaceful and quiet. Whatever comes or goes, the march of life cannot stop. So, to keep the stability and peace, often the mind will require withdrawal. We must be able to do both, easily and harmoniously. Then alone, we can hope to live a life of fulfillment and peace. And such a life will also be beneficial to the world at large.
To live a good and effective life, you will need clear direction and guidance from time to time. Whenever there is a doubt, look into your own heart. I am using the word 'heart' to distinguish it from 'mind'. It is the mind that produces confusions and doubts. Look into a level much deeper than the so-called mind. Look deep within and from there seek or demand whatever direction or clarity you want.
I said the other day: "When the summer becomes very severe, sometimes the well goes dry. What do we do? We deepen the well and get a little more water." Similarly, you have to dig a little deeper and find out loftier dimensions from your mind. Understand that the mind has got enormous dimensions. Never feel defeated. Never be subdued by fear. Always have confidence. Even when no help is forthcoming from anywhere outside, and you feel deserted, some invisible help will come, deliver the redress, and disappear in the same manner as it appeared!
You may wonder how this happens. Has not the entire world come to be like this? The whole visible universe has come from nowhere and nothing. Yes, from nowhere and nothing all these things have manifested. So, when the necessity arises, an invisible process can result in a visible help and it can also disappear. Understand this well.
The mind has got great power. With the mind alone you can commune with the invisible, because the mind itself is resting on the invisible Self. Never fail to recognize this great potency of the mind. We call it mind, but actually it is a projection or expression of the Self, the Supreme Reality, which has created and is preserving this great endless Universe. It is not a small wonder. Man is great because he has such a greatly potent mind.
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