Spiritual people look very similar to the common people and hence difficult to be identified. They are usually not dressed in white, blue or ochre dress. They don’t necessarily keep beard or shave their heads. They don’t live in forest, caves or in Himalayas. They live around you but you fail to identify them. You are often deceived by the appearance and get trapped by the cheats who claim to be spiritual people.
However, it is not very difficult to identify the truly spiritual people. You can easily identify spiritual people by the identifying these nine characteristics in their personalities.
- Synergy between Words and Action
The actions of a spiritual person are always in harmony with his words. He speaks only what he truly believes. Most people preach equality, yet they treat themselves as superior to others. While they may ask people to lead a simple life, they themselves live in palatial houses and wear expensive clothes and ornaments. A spiritual person does not say anything which is impractical. He demonstrates the practicability of his principles by following the words spoken by him. - Self-Realization
One has to make a distinction between a scholar and a spiritual person. Any person with good memory can remember each word of a scripture and prove anything by the strength of logic. A scholar always supports his arguments with some reference to others’ studies or scriptures. However, a spiritual person is a self-realized one whose knowledge has emerged from within. Thus he, instead of ‘having knowledge’, has ‘become knowledge’ as his persona has become one with God. Thus his explanations emerge directly from his soul and convince people rather than asking people to get convinced because someone has said so, or something is written in a scripture or some study has proven something. - Peace
A spiritual person is one whose soul has become one with God. Thus he knows the world from a much wider perspective. His mind is at peace like the water in the depth of a sea. He knows that everything that happens in the world has some logic in it. He can know the cause and effect through his intuition. Hence he is always at peace and does not feel disturbed by the mundane things of the world, which are like waves on the surface of an ocean. - Indifference to Physical Appearance
Spirituality is complementary to materialism just like spirit is complementary to body. One who focuses on body alone cannot focus on spirit. So a spiritual person is indifferent to the physical appearance of himself and others. He does not identify a person from his exterior appearance but identifies him from his soul. Hence, if a person wears designer clothes and focuses on being physically attractive, he has least chances of being spiritual. It is no surprise that most spiritual people keep beard which actually covers the physical attractiveness of the body. - Unconditionally Loving
Love is the most important characteristic of a spiritual person. He does not hate anyone including the criminals and terrorists. It may sound weird and impossible to an ordinary man but not to the spiritual person. Just as we all like everything about ourselves including our not-so-perfect body, in the same way, for a spiritual person there is no feeling of ‘other’. So he can identify even with his enemies. - Equality and Justice
God has created everyone equal even though He has given everyone a different role. However, man puts material value on human beings on the basis of demand and supply. For example, the President of a nation is far more valued than the ordinary sweeper because there is only one President and a large number of aspirants. However, it cannot be denied that both are essential for the nation. A spiritual person, on the other hand, never distinguishes people on the basis of their religion, caste, economic status or position in the society as he is able to see everyone with equal-vision. - Devoid of Passion
A spiritual person is never in a hurry as he does not have lust or passion for anything. A man of passion always has to do something; thus he feels restless all the time. However, a spiritual person knows his role in the scheme of things and does what is in the best interest of the world. He is a yogi, who has complete control over his body, senses and mind. In the words of Lord Krishna: “Who sees inaction in action and action in inaction, he is enlightened among men. He is a yogi, he has done all he needs to”. - Humility
A spiritual person is always humble as he sees God in every being and considers every being as the extension of his own self. He knows that he is merely a tool in the hands of God and that he has been sent in this world to perform a particular function. There can never be an element of pride in him. The need for humility was demonstrated by Jesus Himself when he washed the feet of his disciple. - Compassion and Forgiveness
A spiritual man is the most forgiving as he knows that everyone will be judged as per his deeds by God. He never puts himself in the place of God and never judges a person by his own standards. Thus, even if someone has wronged him or wronged other persons, he always seeks forgiveness from God for him. Thus instead of hating a person whose action is not in conformity with his desire or with the scripture, he shows compassion for all. Jesus demonstrated the act of forgiveness when, despite being crucified by the Jews, he sought forgiveness from God for them. He prayed: “Forgive them, Father. They don’t realize what they’re doing.”
Why do you need to identify a spiritual person?
It is wisely said that a man is known by the company he keeps. If you live in the company of materialistic men, you become materialistic and if you live with spiritual people, you tend to be spiritual. In order to live a balanced and fulfilled life, we must learn to become spiritual because man is a spiritual being. Jesus in his first teaching said, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Man suffers pain when he ignores the need of spiritual awakening in him and tries to live on bread alone like any other animal. Everyone can listen to the words of God if he awakens his spiritual self. Thus a less spiritual person must identify and learn the words of God from the people who have evolved higher in their spiritual journey. The nine identifications discussed above can help a person in identifying the truly spiritual person and undertake the journey that is towards God or Spirit. Development of these nine characteristics in self can make a person spiritual and selfless
Spirituality : Spirituality is not the renunciation of life; it is the art of living fully. Spirituality is the path which connects you to yourself and almighty in the purest form. Spirituality is simply the search for Truth. Spirituality looks at the world, then looks at the self, then sees the direct relation between the world and the self and therefore, sees the two as one.
Basically, the urge to seek the purpose of your life which can serve Humanity with the guidance from God is the foundation of Spirituality.
As a matter of fact, God is one and Supreme Soul (point of light present in Soul/Silence world). He is the Father of all souls (Atman or Spirit) in the world. Souls are immortal that come down to earth to play its role in life cycle. Soul (Atman or Spirit) a tiny star, present in the centre of the forehead, can experience a connection with the Supreme Soul by thoughts (i.e. meditation).
Spirituality is the process of finding oneself means knowing oneself or understand ourselves. It is the realization of God in ourselves. In other words, understand that all creatures in the world are evolved out of a same and single energy source, and will to go back to that source of life. The search for that source, the thirst to know and find it, is the journey of Spirituality. Spirituality is knowing we exist for a purpose, and one day we will merge into the divine, leaving everything behind.
So, Spirituality stands for the deep rooted realization where we see God in all objects. Spirituality is the improvement of your connection to God. The meaning and substance to strengthen our relationship with God comes from Spirituality. Spirituality comes from seeking serenity, from prayer and meditation, from recognizing who you are, and by doing what is best for your soul, and from performing good works and deeds.
Without Spirituality, Life is nothing. From thousands of years, Spirituality has been the guiding force behind humanity in Hinduism. Spirituality brings enthusiasm and energy to life.
Spirituality is an important aspect of life. It teaches you to be calm at the time of distress, it teaches you to discriminate between good and evil, it is like a path to devotion to God. It makes you love everyone unconditionally, it makes you feel like you are God’s own child, it is a state of mind where you are closer to God.
A Short Story on Spirituality
In a small village in India, lived a man, in a corner of a village in his hut, who was always happy, kind, and well-disposed to everyone he used to meet. He always smiled, and had kind and encouraging words to say, whenever it was necessary. Everyone who met him, left feeling better, happier and elated. People knew they could count on him, and regarded him as a great friend.
One of the village dwellers was curious to know what his secret was, and how he could always be so kind and helpful. He wondered, how is it that he held no grudge toward anyone, and always was happy.
Once, upon meeting him in the street he asked him: “Most people are selfish and unsatisfied. They do not smile as often as you do; neither are they as helpful or kind as you are. How do you explain it?”
The man smiled at him and replied, “When you make peace with yourself, you can be in peace with the rest of the world. If you can recognize the spirit in yourself, you can recognize the spirit in everyone, and then you find it natural to be kind and well-disposed to all.”
“If your thoughts are under your control, you become strong and firm. The personality is like a robot programmed to do certain tasks. Your habits and thoughts are the tools and programs that control your personality. Become free from being programmed, and then, the inner good and the happiness that reside within you will be revealed.”
“But a lot of work is necessary. Good habits have to be developed. The ability to concentrate and to control the thoughts has to be strengthened. The work is difficult and endless. There are many walls that need to be to climbed. It is not an easy task.” asked the villager again.
“Do not think about the difficulties, otherwise this is what you will see and experience. Just quieten your feelings and thoughts, and try to stay in this peace. Just try to be calm, and do not let yourself be carried away by your thoughts.”
“Is that all?” Asked the villager.
“Try to watch your thoughts and see how they come and go. Stay in the quietness that arises. The moments of peace will be brief at first, but in time they will get longer. This peace is also strength, power, kindness, and love. In time, you will realize that you are one with the Universal Power, and this will lead you to act from a different dimension – point of view -consciousness, not from the selfish, small, limited ego.”
“I will try to remember your words,” said the villager, and continued, “there is another thing that I am curious about. You do not seem to be influenced by the environment. You have a kind word for everyone, and you are helpful. People treat you well, and never exploit your goodness.”
“Being good and being kind do not necessarily point to weakness. When you are good, you can also be strong. People sense your inner strength, and therefore, do not impose on you. When you are strong and calm inside, you help people, because you can, and you want to. You act from strength, not from weakness. Goodness is not a sign of weakness, as some people erroneously think. It can manifest together with power and strength.”
“Thank you very much for your advice and explanations”, said the villager, and went away happy and satisfied.
Aishwarya Says:
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