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Spirituality for Beginners

Swami Vivekananda once said, "Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity. " For someone who has no spiritual or religious background, or perhaps does not even believe in God, is it still possible to manifest this divinity?

 

What may come as a surprise to some is that you do not need to believe in God to find spirituality. Some ancient cultures did not worship a god, and many Eastern cultures are spiritual yet do not believe in a god. God is a very personal concept. Some people imagine God as portrayed in Hollywood, as a grandfatherly figure with a deep voice, white hair and beard, who is constantly monitoring our every move so that he can judge us in the end.

 

When Albert Einstein was asked whether he believed or not in God, he is said to have answered, “first define God and I will tell you if I believe it or not.” So yes, even if someone does not believe Hollywood’s version of a personal God with human features, chances are they feel that there is something immensely larger and more powerful than us out there, and that there is more to human life than eating, procreating, sleeping, aging and dying. It is the moment that such thoughts enter the mind that the spiritual journey begins.

 

There are countless ways to seek the divinity within us, but it can be summarized in one of four paths. Someone may choose one, two, three, or all four of these paths simultaneously, depending on their tendencies. The first is Bhakti yoga, or the path of devotion. In performing rituals, worshipping, singing and dancing, or by following a religion, one attempts to achieve the highest state of consciousness. The second is Jnana yoga, the path of knowledge. The Jnana yogi reads books, attends seminars, and studies with higher beings to achieve enlightenment thorugh knowledge. 

 

The third path is Karma yoga, the path of action. One who follows this path attempts to achieve the highest state though selfless service to others. And finally, there is Raja yoga, which is translated as "royal yoga" or "yoga of the kings." A Raja yogi follows the 8 limbs of yoga, starting with moral codes, then physical postures known as asana, breath control and meditation. 

 

Whether it is with Judeo-Christian religions, Buddhism, shamanism or other spiritual practices, most have exoteric teachings which are open to the general public and esoteric teachings which are intended for the mystics. Beginners usually start with the exoteric teachings, and some people are satisfied spending their whole life at this level. It is a level where religious dogma, separatism, hypocrisy, intolerance and hatred can show their ugly faces. The esoteric level is where all teachings meet. It explains that no matter what path we walk or what word we choose to refer to the Divine, we are all on a journey to reach the same destination.

 

For the spiritual beginner, it does not really matter what path you choose, as long as it is one that your heart has chosen. But it is important not to get too comfortable there. Seek a path that does not preach superiority of their teachings or intolerance for the teachings of others. Seek a path that will take you where all other paths eventually converge. Seek the path of Truth. 

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