This piece was originally published on Nitesh Gor’s The Questions That Matter. and is republished here with his kind permission.
Wisdom from the Source
“To be ‘spiritual but not religious’ is both attractive and convenient. We hear it a lot on social media, in articles, in conversations. There is a clear human desire for spirituality, but left undefined, the notion can be ambiguous and impractical. Getting clear about this will also help us steer clear of distortions pedalled under the guise of spirituality.
How is it possible to define spiritual without reference to God? ‘Expanding our consciousness’, ‘understanding ourselves better’, ‘understanding our relationship with the world’, ‘self-actualisation’, and other phrases have been offered as possible answers. I like to explain it by saying that religion is a particular practice and belief, whereas spirituality is (hopefully) its essence. Spirituality is also a process, a quest for a transcendental unity amongst all observable diversities.”
Excerpt from Before Religion
When you look beyond the surface of who you think you are—your roles, achievements, and desires—what do you discover about your deeper self, the states of consciousness that nourish you, the attachments that hold you back, and the greater purpose that calls you forward?
You Ask, Nitesh Answers.
How do we avoid suffering through gratitude?
Suffering is, at its core, a response generated by the mind and brain, the faculties through which we experience everything. From a physical perspective, gratitude influences brain chemistry. It can reduce cortisol levels and increase serotonin, leading to a more balanced emotional state. This is the biological response. Gratitude also affects the mind by shifting our perspective. It helps us become less entangled in a situation, allowing us to step back and see it in a broader context. As a result, we suffer less, not because the situation changes, but because our relationship to it does.
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK:
“Our spiritual nature is meant to be unbound, hence the urge within all of us that we are meant for more.” – Nitesh Gor
Nitesh explores the Dharma of Choice through a Vedic framework in his exclusive online event with The Shift Network. Learn more here.
Nitesh Gor is a social entrepreneur, educator, author, and modern-day philosopher recognized for his expertise in Vedic wisdom and its application in leadership, commerce, and education.
Nitesh is the founder of the Avanti schools, which have a unique ethos centered on spiritual insight and a curriculum that includes meditation, yoga, philosophy, and ethics.