There is confusion about religion and spirituality. Religion is not spirituality and spirituality is not religion. Religion teaches a way of life in society. Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism have different paths of teaching. People think that by connecting or conversing with God or by following a certain code of dress they are in religion. Every religion tries to bring peace in the world but they want to do it through their own path. The more they insist on their way the more wars they create. A teacher recently was jailed in Africa because her students wanted to name a toy teddy bear Mohammed and according to Islam you cannot name a teddy bear by the prophet’s name.  Religion doesn’t bring peace despite all the good teachings.

Religion is like a garden that is full of various flowers, most fragrant and a few not so fragrant. As soon as religion starts to brainwash its people they will fight until death for their ideas. Religion’s role is to bring goodness to people only.

Spirituality is the better way because it avoids the pitfall of religious teaching or a way. Spirituality is the pathless path. It takes you on a backward journey into yourself. When you search deep into your being you are spiritual. This focus, not the focus on others or the outside world, into the depth of your soul will lead you to God. This is not a belief; it is a knowing. Being spiritual allows you to blossom. It brings peace to the person and to the world.

The soul, atma, for which there is another word, Parusha, is the light inside of you. It is the force that drives the body. The body cannot be alive without this light no matter if the organs and the senses are still present. The soul or atma can be elevated to mahatma, the great soul and to paramahatma, the expanded soul or consciousness. When this peace is achieved through spirituality you can bring peace to the world. But first be a peaceful person yourself. Don’t try to change others.

Spirituality is the best way of understanding and if the world becomes spiritual peace will prevail. Once you understand spirituality and expand the soul it can travel to other planets because the soul, the light, does not need oxygen to survive. In spirituality the soul will blossom and expand and there will be no differentiation between you and God. Spirituality is blossoming not brainwashing.