I come from a very religious family, and yet that path didn’t speak to me at all. When spirituality entered my life, I was hooked.
My faith no longer felt like a set of empty rituals – it became a safe haven for me to reconnect with the deepest parts of myself, heal my deepest traumas, and rediscover who I am.
In this post, I’ll share the simple yet profound difference between religion and spirituality that made all of this possible.
Table of Contents
What is Religion
Religion is an organized set of beliefs, symbols, and practices.
Most, if not all, world religions began with an enlightened master. This master, in the form of Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna, Guru Nanak, etc., took birth and shared a way to overcome human suffering and live a pious, peaceful and happy life.
When these masters passed away, it was the responsibility of their disciples to carry their teachings forward. Their teachings were systemized and organized into what we now know as Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, etc.
All world religions have a long history. Over time, without the loving care and guidance of the master, the devotion that gave their practices juice eroded away, leaving a set of empty rituals and symbols.
What is Spirituality
Similar to religion, spirituality is widely misunderstood – it has become synonymous to tarot cards, crystals, and smudging.
Authentic spirituality, on the other hand, is a return to simplicity and the juice of religion.
It’s breaking the mould of society, getting back in touch with your innermost Self and allowing the innocence, love and purity of this version of you to shine out into the world.
Over time, just like religion has strayed from its roots, you have picked up self-limiting beliefs, deep stresses and defense mechanisms to protect yourself and keep your heart hidden away from the world.
The persona you share with the world is not who you are; rather, it’s a reflection of what society expects you to be.
Returning to your authentic self is spirituality.
The Difference between Religion and Spirituality
The difference between religion and spirituality, then, is this: religion is the outer set of practices and beliefs that guide you to the inner connection to yourself, which is spirituality.
My guru says religion is the skin of the banana while spirituality is the actual banana. The misery in our world is because we throw away the banana while holding onto the dry skin. We perform the rituals and follow the guidelines outlined by our religions but we don’t nurture deep connection with ourselves.
Both religion and spirituality are two different aspects of the same path that will take you to ultimate peace, wisdom, and fulfillment.
How to Choose your Path
The key to choosing your path does not lie in the difference between religion and spirituality. Rather, it lies in your heart.
Raising your level of consciousness, tuning in to your intuition, and becoming aware of what feels right will lead you to your path.
The outer world cannot give you the answers you seek. They can only come from within.
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