This is a comprehensive discussion on the topic of ‘what is spiritual and what is not’ as part of an ongoing series on the Wisdom of Bhagavad Gita. There are common misconceptions about spirituality. The term ‘spirit’ is used in various contexts and while many things are labeled as spiritual, not everything considered sacred or supernatural is truly spiritual from a Vedic perspective.
For example, there is the common misconception that nature is inherently spiritual, but while nature can influence our state of consciousness positively, it nonetheless remains material energy.
The ancient Vedic understanding is that in this world there are two fundamental energies: material energy (comprised of atoms and particles) and spiritual energy. The spiritual energy is the spiritual being (ātmā – the self or the spirit soul), which is eternal, unchanging, and personal, and temporarily residing within a material body.
The spiritual journey is not to find a better way to enjoy the world with my material covering (body and mind). It is to discover my real spiritual identity, reestablish my lost connection with my source, the Supreme Soul or God, and become immersed in a relationship of love and loving service to the Supremely Lovable God.
Some verses that were quoted:
Yet there is another nature, which is eternal and is transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested matter. It is supreme and is never annihilated. When all in this world is annihilated, that part remains as it is. – Bhagavad-gītā 8.20
Besides this inferior nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is a superior energy of Mine, which are all living entities who are struggling with material nature and are sustaining the universe. – Bhagavad-gītā 7.5
O son of Bharata, as the sun alone illuminates all this universe, so does the living entity, one within the body, illuminate the entire body by consciousness. Bhagavad-gītā 13.34
Here is a link to another talk on the subject, The Nature of the Soul:
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9fAaCDZltU&ab_channel=AcharyaDas
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Bx7hRtWgc/
Acharyadas.com – https://acharyadas.com/the-nature-of-the-soul/
During the talk I mentioned how scientists have categorized the distinctive and observable differences between how matter (the material energy) behaves when influenced by the presence of life (the spiritual being) and when it is not under that influence. The following excerpt is from a book “Who Am I” written by Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda
Matter under the influence of Life
Scientists have enumerated the primary distinctions between matter that’s under the influence of a life particle and matter that’s not under the influence of life.
- The first distinction is that matter that’s influenced by the element life is characterized by metabolism, whereas matter that’s by itself is not.
- The second distinction is that matter under the influence of life is characterized by thermodynamically unstable states, whereas matter by itself is characterized by thermodynamically stable states.
- The third distinction is that matter influenced by the element life grows by an intricate internal construction process involving elaborate chemical transformations, whereas matter by itself grows by a simple accumulation process involving little or no change in molecular structure.
- The fourth distinction is that matter influenced by the element life exhibits a precisely regulated flow of matter, which requires a high level of interaction and organization, whereas no highly organized process or pattern is involved in the flow of matter by itself.
River water flows from the mountains to the sea in a very simple manner, for example, without requiring complex organization. But the flow of matter that is under the influence of the element life is a very regulated flow, displaying a high degree of interaction and organization.
For instance, blood flows through your body in a very organized manner, calling for the cooperation of many different organs and body parts. The heart pumps, thus pushing the blood cells through a network of arteries, veins, and capillaries to supply oxygen to the various parts of the body. The flow is directed by the opening and closing of intricate, strategically placed valves. Obviously, this process is much more complex than the manner in which water flows to the sea or in which a boulder tumbles down a mountainside.
This complex flow of matter occurs even on the cellular level, where internal cell functions are precisely regulated and triggered by the production and release of specific enzymes.
- The fifth distinction is that matter influenced by the element life has the ability to reproduce without loss of pattern or form, whereas matter by itself is incapable of reproduction.
- The sixth distinction is that matter influenced by the element life exhibits an active resistance to changes and to attack, pressure, or force from the outside, whereas matter by itself exhibits only passive resistance.
Matter by itself exhibits only passive resistance. If you attempt to rip something that’s devoid of life, such as the daily newspaper, there will, of course, be some resistance. However, the resistance will be of a passive nature—simply the result of physical laws, not actively initiated by the newspaper.
- The seventh distinction is that matter influenced by the element life is capable of self-induced movement, whereas matter by itself is not.
- The eighth distinction is that matter under the influence of the element life has a high information content, whereas matter by itself has a low information content.
Additional quotes around what is a spiritual person that people may benefit from:
Arjuna said: O Kṛṣṇa, what are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is thus merged in transcendence? How does he speak, and what is his language? How does he sit, and how does he walk? – Bhagavad-gītā 2.54
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O Pārtha, when a man gives up all varieties of desire for sense gratification, which arise from mental concoction, and when his mind, thus purified, finds satisfaction in the self alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness. – Bhagavad-gītā. 2.55
One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind. – Bhagavad-gītā. 2.56
In the material world, one who is unaffected by whatever good or evil he may obtain, neither praising it nor despising it, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge. – Bhagavad-gītā. 2.57
One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws its limbs within the shell, is firmly fixed in perfect consciousness. – Bhagavad-gītā. 2.58
The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness. – Bhagavad-gītā. 2.59
He is a perfect yogī who, by comparison to his own self, sees the true equality of all beings, both in their happiness and distress, O Arjuna! – Bhagavad-gītā 6.32
The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste] . – Bhagavad-gītā 5.18
A person is said to be still further advanced when he regards all—the honest well-wisher, friends and enemies, the envious, the pious, the sinner and those who are indifferent and impartial-with an equal mind. – Bhagavad-gītā 6.9
One who is equal to friends and enemies, who is equipoised in honor and dishonor, heat and cold, happiness and distress, fame and infamy, who is always free from contaminating association, always silent and satisfied with anything, who doesn’t care for any residence, who is fixed in knowledge and who is engaged in loving devotional service—such a person is very dear to Me. – Bhagavad-gītā 12.18-19
