Buddhism, too, propagates that earthly desires lead to enlightenment. Your struggles, needs and frustrations are mere catalysts that help you attain spiritual enlightenment. A Mahayana scripture of the Lotus Sutra says that desires are an essential part of life, and if used correctly, they can fuel your inner strength and liberate you from the sufferings caused by them. In short, earthly desires and spirituality can coexist in life.
Walking the path to spirituality can be as simple as learning to love oneself and the world around; discovering our life purpose; overcoming our fears and unleashing our full potential. To some, spirituality may be equal to becoming mindful, living in the present, going for a walk, listening to music or taking care of their wellbeing. To others, it may be about surrendering to nature, God, a higher power, or discovering their true self.
Spirituality could mean different things to different people. It doesn’t require one to renounce the world or choose a path of suffering. In his blog, spiritual guru, Osho writes, “Your life is already layers of suffering upon suffering—you need not go in search of it.”
Life, in itself, is a training ground for our spiritual growth. With every curveball life throws at you, you come one step closer to becoming stronger and fearless; with every mistake you make, you get one step closer to discovering what’s right; with every companionship and relationship you forge, you discover more about yourselves. Each one of these has the potential to become a spiritual experience, depending on your attitude towards life. In the modern age, spirituality is undergoing a renaissance. It demystifies the ancient tradition of asceticism and upholds spirituality as an integral part of the chaos of life that seeks a little more—more happiness, more love, more peace and more calm.