The conventional neurology in man is such that it makes one feel that something is missing and that one should reach a superior state that would be satisfying in all aspects. This is because many things in life are uncertain and almost all of them ephemeral. So one projects a permanent state in which one can have unchanging peace and eternal happiness. That is what makes most people turn to religious or spiritual leaders. They remain unaware of the fact that this whole approach is projected from a state of limited awareness. They are also unaware of the fact that the mind is conditioned. Therefore, while they remain hopeful of reaching their goal, they live a tentative life in which the present is sacrificed for the sake of the future. The uneasy state of mind remains. They will feel very disturbed if the self-deception involved in this process is pointed out.The flip side of the above scenario is that some people react to the aforesaid process and become atheists or agnostics giving them a feeling of superiority over the people who pursue a spiritual goal. Their ‘rational’ minds also forget that they can be unaware of many hidden issues of life and that their conditioning can be a severe limiting factor.
Now, if we set aside both the believers and the non-believers, who are we?! Well, we understand that it is good to be aware of the limitations of the mind and not run hither and thither driven by its uneasy state. Self-awareness sets in and there is the willingness to observe life as it is and observe ourselves as we are. There is the humility to let life flow through ourselves and others as it would. Therefore, there is no projection and there is no chasing of a goal. We do see the meaningfulness of setting goals in the practical issues of life; for example, if one senses bright potential in one for being a good engineer, one would join the appropriate college stream and pursue a career in that direction. Otherwise, there would be the eagerness to understand the ‘is-ness’ of life. The mind falls quiet naturally without conforming to some religious or spiritual discipline. There is relaxation in the ‘now’ and so there can be in-depth living in which the present is not sacrificed to the future. In that state, while being very active in our practical lives, we remain in a state of non-action inwardly. There is the possibility of something intrinsically spiritual transpiring from that state because the mind is freed from the ego and its incessant demand to become somebody or to achieve something spiritually.
The above pronouncements are unlikely to make an impact on the majority of people because their religions tell them otherwise or because the above pointers appear to be vacuous. However, there are some who will see meaning in the pointers. They can lead their life in a state of inner freedom. As they are not identified with any group, they will have no need to be at loggerheads with other groups; nor will there be a need to be fanatical as they have no emotional attachment to any system. If you feel drawn to this matter, you will lead a life of natural austerity in which you will have abundant feeling towards all and you will never put your foot across another’s path.
Related matters are discussed in the website http://spirituality.yolasite.com