Is spirituality escapism, or the path to true happiness?

Children, people often ask if spirituality isn’t just running away from life. You must understand, real spirituality can never be escapism. Running away is the path of cowards. Spirituality is the path of the brave. It is a science that teaches us how to be strong when facing any crisis and how to always maintain happiness and contentment.

Spirituality helps us to deeply understand life and to maintain the right attitude towards it. Spirituality is perceiving your True Self. It is the search into who we are and what the meaning of life is. Through that, we can understand the nature of the world and its objects.




Currently, we believe that happiness lies in material objects. But if that were the case, then why aren’t we content upon acquiring them? On the contrary, we see a millionaire owning a jet, a boat and a mansion, but still being full of tension and sorrow.

An endless search for happiness

Once, in a village, in two neighbouring huts, lived two families. The head of one of the families saved money and built a good house. Then his neighbour started worrying, “He already owns a house. I’m still living in this hut.”

So, soon, he started struggling to save money. He also borrowed some. In this way, he strove to build a house. As he did so, he would dream of how one day he would happily live in his new house.

When his house was finally finished, he jumped with joy. He invited his relatives and friends for a feast and started living happily in the new house. But after a few months, he became depressed. Someone asked him, “What’s wrong?”

He replied, “Our neighbour has installed air-conditioning in his house and laid a marble floor. My

house is a dump.”

The house that once filled him with joy was now a source of sorrow. This proves that happiness is not located in material objects. In reality, our experience of happiness is dependent upon our mind.

Live in love to truly live

This human life is meant to be born in love, lived in love, and end in love. In truth, pure love has no end; it is eternal and connects every aspect of creation — human beings with each other, Nature, and God. Whether human or animal, it is the power of love that binds a child to its mother and a mother to her child.

The scriptures and Mahātmās of all religions say that God is love. It is also correct to say that love is God. This fundamental principle, when translated into action, is spirituality. That indeed is self-realisation, or liberation. People all over the world say, “I love you.” It seems “love” is trapped between the sense of “I” and “you.” Spiritual practices gradually help us to realise “I am love,” which is the ultimate truth.

Compassion is worship

When we imbibe spirituality, we will be able to see our fellow human beings as our own Self. We will share our extra money with the poor and needy. We will become ready to love and care for others with an open heart. True spiritual attainment is in having the mental strength to face anything and in compassionately serving the world.

Our true nature is the only source of peace that no problem in this world can disturb. Those who have realised that truth know that nothing is separate from them. Seeing supreme consciousness in all living and inert beings, they love and serve one and all. They accept any and every circumstance with equanimity.