Can You Be Spiritual Without Religion? A Deep Guide to Inner Awakening

Many of us believe that spirituality becomes complete only when it is connected to religion and rituals. However, the truth is, the core or the foundational essence of spirituality is realising the ultimate truth of oneness with the Supreme; understanding that we are all same and equal at the deepest level of existence. This is a very personal and profound journey that one has to travel by oneself. In fact, to realise the truth of spirituality without the help of ritualistic traditions, one has to look deep within oneself. It is a very beautiful, fulfilling and meaningful journey. Let’s explore how a spiritual life divorced from religious rituals look like.


The truth of existence is the present moment. Past has fallen into the all-consuming fire of perception and future is accessible only through our consciousness. But the present moment is tangible and is perfectly available here and now. Therefore, a spiritual life without rituals has its roots on being in the present. Eckhart Tolle wrote in his influential work on finding inner peace and mindfulness, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment:

“As soon as you honour the present moment, all unhappiness and struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease. When you act out the present-moment awareness, whatever you do becomes imbued with a sense of quality, care, and love - even the most simple action.”

Most of our fears and negativities arise from constantly guiding our thoughts into the past and future. The most precious treasure that we have is Now, the present moment. Once we are totally immersed and rooted in this moment, all the negativities will easily die out. To achieve the same, we can make use of mindfulness meditation techniques. One of the most popular among them is breath meditation. All you have to do is sit in a straight position and focus entirely on your breath. Start with 10-20 minutes per day. Then, gradually increase the duration to 1 hour and more than that. You will begin to experience that you are achieving greater balance and harmony and your mind will start transforming like a sharp sword that can pierce through myths and lies.


Without a single moment of laziness, bees are collecting honey. We can see the nightingale singing harmoniously and trees performing photosynthesis without complaining about anything. They are all performing their duties peacefully without creating any kinds of complexities in this world. A spiritual individual will observe nature; whenever he gets time, he will attempt to dissolve himself into the harmony and balance of the universe.

Keep your phone away for some hours. Go out into the world and sit beside a lake, ocean or forest. Tune into the music of nature. You will begin to realise a deeper sense of oneness with everything. The life force that is working inside every living being is the same. That is, at the core, we are all the same.


A truly spiritual individual will feel the pain of his neighbour as his own. When a homeless grandmother is shivering in cold near the roadside, he won’t be able to sleep comfortably. Empathy makes us truly human and it aligns our soul with the Supreme energy that permeates the entire universe. Therefore, whenever you see a mother, with her little baby in hand, begging for food, don’t turn a blind eye to them. If you have 5 rupees with you, keep 3 for your family and give 2 to that poor mother. These are the moments in which our souls becomes purified. By engaging in these altruistic activitie s, we are subconsciously freeing ourselves from attachments. This is the path towards true freedom.


True spirituality recognises the important role of conscience an individual’s life. The person who is engaging in unlawful activities such as stealing or prostitution, can hide it from the entire world. Nevertheless, he or she has been caught by something that is more important than law, friends or family members. That is, his own conscience. No one can free himself from the purview of his own conscience. Guilt will make him disoriented and insane. Unless and until he creates balance within himself by acknowledging the harm and by doing what’s necessary as repentance, he may not be able to attain true inner peace.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What triggers a spiritual awakening?
   Spiritual awakenings are triggered by major life events such as existential crises or questioning the purpose of existence or gradual shifts from practices like meditation.
2. Can I be spiritual and not religious?
   Yes, you can be spiritual without being religious. It can be done by focusing on personal inner growth and connection to something greater.
3. Can two souls recognize each other?
   A spiritual person has a deep connection to the natural world and deep respect for all beings. He or she will be compassionate, curious, open-hearted, courageous, and kind.