How does Spirituality help?

'Spirituality' is not religion, philosophy, not even morals and ethics. It has nothing to do with our mind, intellect, or ego. It transcends all. It is concerned with the 'Self', the Atman, rather than worldly objects, 'an other'. Spiritual journey is a very long inward journey. It involves gradual withdrawal of all the out-going tendencies of- the senses, the mind, the ego, and the intellectual pursuits, and finally turning them inward toward the Self, 'the Atman'. Hence, 'spirituality' concerns with the Atma, adhyatma. The Bhagavad-Gita clarifies these facts well and defines what is adhyatma, adhibhoutika and adhi daivika jnyan.
    How does this spiritual pursuit help the jiva? In what way will the withdrawal from sensuous life help the jiva? This is exactly the problem and the solution that we seek to understand here.

  The Upanishads are of diverse views on this subject and each school of thought and the teacher who follows it has explained this, and often, in a contradictory way. Sage Yajnyavalkya (while explaining this concept to his wife Maitreyi) is of the opinion that one should retreat to forest, take to renunciation. This withdrawal from the worldly life will bring eternal bliss, supreme happiness. All other happiness that one experiences is ephemeral, transient, limited by maya- time, space and causality. However, there are advocates who want that the jiva should not run away from life. Nothing can be achieved from escapism. Mundaka, mandukya, Chhandogya, Katha, Kena and Ishavasya give more details about sadhana. Brahmasutra is the best guide. But, what is the right path, the right path, 'sat-nyas'?
   This is explained in the sacred scriptures. Those who want real happiness, unbounded happiness, eternal happiness that does not depend on external objects or persons (nirupadhika ananda) should take heed from the leaves of scriptures. Let us see some of the scriptures about this.

   First, the agama shastra clarifies the true nature of the jivas, ie the embodied souls, elemental bodies, that depend on air, water, and food obtained from the soil for survival. These elements possess qualities and these qualities are transferred to jivas which depend them. The earth is gross (tamas) and the jiva becomes gross (tamas) eating the food from the gross earth (soil). Hence, it is not expected to be highly sattvik, divine and always dwell in 'sat', the truth,
  The  agama shastra defines the jiva as the one that has imbibed gross qualities. Hence, the jiva has to tell lie, cheat, run after things, that do not exist, and finally end in disillusion. This is a rule than exception. If an honest merchant goes on selling his products at the cost price, he will not be able to make profit. He has to make enough money to pay for transport, wastage, incidental expenses and earn enough for his family maintenance and keep some for the business to run. If he sells at cost price he will not get profit to survive, let alone carry on his trade any more! So also, nobody can sit quiet. People run after wealth (money), name, fame, power, and finally get disillusioned whether succeed or fail in their attempts. Even the wise Purushothama Sri Ramachandra, despite a learned one who studied under Vashishtha and Vishvamitra Rishis, went after a golden deer and we saw what happened to him in the epic Ramayana! So no human is an exception.This drives a sensible man to give up all worldly desires and be happy.

  Hence, it is realized that "giving up worldly desires brings immense happiness. So one should discard worldly pursuits, be happy with his lot, trust in the lord Almighty, be happy and contented. This is wisdom taught by the scriptures.

Second, the Veda and the Upanishads teach us to work for release from the eternal bondage, repeated births and deaths. They clearly state that the earth is made of elements that are subject to change constantly, and create changes moment to moment. So also, the embodied jivatman goes on changing from childhood, youth, finally ole age and death. So transcend time, space, and causality through yoga sadhana and be happy forever! Neither the atman is born nor will it die. Think who you are. You are not the body, not the fickle mind, not the buddhi (that is always perverted thinking of profit and pleasure!) , nor the ego and the person of limited existence in time. Think you are unborn, immortal and eternal- the jivajyoti, the LIGHT.  There is no other Light than the Self.

The scriptures say, "When the five (senses) cease to function (acknowledge/ cognize), together with the mind, and the intellect stirs not-that, they say, is the highest course." [Krishna Yajurveda, Maitra Upa., 6.30. uph, 443]

   "In the world of heaven there is no trace of fear. You, Death, are not there. There one dreads not old age. Thirst and hunger transcended and sorrow over-passed, a man rejoices in the world of heaven." [Krishna Yajurveda, Katha Upa., 1.12. ve, 639]