What is the True Aim of Spirituality?

Could it be to discover that the “self” is an illusion?

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

There is no doubt that the spiritual aspect of life is as real and important as the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social parts.

It’s not by chance that organized religion has survived for thousands of years, not to mention the other forms of spirituality practiced since time immemorial. People are drawn to the words, the imagery, the hope, and the beauty of spiritual life.

But, what is it about living a spiritual life that creates such a powerful draw for us? What exactly are we looking for?

For much of my life, I ignored these kinds of questions. I sought all my answers in a kind of rational and scientific approach to life. It’s only recently that I’ve started to notice that something is missing from this out-dated perspective.

Do you ever feel like something is missing? Like there is a truth out there that you don’t know, but you know that if you knew it life would be better? Like the wool has been pulled over your eyes and much of the beauty of life has been hidden from you?

I think it is our blind obsession with the concept of “self” that keeps us from attaining the promises of the spiritual life. It keeps us focused on ourselves and our perceived social status, which distracts us from…