GIAN KUMAR explains the difference between religion and spirituality

The fundamental teachings of spiritualism enforce a sense of oneness, interconnectedness and interdependence with all that exists in our universe, expounding that no one can exist without the other. What better, nonphysical, alternate healing precept can we hope for to calm and change the chaos and isolation we live in?

Healing the mind by inculcating thoughts of acceptance of all good and bad in meditative awareness improves health by effecting higher levels of calm and improved longevity. It also fosters a society based on truth, morality and virtues, leading to peace and cooperation and unification, rather than separateness.

Essentially, both religion and spiritualism seek love, compassion and togetherness. In the final stages, both merge into one, in unity. However, religion today often preaches insularity and a sense of being separate; while spiritualism demands oneness through self-discovery. Whether we choose both or either, is for us to decide. In religion, we are taught to believe in the God provided to us by birth and community; in spiritualism, we find affinity within ourselves and in all beings as One.

Today, religion and spiritualism are being confused in the name of God. Many spiritual gurus instead of relaying spiritualism’s simplicity are mixing the two. People continue to follow blindly as devotees and continue to live in the same separateness, academically ‘knowing’ the supreme knowledge but minus its experience.

The goal of a guru‘s teachings, in ancient times, was to convert a student into a master. But today, we have become blind followers. Hence, we remain ignorant. Disciples prefer to speak of the various experiences of their gurus in ego-consciousness rather than practising the realistic spiritual methods meant for us. Attaining super-consciousness and God-realisation on a paranormal basis is not the answer. We need to be experientially sound, depending on our own capacity and physical reality by choosing methods suited to our own level of development.

We are responsible for the level of our own consciousness, which might differ entirely from what someone else — a guru for instance, might achieve or deliver as an ideal. Remember that awareness may just be the context in determining ‘who we are’; but today we are not who we will be tomorrow for that depends on the spiritual evolution we experience from one moment to the next.

Gian Kumar


In fact, it is extremely important to have a guru for self-development in practising spiritual upliftment. By following only our own theories, we may easily become the victims of pride and ego with the weaknesses and delusions of materialistic life remaining within. 

When we follow a guru, we do so in humility and gain a deeper understanding of the divine reality within. However, since a true guru is rare, and since it is difficult to discern who a realised guru is, we are usually left with no choice but to self-develop in order to self-experience and realise the fundamental truths of existence. Blessed are the few who actually find a true guru.

What we need today is more of collective common sense, intuitive realism and reasoning in daily life rather than pundits and preachers telling us in their religious style how to live a balanced life encompassing both worldly and spiritual domains. If spiritualism were to take religion over, the world would be a much happier place with higher morals, compassion and ethical values in awareness. 

This is an extract from Know Thyself, Book 1, Unravelling the Mystery of the Mind, Celestial Books, An Imprint of Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd

From childhood, Gian Kumar’s life has been filled with paradoxes which he has struggled to understand. The inherent confusion and dogmas underlying religion gradually impelled him towards spirituality. 

He is the author of three well-known books on spirituality, Know Thyself; Think from the Heart, Love from the Mind; The Ultimate Reality. He lives in New Delhi. 

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