Is Meditation a Spiritual Practice?

Meditation can be part of a spiritual practice. Meditation is a methodology that sensitizes our awareness to subtle energies and helps us develop one-pointedness. It’s a methodology amongst many others like chanting, praying or whirling, all of which also give us access to subtle energies. Moreover, there are many different types of meditation. For example, one can practice silent meditation where eyes are kept closed and attention is focused on the ingoing and outgoing of the breath. One can also practice silent meditation while scanning different sections of the physical body. Other types of meditations involve visualization of images and scenarios one is taking part in, and so forth. These are just a few examples of meditation practices. But overall, meditation is always synonymous with mindfulness where the practitioner attempts to remain present during the length of the practice.

Spirituality however is the larger umbrella under which meditation fits. Spirituality often denotes that larger inner journey, and it’s a journey that one must walk alone. No partner, family member nor best friend can hold our hand as we ascend through the infinite ocean of our being. Spirituality is not a belief. Spirituality is not information that can be gained by reading text books. Even tough there are loads of literary texts worldwide on the subject, the spiritual experience is an experience that comes from one’s active engagement and attempt for connection with one’s subtle or spirit bodies. No one can force us to embark on this journey. No one can walk the journey for us. At best, we may gain inspiration and some guidance from those who have themselves walked the walk. And even then, there isn’t only one walk, or path, or way. There are as many pathways of self discovery as there are explorers.