FROM THE SPIRITUAL TREE
There is a tree beside my house. I call it the 'Spiritual Tree'. I derive spiritual inspiration from it. A tree is an evergrowing being that was initially a seed possessing the potential of becoming a full-grown tree. A seed takes food from the universe around it and then grows into a tree. The same is true with spirituality, the desire for which is intrinsic to, and an integral part of, the very nature of, every human being. To realize this spirituality, Man must derive spiritual food from the universe around him. A tree converts carbon-dioxide into oxygen; a spiritual person is one who can take positive lessons from negative situations. From this perspective, a tree is an embodiment of a spiritual personality. — Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Spirituality and Applied Spirituality
SPIRITUALITY is not a kind of ecstasy. Rather, it is about the sublimity of character. There are two facets of spirituality: internally, it is positive thinking and externally, it is living in peace.
Spirituality means giving more importance to non-material values than to material values. Spirituality promotes the culture of simple living and high thinking. A person with a simple lifestyle becomes a no-problem person. Someone who develops high thinking becomes a truly selfless person, concerned about the whole of humanity. Clashes between people over conflicting material interests often lead to all manner of inhuman actions. When you go beyond these interests by developing spiritually you will no longer find yourself constantly fighting with others. You will become a healthy member of society, and a society which consists of large numbers of people of this kind is bound to emerge as a peaceful society.
Spirituality is the culture of nature, as it were. Nature demonstrates this spiritual culture in various ways. Take the case of a rose bush.
It is a combination of two opposite parts: flowers and thorns. Both flowers and thorns live together on the branches of the bush. There is no clash between the two. It is this culture that makes a rose bush such a very beautiful scene to behold. This indicates what the better way to live in society is. Man should live in society as a rose bush lives in the wilderness.
Spirituality makes a person a true human being. But this is not enough. A person’s spirituality must be manifested in his surroundings. He must behave with people according to the spiritual norm. He must manifest spiritual values in his dealings with others. In the face of conflict, he must choose peaceful adjustment over confrontation. He must be able to turn negative experiences into positive ones. And so on.
If positive men and women are like spiritual trees, their applied behaviour, or their applied spirituality, makes the society in which they live a spiritual garden. Applied spirituality is the multiplication of spiritual values. Applied spirituality is beneficial to both the spirituallyadvanced person as well as his neighbour. It makes the person a happy person, and his neighbourhood a problem-free society.
Spirituality is a science, the science of mind. It nourishes positive thinking, positive tastes, positive habits, and positive behaviour. A positive person is a blessing for his home, his society and his nation. In secular terms, spirituality is positive thinking. In religious terms, it is divine discipline.
The greatest thing for Man
to aim at in this world is the
nurturing of a noble personality.
Such is the individual considered
desirable by God according to
His creation plan.