'I meditate before I sleep and take a meditative walk'

Kiran Bedi, well known IPS officer.

What does Spirituality mean to you?

Literally, I am recognizing the spirit around, the spirit that connects everyone of us. It is spirit in action, spirit in deed, spirit in thought, the same kind of need that binds each one of us, it is seeing each one of us in each other. Needs of the spirit it is food, shelter, clothing, love, care, compassion, self-esteem, security. These are not only material needs, they are needs of the heart, of the mind, of the body, of the environment. Some of us get drawn to the spirit and deny the spirit around us. I look at both. I do pray within me because I recognize a spark within me, that is why I am alive, but there may be a revival of a spark, which I believe in, having read books like Autobiography of a Yogi, Living of Himalayan Masters, J. Krishnamurti, the Gita and so on, when you listen to discourses, to spiritual music, I do believe there is a spirit within, there is a spirit beyond and a spirit around. It is both individual and around. There is total interconnectedness.

And when you recognize interconnectedness, automatically there is a spirit of non-violence, love for peace, need for harmony, need for mutual respect. Within the limitations of my understanding, spirituality is not one form, it is a pervading feeling and understanding.

Spirituality is the essence of religion. Religion is a format and spirit is the soul.

What is spirituality for you in your day to day life?

It is being aware every moment, am I into that spirit, am I connected to that spirit or not, am I in harmony, am I consuming more than giving, am I being dutiful or a cheat, am I denying or sharing…. All those concepts come in a day to day behavior. I am not in the total stage of surrender where I only give and do not take, but I am conscious that I do not take disproportionably. The moment you share though, it comes back.

Individually, spirituality is at every moment. I do not let negative thoughts enter me. And for positive things, every day I try to nourish myself. I read every day, for instance the Speaking Tree in Times of India, as well as Economic Times’ Spiritual Quotient. So it is every day a new thought, a new development that nourishes me and empowers me. It is about not staying put.

... contd.