The scriptures describe Atma as all-pervading, limitless, formless, and indestructible. Since it is not bound by space, it cannot be confined to any particular form. Yet, while the ultimate reality is formless, the human mind finds it difficult to conceive or appreciate the formless directly. The mind naturally relates to names, forms, symbols, and concrete objects. Therefore, spiritual traditions provide various forms of worship and different manifestations of the Divine to help individuals connect with the higher reality according to their temperament and personality.
This understanding forms the basis of religion. Religion provides a structured set of practices, rituals, disciplines, and values that help an individual connect to God. The very purpose of religion is to assist a seeker in progressing toward the realization of the formless Divine. Different forms of worship exist because different individuals have different inclinations, and these forms serve as aids for preparing and refining the mind.
Seen from this perspective, the statement “I am spiritual but not religious” deserves careful reflection. Religion may be compared to a ladder that helps a seeker climb toward God-realization. Great sages who have reached the highest levels of realization may no longer require the external supports of rituals and practices because they have already attained direct appreciation of the Divine reality. In such cases, transcending ritual has meaning. However, if a person standing on the lower rungs of the ladder rejects religion altogether, the question arises: how will that person ascend the ladder in the first place?
Therefore, the real issue is not whether one is spiritual or religious, but the intention behind the statement. Has one genuinely attained the state where external supports are no longer necessary? Or is the rejection of religion arising from ego, arrogance, impatience, or a belief that rituals are meaningless? These are questions that require honest introspection.
Religion is valuable because it provides practical ways to cultivate the attitudes and values prescribed by the scriptures. Values such as surrender, discipline, detachment, mindfulness, endurance, and devotion are abstract concepts. Religion transforms them into lived experiences through rituals and practices. For example, complete surrender to God is physically expressed through acts such as bowing before the Divine. The external action becomes a means of internalizing a spiritual value.
Many religious practices can be understood in this light. During a yajna or homa, offerings are made with the expression “na mama” — “not mine.” This verbal and physical act helps cultivate detachment and generosity. The accompanying practice of dana (charity) reinforces the attitude of giving rather than clinging to possessions. Thus, a ritual becomes a practical exercise in spiritual growth.
Festivals provide another example. Beyond celebration, they encourage discipline, planning, effort, and presence of mind. People often wake up early, clean their homes, prepare offerings, decorate sacred spaces, and participate in worship. These activities require attention and commitment regardless of one’s mood. They help individuals remain in the present moment rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. Festivals therefore become opportunities to practice discipline and mindfulness.
Chanting serves a similar purpose. When chanting sacred verses, especially those that require careful pronunciation and understanding, the mind becomes focused. Attention is directed toward the words, meaning, and devotional attitude. This reduces mental wandering and cultivates concentration and mindfulness.
Pilgrimages also carry profound significance. Traditionally, they involved physical effort, discomfort, and sacrifice. Such journeys helped cultivate tapas, or disciplined self-effort. Pilgrimages also fostered titiksha, the ability to endure challenges and accept circumstances without excessive complaint. A pilgrim learns to accommodate whatever is available and remains focused on the spiritual objective rather than personal comforts. When viewed in this way, pilgrimages become powerful tools for inner purification rather than merely religious tourism.
The common thread running through these practices is that they help purify and prepare the mind. Religion provides concrete methods for embodying spiritual values. Every ritual, when understood properly, points toward an inner transformation rather than an external performance.
The importance of forms and symbols can also be understood through everyday examples. A national flag is a piece of cloth, yet people salute it because it represents the nation. Military traditions and ceremonies also employ rituals to connect individuals to larger ideals. In the same way, religious symbols and forms help people connect to the Divine. They are not ends in themselves but means of relating to a reality that is otherwise difficult for the mind to grasp.
For this reason, religious practices should not be dismissed as pointless. Instead, they should be approached with inquiry and curiosity. Understanding the purpose behind them reveals how they support spiritual development. This understanding is especially important when guiding younger generations who may question the relevance of rituals and traditions. Rather than demanding blind acceptance, one can explain the values and attitudes being cultivated through these practices.
Religion and spirituality are not necessarily opposing paths. Religion, when properly understood, provides the framework through which spiritual values are practiced and internalized. The rituals, symbols, disciplines, and observances inherited from tradition are intended to prepare the mind to eventually appreciate the formless and limitless reality described by the scriptures. Before rejecting religion in the name of spirituality, it is therefore worth reflecting on whether one has truly transcended the ladder—or simply abandoned the means of climbing it.