Presentation given at MIT, Dartmouth and Other Venues

1. Can you be spiritual without
being religious?
Aravind & Priya
Yoga 24x7 (www.yoga24x7.org)
psuaravind@yahoo.com

2. 72 percent of millennials (18- to 29-
year-olds) said they're "more spiritual
than religious” – a 2009 survey
According to a recent Pew
report, almost 1 in 5 Americans
identify themselves as SBNR
SBNRs have an increasing online
social media presence
Seminaries, churches, mosques and
other institutions will struggle for
survival

3. Who are SBNRs a.k.a ‘Nones’?

4. Have some intuition of something
greater
Have spiritual feelings
Allergic to institutions
They protest scientism/materialism
Tired of having their spiritual natures
squelched or denied
They protest rigid and comatose
religion
Ref: Linda Mercadante, CNN.com article, Author of “Belief Without Borders’

5. Viewpoints For
"I don't need to define myself to any community by putting myself in a
box labeled Baptist, or Catholic, or Muslim.When I die, I believe all
my accounting will be done to God, and that when I enter the eternal
realm, I will not walk though a door with a label on it."
Heather Cariou, a New York City-based author
“I’m SBNR because organized religion inevitably degenerates into
tussles over power, ego and money.”
BJ Gallagher, a Huffington Post blogger
"I had this revelation that I bow to no one, and I've been spiritually a
much happier person,"
Ekim, Muslim-turned Taoist

6. Viewpoints Against
“Being spiritual instead of religious may sound sophisticated, but the choice
may ultimately come down to egotism. Religion is hard. Sometimes it's just too
much work. People don't feel like it. I have better things to do with my time. It's
plain old laziness."
Martin, the Jesuit priest
"Hymn-singing, forms of prayer and worship, teachings about social justice
and forgiveness -- all these things are valuable elements of religious wisdom.
Piecing it together by yourself can be done, but with great difficulty."
Jennifer Walters, dean of religious life at Smith College in Massachusetts
To be spiritual but not religious confines your devotional life to feeling good. If
we have learned one thing about human nature, however, it is that people’s
internal sense of goodness does not always match their behavior. To know
whether your actions are good, a window is a more effective tool than a mirror.
Ask others. Be part of a community. In short, join.
Rabbi David Wolpe

7. So, can you be spiritual without being religious?

8. Krishna’s Bhagavad-Gita could help settle the debate
Let’s start with definitions

9. What is Spirituality?
That which pertains to the spirit or soul (anti-material
living force that animates material bodies and minds)
Spirituality in its fullness includes Supreme Spirit Soul
(God)
Feelings or emotions that stem from the heart (seat of
consciousness) are truly spiritual feelings
So, ‘spiritual’ goes beyond material goodness or feelings
(borne out of the mind)

10. What is Religion Really?
Eternal function of the soul
Sanatana-dharma
The purpose of religion is to
awaken and enhance our love for
God
A truly religious person
abides by ALL of God’s laws

11. Can you be spiritual without being religious?
YES
If ‘being religious’ means you MUST
be part of an institution
One would still need to follow a bonafide process with guidance

12. Can you be spiritual without being religious?
YES
If ‘being religious’ means you have to embrace
‘materialistic theism’ i.e. body-based, irrational,
judgmental, sectarian and divisive ideologies

13. Gita’s View on Materialistic Theism
“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall
deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.”
Bhagavad Gita 18.66

14. Bhagavatam’s View on Materialistic Theism
“Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially
motivated, this Bhagavata Purana propounds the highest truth, which is
understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The
highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all.
Such truth uproots the threefold miseries.”
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.2

15. Can you be spiritual without being religious?
YES
If ‘being religious’ means you have to
immediately come to the highest platform,
otherwise you are useless
Krishna offers both elevator (direct) and staircase (gradual) spirituality

16. “Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and
engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always,
without a doubt.”
Bhagavad Gita 12.8

17. “My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind upon
Me without deviation, then follow the regulative principles of bhakti-yoga.
In this way develop a desire to attain Me.”
Bhagavad Gita 12.9

18. “If you cannot practice the regulations
of bhakti-yoga, then just try to work for
Me, because by working for Me you will
come to the perfect stage.”
Bhagavad Gita 12.10

19. “If, however, you are unable to work in this
consciousness of Me, then try to act giving up all
results of your work and try to be self-situated.”
Bhagavad Gita 12.11

20. “If you cannot take to this practice, then engage yourself in the
cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is
meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the
fruits of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of
mind.”
Bhagavad Gita 12.12

21. Can you be spiritual without being religious?
NO
If ‘being religious’ means following the
REAL RELIGION because at that level
spirituality and religion are inseparable

22. At Yoga 24x7…
We cater to your taste and preference
We fan the spark in you!
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spiritualize
your work
and food
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(office-bearers,
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You can be spiritual
w/ or w/o being religious