The book, more than a philosophic endeavour, elaborately and meticulously discusses a vibrant thought – Are You Religious or Spiritual, or Atheist or Secular, or What? – for our deep contemplation and action, and suggests means to address the challenges that crop up in our spiritual life in a simple and lucid style. It is focuses on those persons who seek to learn about and understand the multiple forms of religious or spiritual or secular life. It aims to foster mutual understanding, communication and dialogues between persons having different religious, spiritual and secular orientations, and calls for a peaceful coexistence of people of different world views. In the present world spiritual scenario, it suggests a spiritual alternative of letting go with love and compassion, which is highly appealing. Also it gives an overview of the major religion of the world, keeping in mind both religious and non-religious people and persons from all walks of life. The unique feature of this volume is its down to earth practicality and simplicity in introducing, analysing and guiding its readers when dealt with a complex topic of religion and spirituality. CONTENTS Preface Abbreviations 1. We Are More Than Just a Body, Born to Die 1.1 Atman–Jivatma Concept 1.2 Human Life Cycle Concept 1.3 Lesson from Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs 1.4 Lesson from Srikalahasti Temple 1.5 Purpose of Our Life 1.6 Absolute Reality and Subjective Reality 2. Common Connected Terminologies 2.1 What Is Religion? 2.1.1 Traits/Attributes of Religion 2.1.2 Religiosity and Religiousness 2.1.3 Religion vis-à-vis Philosophy, Superstition and Paranormality 2.1.4 Religion vis-à-vis Mythology and Culture 2.1.5 What Means “To be religious”? 2.2 Faith and Belief 2.2.1 Religious faith 2.3 Atheism and Theism (Nastikata and Astikata) 2.3.1 Religion vis-à-vis Theism and Atheism 2.3.2 What Means “to be Atheist” 2.4 What Is Spirituality (Adhyatmikata in Hindi)? 2.4.1 Traits/Attributes of Spirituality 2.4.2 What Means “to be spiritual”? 2.5 Secular, Secularism and Secularization (Dharmanirapekshata) 2.5.1 Secular Humanism 2.5.2 What Means “to be secular”? 3. Brief Overview of Religions 3.1 God and the Universe 3.2 Evolution of Religions (Why and How of Religions) 3.2.1 Timeline and Flowchart for evolution of religions (When and Who of the religion) 3.3 Christianity 3.4 Islam 3.5 Hinduism 3.6 Buddhism 3.7 Taoism and Confucianism 3.8 Sikhism 3.9 Judaism 3.10 Differences between Abrahamic and Dharmic Religions 3.11 Idea of Religious Unity 3.12 Path of “Being Religious” 4. Spirituality and “Being Spiritual” 4.1 Evolution of Spirituality 4.2 Differences between Religion and Spirituality 4.3 Examples of Spirituality in Religions (Religious Spirituality) 4.4 Domains and Needs of Spirituality 4.5 Why to Practise Spirituality? 4.5.1 Prevention of Soul Exhaustion or Soul Sickness 4.6 How to Practise Spirituality (Paths to Be Spiritual)? 4.6.1 Connect with your spiritual self 4.6.2 Spiritual Practices 4.7 Spiritual Traps and Spiritual Bypassing 4.7.1 Spiritual Invigorator and Spiritual Cleansing 4.7.2 Cleansing of aura 4.8 Spirituality and Mindfulness 4.9 Levels of Spirituality (Stages of Spiritual Growth) and Where Are You? 4.9.1 Body, Mind, Emotion and Spirit Connection 4.10 Types of Spirituality and Spiritual Paths 4.11 How to Know If We Are Spirituality Connected to Someone 4.12 Spirituality at Workplace (Workplace Spirituality) 5. Religion, Spirituality and Secularism 5.1 Religion and Spirituality in Human Being 5.1.1 Division of Spiritual and Religious peoples 5.2 Yuga-Dharma and Spirituality 5.3 Comparison of Spiritual Practices of S&B, SBNR and RBNS 5.4 Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR) 5.4.1 Categorization of SBNR 5.4.2 Problems of being SBNR 5.5 Secular vis-à-vis Religious/Spiritual 5.5.1 Types of seculars/secularism 5.5.2 Living a secular life 5.5.3 Secular life vis-à-vis spiritual life (Secular spirituality) 5.6 Transformation of Faiths (One to Another) 6. What and Where Are “You”? 6.1 Believers of Uncreated Universe 6.2 Believers of Chance-Creation of Universe and Cycle of Universe 6.2.1 Hindu Approach to Cycle of Universe 6.2.2 Scientific Approach to Cycle of Universe 6.2.3 Concept of Inside God and Outside God 6.3 Further Classification of Atheists/Nastikas 6.4 Belief Ovals for “Where Are You”? 7. Spiritual Awakening 7.1 How Do You Know You Are Spiritual? 7.2 What Is Spiritual Awakening (Adhyatmikajagriti)? 7.3 What Causes Spiritual Awakening? 7.4 How to Proceed for Spiritual Awakening? 7.5 How to Know (Signs) You are Spiritually Awakening 7.6 A Few Myths about Spiritual Awakening 7.7 Problems and Challenges in Way of Spiritual Awakening Bibliography