People world over so grossly misunderstood everything relating to spirituality! Meditation (indulgence in yoga) was never about going to a meditation centre or a spiritual retreat. It was also not about attending yoga classes or going to a yoga studio. Nothing of the sort is necessitated on path of pure spirituality.
The word spirituality stems from spirit existing in human beings in their heart. Hinduism calls it a portion of cosmic energy called soul atman. As per Indian spirituality it is presence of soul atman in human body that necessitated journey in human form.
Of its own no soul atman could purify self. All need a medium, a body to work out its karma.
Indulging in spirituality as detailed in Bhagavad Gita when seekers, travelers of spiritual path indulged in contemplation (chintan) on vital issues of life hitherto unexplained, the queries within started dissolving gradually!
From the beginning of life human beings had lot of queries within, still unresolved. These queries did not relate to ephemeral world, the manifest physical life. These queries related to God and his system. Who we were, our relationship with lower forms of life, with God were some of the questions disturbing us all the time.
When we indulged in scriptures we realized, the answers lay there. But indulgence in any scripture, sacred texts demanded contemplation (chintan) on every single aspect of life. Most human beings world over thought indulgence in scriptures increased our knowledge. That was wrong surmise. Jnana wisdom contained in scriptures was meant to remove darkness of ignorance, nothing more.
When we indulged in contemplation (chintan) queries within started dissolving faster! And yoga meditation was all about dissolving queries within. There was never a second purport of indulgence in yoga meditation. The day all queries within dissolved forever, one immediately gains enlightenment… becomes a Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed.
Travelers of spiritual path must initially learn to distinguish religion from spirituality. Religion had nothing to do with God. Just by praying to God we achieved nothing, nor by worship. Spiritual gains are never made that way. The ultimate purpose of human life is reaching god in our lifetime.
Reaching God means becoming a pure soul atman in the cosmic journey of life! If we can annihilate dross karma within a soul atman forever, it reaches state of absolute purity. The whole purpose of indulgence in yoga meditation was negation of karma to zero.
Negation of karma to zero and dissolving all queries within meant the same.
The right path to indulge in spirituality is detailed in Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads (independent spiritual treatises) of Hinduism.
Even spiritual stalwarts like Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed indulged in wisdom of Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads even Vedas to become a pure soul atman.
The spiritual journey starts by dissolving our ego in stages. This is never a day’s job. Reducing desires and wishes in stages we finally overpower five senses and mind.
Furthermore practicing absolute celibacy for 12 years in continuation, we awakened our kundalini spirit fully 100%. This resulted in opening of Sahasra Pushpa (thousand petalled Lotus) existing in brain behind forehead. One immediately gains enlightenment, becoming a bodhi, a Jina… a Mahavira forever.
In nutshell, indulgence in yoga meditation, spiritual journey was all about successfully indulging in contemplation (chintan) to reach state of absolute purity as a soul atman.
Contemplation (chintan) can be realized anywhere even in the confines of home. People having a flourishing yoga retreat, spiritual centre or meditation centre was purely a business venture.
Spirituality was totally aloof from such commercial activities. Journey of spirituality is best conducted by becoming an introvert of the highest order. From six years of age I did that. All the time contemplating on vital issues of life that lay hidden, I had no time to gossip with others.
Until I successfully reached state of self realization in 1993 37 years of age I was a total introvert. The journey within, the true spiritual journey demands all the time we had at our disposal.