Knowing Ourselves, Recognising the Divine: The True Purpose of Spiritual Practices
My most profound realisation during my time in the Ashram was this: We do not do spiritual practices to come to know the divine, we do them to come to know ourselves, and in ourselves recognise the divine.
At the heart of every spiritual practice lies a singular truth: the journey inward is the journey to the divine. Whether we call it enlightenment, self-realisation, or union with the universe, spirituality ultimately guides us back to ourselves. It is through this inward exploration that we come to recognise the divine — not as something separate or distant, but as an inherent part of who we are.
But why do we need spiritual practices to reach this realisation? Why is it so hard to see that the divine resides within us? In a world obsessed with the external, spiritual practices provide the tools and pathways for rediscovering the truth that has always been within us: we are, and always have been, both human and divine.
The Search for Meaning: Why We Turn to Spiritual Practices
Human beings have an innate yearning for connection and meaning. We look to the stars, the scriptures, or the stories passed down through generations for answers to life’s most profound questions: Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose? Yet, for all the wisdom we seek externally, the most transformative answers come when we turn inward.
Modern life often pulls us away from this inward journey. We live in a world of distractions — phones that ping endlessly, careers that demand our attention, and societal expectations that shape how we think and behave. We are constantly busy, which provides the perfect excuse to never journey inward.
Spiritual practices offer a counterbalance. They invite us to slow down, to listen, and to reconnect with the deeper parts of ourselves that we often ignore.
The Purpose of Spiritual Practices: Knowing Ourselves Deeply
Spiritual practices are not about performing rituals or adhering to rigid rules. They are about creating space — space to observe, reflect, and experience the vastness within. At their core, they help us achieve two profound goals:
1. Self-Knowledge
The ancient directive “Know thyself” has been central to spiritual teachings across cultures and eras. Spiritual practices provide the tools to peel back the layers of identity, conditioning, and ego that obscure our true essence. They help us move beyond the surface-level roles we play — parent, partner, professional — and reconnect with the core of who we are.
Through practices like meditation, journaling, or breathwork, we begin to notice patterns in our thoughts and behaviors. We confront our fears, acknowledge our desires, and make peace with our pain. In doing so, we strip away the illusions of the ego and begin to experience ourselves as we truly are: vast, infinite, and whole.
2. Recognising the Divine Within
Many spiritual traditions teach that the divine is not “out there” in some faraway heaven, but within each of us. Whether you call it the soul, the higher self, or simply the spark of life, this inner divinity connects us to all that is. Spiritual practices help us recognise this truth — not intellectually, but experientially.
When we meditate, for example, we often encounter moments of stillness where the boundaries between self and other dissolve. In these moments, we feel a profound sense of unity, as though we are not just connected to the universe but are the universe. This is the divine within — a presence that is not separate from us but is the very essence of who we are.
The Tools for the Journey: Spiritual Practices That Lead Us Inward
Different traditions offer different paths, but all spiritual practices share the common goal of helping us know ourselves deeply and recognise our divine nature. Here are some of the most powerful practices and how they guide us on this journey:
1. Meditation: The Gateway to Inner Stillness
Meditation is perhaps the most universal spiritual practice, transcending religious and cultural boundaries. By quieting the mind, we create space to observe our thoughts, emotions, and sensations without judgment. Over time, this practice helps us move beyond the chatter of the ego and connect with the deeper layers of our being.
In this stillness, we often experience moments of profound clarity — a sense that we are more than our thoughts and more than our bodies. These glimpses of the divine remind us that at our core, we are pure awareness, untouched by the chaos of the external world.
2. Journaling: Writing Your Way to Truth
Writing is a powerful tool for self-discovery. When we put pen to paper, we bypass the filters of the conscious mind and allow the deeper truths within us to surface. Journaling can help us uncover hidden fears, unacknowledged desires, and forgotten dreams.
More than just a tool for self-reflection, journaling can also be a spiritual practice when approached with intention. By asking questions like What am I feeling? What do I truly want? What am I grateful for?, we begin to access the deeper wisdom within us — a wisdom that often feels like it comes from a place beyond the self.
3. Breathwork: Connecting to the Life Force
The breath is our most direct link to life itself. In many spiritual traditions, it is seen as a bridge between the physical and the divine. Practices like pranayama (yogic breathing) or conscious connected breathing help us harness the power of the breath to access altered states of consciousness, release emotional blockages, and connect with the divine within.
Breathwork reminds us of the simplicity of our divine nature. Every inhale and exhale becomes a reminder that we are alive, present, and inherently connected to the flow of life.
4. Nature Connection: Finding the Divine in the World Around Us
For many, spirituality is most accessible in nature. The rustle of leaves, the crash of waves, the vastness of the sky — these natural elements awaken something primal within us. They remind us of the interconnectedness of all things and our place within the larger web of life.
Spending time in nature can be a spiritual practice in itself, especially when done mindfully. By observing the beauty and harmony of the natural world, we begin to see reflections of the divine — not just around us, but within us.
5. Service: The Divine in Action
Recognising the divine within ourselves naturally leads to recognising it in others. Acts of service — whether volunteering, helping a neighbour, or simply offering kindness — become a way of expressing our spirituality in the world.
When we serve others, we are reminded that the divine is not just an abstract concept but a living presence that connects us all. Service helps us bridge the gap between self and other, showing us that in serving others, we are also serving ourselves.
The Challenges of the Journey
The path of self-discovery and divine recognition is not always easy. It requires us to confront parts of ourselves we may prefer to avoid — our fears, insecurities, and wounds. It asks us to let go of identities and beliefs that no longer serve us. And it demands patience, as the journey inward is rarely a linear one.
But for all its challenges, this journey is profoundly rewarding. The more deeply we come to know ourselves, the more clearly we see the divine within. And as we recognise this divinity in ourselves, we begin to see it in everyone and everything around us.
The End of Seeking: Realising What Has Always Been
One of the great paradoxes of spirituality is that the thing we are seeking is already within us. The practices we undertake — meditation, journaling, breathwork — are not about gaining something new but about remembering what we have always been. They help us strip away the layers of conditioning and ego that obscure our true nature, revealing the divine essence that has been there all along.
As the Sufi poet Rumi wrote:
“You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life?”
Spiritual practices remind us of these wings. They show us that we are not small, separate beings but infinite, interconnected expressions of the divine.
Living from the Divine Within
The ultimate goal of spiritual practices is not just to recognise the divine within but to live from that place. When we align with our true nature, life takes on a new richness. We begin to act not from fear or ego but from love, compassion, and wisdom. We see challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities for growth. And we approach others with the understanding that they, too, carry the divine spark.
In knowing ourselves deeply, we come to know the divine. And in recognising the divine within, we come to see it everywhere. This is the gift of spirituality: the realisation that the sacred is not something we need to seek. It is who we are, and it has been with us all along.
