CAN ANYONE truly believe that God wants us to offend, hurt and kill each other in His name? That is neither religion nor spirituality. If we introspect, using the mind and heart God has given us, we will realize that 'simple living and high thinking' minus duplicity is the real mantra of spirituality and not the cliche it has become in our cynical world.

Spirituality leads us to God, who is a form of energy like electricity, a current that activates machines. We humans clay get life from energy, through the inhaling and exhaling of breath. God is that energy, as He is the energy available in earth, water, air, space and fire though invisible, just as fragrance is an invisible quality of the flower.

Spirituality means different things to different people but to most it is some kind of connectivity between the individual and the Supreme Being. Undoubtedly it is the source of great inner peace and solace, more so in a crisis.

Spirituality is indeed higher than outward religion, for its pillars are the universal best practices of human behavior: to have perseverance, to pardon, to have mercy, not to steal, not to keep anger, to speak the truth, to try our best to acquire purity, education and wisdom - and apply them in daily life. Spirituality gives science its ethical values as science can cause destruction if it violates moral and spiritual laws.

As a man of 80, 1 have witnessed cycles of violence and civic madness. It grieves me, particularly in India that we do not introspect enough, moderate our wants, behave fairly, share resources properly and do not cultivate our conscience. Whether we are Believers, Agnostics or Atheists, we are all human and supposed to introspect. If we do so, the conscience inside will never allow us to harm others. He may be strong who conquers others, but he is truly mighty who conquers himself.