Practical spirituality is clearly wrought into one’s visible nature — in one’s behavior with others, in one’s lifestyle, in one’s philosophy of life. One can hardly define the parameters of practical spirituality, because its scope and dimensions are so vast. Qualities like humility, selflessness, and moral courage; scintillating acts of dedicated human service; high-minded contemplation in every sphere of existence; and the relentless pursuit of truth are models of practical spirituality.
Swami Vivekananda’s life is one of the finest examples. He scaled the acme of spirituality and manifested it through his selfless service to his country and the world. Swami Vivekananda could not help being what he was, goodness and purity personified. And that indeed is the real nature of spiritual people — that they cannot help being what they are. Veracity, honesty, and innocence become their constant nature. Spiritual people keep growing, and the more they grow in spirit, the more they identify themselves with the welfare of others. They feel the joys and sorrows of others as their own. They help all with reverence and humility, considering it a privilege that they are able to help others. Only such people live the ideal of the highest humanism.
Swami Vivekananda’s thoughts were fully centered on humanity. He says, ‘The only God to worship is the human soul in the human body.’ Again, ‘No books, no scriptures, no science can ever imagine the glory of the Self that appears as man, the most glorious God that ever was, the only God that ever existed, exists, or ever will exist.’ ‘My mission is not Ramakrishna’s nor Vedanta’s nor anything but simply to bring manhood to this people.’ And, ‘May I be born again and again, and suffer thousands of miseries so that I may worship the only God that exists, the only God I believe in, the sum total of all souls — and above all, my God the wicked, my God the miserable, my God the poor of all races, of all species, is the special object of my worship.’ He saw God in everyone, poor, rich, good, and evil, and struggled to arouse people to manifest the perfection embedded within them.