Let me write you all about something that is widely misunderstood and misinformed. It goes by the name Spiritualism. What exactly is spiritualism and what is the difference between religion and spiritualism needs to be answered.
Well, these days the modern day holy men have made spiritualism only the act of pious deed like cultivation of compassion, non violence, charity etc. People think they become spiritual by giving alms, charity etc. Its nothing but quarter truth. Pious virtues cleanses your action and the modern day society have been guided by it but in past eons, Lord Krishna did ask Arjuna to behave like a Kshetri and then fight like a warrior. Lord Krishna even managed to give him some basic teachings of yoga and by it persuading Arjuna to fight.
Spiritualism is to what extent you manage to expand your consciousness. The more degraded the consciousness is the person is more likely to be reincarnate as an inferior being and more expanded the consciousness, the more guarantee of a human birth. Therefore, spiritualism is much more about your consciousness then your mind. Your consciousness is where everything is stored and then can be reaccessed in any of the future births. For instance, Dalai Lama is an incarnate, he claims that he remembers his past life and so do many mystics.
Consciousness is all internal experience. Science doesn't have much to do it. Science can explain you sugar and its chemical composition but it cannot explain sweetness. That is where science lacks its expertise. Therefore, spiritualism should only be explained by via science upto a point, beyond science it is all human experience and comprehension.
Sweetness and consciousness are both same. They can only be realized and experienced but cannot be explained to the masses. Spiritualism is more of a personal experience. Therefore to interpret any spiritual text needs certain state of mind or certain level of mind.
That is for the reason, guru is the must in spiritualism. A guru is a person who decodes the spiritual text and then shows you the way. A novice person when interprets a spiritual text does it with half knowledge and ignorance and then the arbitrariness takes place which taints the spiritual text.
I hope every learners and seekers of spiritualism shall walk in the right path of spiritualism.
It was my fortune to have learnt many spiritual practice under the guidance of His Holiness Kaulantak Peethadeshwar Mahayogi Satyendra Nath ji Maharaja. I hope everyone finds a true guru who can guide them to the path of spiritualism.