In this article the significance of spirituality in human development is discussed using the “Svadhyaya movement” as a case study in urban India. As the principles of the movement are grounded in a modern revision of classical Hindu philosophy emphasizing personal development and self-realization, it challenges the Western paradigm of materialism as an inevitable first stage of development. The findings of this case are contextualized by drawing attention to emerging neo-integrative approaches in “the West” that attempt to bridge the schism of spirituality/religion and the sciences. Finally, I explore the implications this may have in the related praxis fields of urban planning and international development.
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