What is spirituality?

[blazeofglory]

Let us discuss and share our ideas on this issue, for today most of us choose to be more of a spiritualist than believers in religious faiths.

Spirituality has little to do with Gurus, and faiths. I do not subscribe to faiths, for there are hundreds of them, and do not choose to stir up disputes in the name of religions.

Living rightly and of course disciplinarily and behaving with all as if all are one integral whole is spirituality.

This question has nothing to do with definitions, for no definitions can frame spirituality. And it is not the opposite of materiality too. It is nothing that has to do with ideas or cults or systems.

Religiosity has nothing to do with spirituality, for religions often smear or blemish it. Religions have divisive elements whereas spirituality is integrating. Religions have too many Gods, and they are warring.

To be spiritual is to be in the here and now with our life and it has no connection with the past. Of course to sublime our minds we often read something written or discoursed by some masters.

Today religions, moralities, ethics have lost their meaning and weight of course, and man is going astray meaninglessly. Spiritually is the highest morality and it is something that elevates us.

[jon1jt]

Spirituality has little to do with Gurus, and faiths. I do not subscribe to faiths, for there are hundreds of them, and do not choose to stir up disputes in the name of religions.

You're vastly mistaken. Every religion has to do with spirituality and a Guru is part of that process. Many Eastern religions encourage having a spiritual guide. Catholicism has its priest, bishop and pope; Born-agains have its pastor; Judaism has its Rabbi; Buddhism has its Brahmin. Call them what you want, they're all gurus.


This question has nothing to do with definitions, for no definitions can frame spirituality. And it is not the opposite of materiality too. It is nothing that has to do with ideas or cults or systems.

Spirituality is cultist as religion, let's not kid ourselves.

[
To be spiritual is to be in the here and now with our life and it has no connection with the past. Of course to sublime our minds we often read something written or discoursed by some masters.

Spirituality couches their "other-worldly" core in similar language you're employing now. Spirituality is always the feeling of 'aboveness'---or to use their favorite term, "transcendant.'


Today religions, moralities, ethics have lost their meaning and weight of course, and man is going astray meaninglessly. Spiritually is the highest morality and it is something that elevates us.

That's a bit pretentious to say as a categorical truth, don't you think?

[Metanoia]

Spirituality leads one to discover the truth about the universe and the self, without imposing any definite answers. I've met many "spiritual" people who have similar believes, about eternity and the universe, but still differ in their opinoins as to what they believe. This to me is one of the great things about spirituality, we discover our OWN anwsers, without the neccesity of someone telling us whats right or how we should live our lives. It allows one to be open-minded and free to new answers. I'm constantly evolving, as a person and a spirit, so why should I belive one unchanging set of beliefs? I think it's like you said, alot of people choose to pacify them selfs with a source of pre-conceived answers, rather than discover their own.

[Oniw17]

Spirituality leads one to discover the truth about the universe and the self, without imposing any definite answers. I've met many "spiritual" people who have similar believes, about eternity and the universe, but still differ in their opinoins as to what they believe. This to me is one of the great things about spirituality, we discover our OWN anwsers, without the neccesity of someone telling us whats right or how we should live our lives. It allows one to be open-minded and free to new answers. I'm constantly evolving, as a person and a spirit, so why should I belive one unchanging set of beliefs? I think it's like you said, alot of people choose to pacify them selfs with a source of pre-conceived answers, rather than discover their own.

What you're describing sounds like existentialism.

[B-Mental]

To me spirituality is the essence of understanding...to right wrong without harm...to accept the pain of others...technology blocks us from this...The path of spirituality is an internal struggle, but the truly spiritual can perform miracles...

How does spirituality compare to mysticism? That is what I am curious.

[Metanoia]

I call myself a spiritual person, I believe we are all here for a purpose, to learn from our mistakes. I believe there is more than this shell we walk around in. Alot of spiritual people believe in some of the ways of extistentialism. Spirituality is not a religion, there is no book or person telling us what they think is the "truth". Spirituality is about the evolution of the soul, if we can get beyond the day-to-day repetiveness of life and search into the deeper waters of our self, we can discover the boundless light and eternity of the spirit. There is no "one" way to be spiritual, and there is no rule saying "To be spiritual, is to never stray from these lines". How many "spiritual" people have you known, Oniw? What do you know about spirituality? What do you think it is? (that was the point of the post, was it not?)

[B-Mental]

I don't call myself a spiritual person...I practice a spiritual lifestyle. Really who cares about the point of the post, if we can have open dialogue about the topic.

[Niamh]

What you're describing sounds like existentialism.

No he is discribing spirituality. Being a spiritualist myself, i know what he is saying. And you are right Met. Spiritualism differs with each of us because it is an understanding of our own beliefs and not beliefs we are told to believe in.

Blaze you are wrong about many things as has already been pointed out but i felt i much correct you on one thing also. You said that spirituality is about the here and now with your life and has no connection to the past. You are actually quite wrong. Spirituality has alot to do with your past present and future, and has alot to do with the eternal life of your spirit. Many people who would be apart of the spiritualist church, as it is a church and religion, are mediums that deal with the spirit and many deal with past lives.:) Many of us also have a deep belief in the spirit world of the dead that is catagorised with many things paranormal. :)

[Niamh]

General Mod Note
As Spiritualism is classed as a religion, i have moved this thread out of the philosophy section of the fora.:)

[B-Mental]

Hmm, I think that blaze is not talking about the spirituality of community, but the spirituality of oneness. The oneness, implies faith, but religion is not involved...personally, this probably belongs in philosophy as it is a lifestyle and not a religion. My fear is that now the people I try to avoid (the zealous religous posters that don't have anyway but their way) Oops, here come the flamers...I really hope we can move this back, as it is theorhetical/philosophical. I tend to agree with Blaze on the topic, but I do think you have some valid points Niamh.


edit*...the topic was spirituality, and not spiritualism.

[B-Mental]

spir·it·u·al·i·ty –noun, plural -ties. 1. the quality or fact of being spiritual.
2. incorporeal or immaterial nature.
3. predominantly spiritual character as shown in thought, life, etc.; spiritual tendency or tone.
4. Often, spiritualities. property or revenue of the church or of an ecclesiastic in his or her official capacity.

and then....

spir·it·u·al·ism –noun 1. the belief or doctrine that the spirits of the dead, surviving after the mortal life, can and do communicate with the living, esp. through a person (a medium) particularly susceptible to their influence.
2. the practices or phenomena associated with this belief.
3. the belief that all reality is spiritual.
4. Metaphysics. any of various doctrines maintaining that the ultimate reality is spirit or mind.
5. spiritual quality or tendency.
6. insistence on the spiritual side of things, as in philosophy or religion.

Both of these definitions came from www.dictionary.com Does my point make sense?

[Niamh]

Well i think a few of us have interpreted the OP as being about a belief system that is slightly individual, and therefore spirituality as a religion.:)
If Blaze clarifies whether he ment it as a philosophical debate or as a discusing obout peoples faith in Spirituality i'll put in appropriate fora. I query this because of his opening line

Let us discuss and share our ideas on this issue, for today most of us choose to be more of a spiritualist than believers in religious faiths.
:)

[B-Mental]

Sometimes Blaze writes in a manner which is vague to some. I think that is his method. I concur...thanks...B

[Lote-Tree]

Let us discuss and share our ideas on this issue, for today most of us choose to be more of a spiritualist than believers in religious faiths.


You need to define spirituality.

Here is mine.

Spirituality - yearning for ultimate meaning in life.

religions - systemisation of spirituality in a form that is hard to change.

[B-Mental]

I'm quite sure your definition of religion you mention is actually called Dogma

[blazeofglory]

Sometimes Blaze writes in a manner which is vague to some. I think that is his method. I concur...thanks...B

B-Mental, things are at times hard and go out of our comprehension for our language is not developed and advanced to the extent we think and imagine things.

I agree I am often vague and am thoughtful of the fact that I am not adequately clear to all.

I will endeavor to be clearer for all to easily understand what I put across.


You need to define spirituality.

Here is mine.

Spirituality - yearning for ultimate meaning in life.

religions - systemisation of spirituality in a form that is hard to change.

Of course this is on of the thousands definitions that have been bequeathed down to us from time immemorial.

[Lote-Tree]

Of course this is on of the thousands definitions that have been bequeathed down to us from time immemorial.

What's your definition then?

[blazeofglory]

What's your definition then?

Actually speaking I do not try to define or confine it within sets of ideas or theories at all. In fact it cannot be contained within a particular idea.

Spirituality is something we are moving towards and we have yet to understand the meaning of it.

Spirituality is a journey and it takes life time to understand it and yet at times I cannot say one can fully understand it.

I often feel Zen and Sufism has reached states of it. Indeed spirituality has phases and there is progression.

Anybody can be spiritual no matter what position he hangs on to. Conversely even abbots, popes or religious leaders can be nonspiritual. Spirituals do not need to stick to any ideologies, and even in their day to day vocations or walks of life they can be spiritual and indeed it is a way of living, with a feeling that all are one organic and integral whole.

[B-Mental]

Again, that is a wonderful reason to place this post back where it belongs....in the philosophical section...consider please.

[blazeofglory]

Again, that is a wonderful reason to place this post back where it belongs....in the philosophical section...consider please.

B-Mental, I have a different opinion. deem spirituality is a different domain from a philosophical one and where spirituality can reach no philosophies can not.
Yet spirituality has a philosophy in it and yet it is not confined within a philosophical definition.

[B-Mental]

I personally have been assaulted by the religious. I'm sorry. Any thread that is in the religous section I must not visit. I do believe in a divine one, but I can no longer partake of this thread.

[blazeofglory]

I personally have been assaulted by the religious. I'm sorry. Any thread that is in the religous section I must not visit. I do believe in a divine one, but I can no longer partake of this thread.

I understand and I suppose you do not come across any of my topics nuances of religiosity and of course I do not subscribe to religions. For religions split up. I do not support or oppose any religions for they create frictions.

[jon1jt]

Spirituality is a journey and it takes life time to understand it and yet at times I cannot say one can fully understand it.

What are you talking about Willis?! :p

[blazeofglory]

What are you talking about Willis?! :p

Spirituality is not a destination and of course it is a journey and we are always moving. Everything in the cosmos is moving constantly.