Spirituality

[Tropical Breeze]

What the hell is spirituality? How do you define this? I google search and there seems to be many definitions.

[WritersPanic]

I'm sitting in my office, the only room in the house with windows on 3 sides. And I have all of the windows open, during a thunderstorm that sounds like it's right on top of us. Why?

Because it makes the moment spiritual. Playing Depeche Mode helps!

[Tropical Breeze]

I'm sitting in my office, the only room in the house with windows on 3 sides. And I have all of the windows open, during a thunderstorm that sounds like it's right on top of us. Why?

Because it makes the moment spiritual. Playing Depeche Mode helps!

But can you define the difference between what is or isn't spiritual? Those moments are beautiful. The way the wind blows and the smell before and just after a rainstorm. But what if you are caught in the storm. Is that spiritual too? Or is spiritual just moments that gives us pleasure and nonspiritual are moments that causes us to suffer. What separates spiritual from nonspiritual?

[WritersPanic]

But can you define the difference between what is or isn't spiritual? Those moments are beautiful. The way the wind blows and the smell before and just after a rainstorm. But what if you are caught in the storm. Is that spiritual too? Or is spiritual just moments that gives us pleasure and nonspiritual are moments that causes us to suffer. What separates spiritual from nonspiritual?

I like the way it's explained in the movie Flight of the Phoenix (2004 remake)

• Sammi : I thought you weren't religious, Rady?
• Rady : Spirituality is not religion. Religion divides people. Belief in something unites them.

Rady : Let me tell you a story. A rabbi and a priest attend a boxing match. They watch as the boxers come into the ring. The rabbi sees one of the boxers cross himself. So the rabbi turns to the priest and asks, "What does that mean?" The priest says, "Not a damn thing if the man can't fight."

[Tropical Breeze]

^^ So you believe spirituality is a belief in something that unites people. Is this correct? Its the only thing i'm getting from that post unless i'm missing something. Can you define what spirituality is on your own or do you feel its something that can't be defined clearly?

[Audiogen]

A broad definition of spirituality is at it's core is any experience which is transcendent of the homeostatic or normal experience of reality. This broad definition may include 'peak experiences' such as catching the sun rise or being overcome with awe at the sights of beautiful scenes in nature.

A more restricted definition of spirituality may be one in which the person perceives accessing realms not bound by their physical bodies or the laws of physics.

[Tropical Breeze]

A broad definition of spirituality is at it's core is any experience which is transcendent of the homeostatic or normal experience of reality. This broad definition may include 'peak experiences' such as catching the sun rise or being overcome with awe at the sights of beautiful scenes in nature.

A more restricted definition of spirituality may be one in which the person perceives accessing realms not bound by their physical bodies or the laws of physics.

Like washing dishes and being suddenly overwhelmed with bliss, correct? What about spiritual practices? Or do you feel spirituality is just an experience regardless of practices such as meditation?

[Jessica]

Interesting question.
From my perspective, a spiritual experience or moment is defined by connecting to the part of you that is part of God.

[Audiogen]

Like washing dishes and being suddenly overwhelmed with bliss, correct? What about spiritual practices? Or do you feel spirituality is just an experience regardless of practices such as meditation?

I would consider the washing dishes example an ecstatic experience. We could probably make a venn diagram where there is a portion that overlaps but I don't think they are the same necessarily.

The latter question is interesting, I suppose when people usually talk about spirituality, it's with a level of intent, such as meditation, but I think people could talk about spirituality without ever having meditated.

[Tropical Breeze]

I had the privilege of having quite a few of what most would call spiritual experiences. I prefer to call them mystical experiences. Some were blissful and left me overwhelmed with joy while others were deeply unpleasant that left me frightened and confused to the point where i questioned my sanity. I prefer the deeply unpleasant ones as those are the experiences that led me to examine myself and my life more deeply. I've also been able to manifest dreams into reality with little effort.

I would like to think of spirituality as more of a journey towards growth and maturity than it being about mystical experiences, spirituals acts like meditation, or spiritual talk. How did the experiences or realizations you guys had helped you to develop as a person?

[Tropical Breeze]

Interesting question.
From my perspective, a spiritual experience or moment is defined by connecting to the part of you that is part of God.

What part of you isn't a part of God? How do you define God?

[Tropical Breeze]

I notice i find spirituality an interesting topic of discussion when there is a sharing of point of views yet pretty dreadful when there is an imposing of view points. Like the whole "i'm right and you're wrong" type of arguments.

[Jessica]

What part of you isn't a part of God? How do you define God?

the part that is illusion.
in one sense, i'd say everything was God, everything we are and create and see.
but for a person who doesn't remember/know this, there is a whole sense of Self which is separate from everything else.
a spiritual experience is when you connect to the reality/truth of what you are, and that can happen to someone even without knowing what that is.

and i agree, i don't like a right/wrong approach. this is my understanding and story for my understanding; i speak in statements, but i always acknowledge it could be entirely different than i think.

[themnax]

i don't try to define it.
simply everything that is beyond what is physically known and knowable.

everything that isn't bound to or by, what any of us try to tell each other.

i think feel there is an element there, of being encouraged to be mutually and universally considerate, by what is not known.
you can call that agape too. but it doesn't have to be about any sort of invisible hierarchy.

there doesn't have to be, what we think we know about anything, for there to be awareness existing that is not dependent on physical form.
and we can be companioned by that, regardless of its non-obligation to however we conceive of it.

[Lynnbrown]

As you sort of implied, spirituality is difficult to define...or I find it so. As you have described, I have had wonderful, transcending experiences and times and harrowing experiences that did indeed make me question my sanity and purpose here on this earth. I didn't necessarily prefer the latter but I will say I learned much from those horrible experiences. I've also said that I feel I would be just as strong and determined if I hadn't had to go through a couple of those times. good grief.

All that being said...I meditate or pray daily. It is just part of what I do and who I am. I don't think about it or make a "certain time"...although I'm certain I wouldn't be able to sleep without "checking out".

I think spirituality can come to anyone...if someone that is looking for answers or not. However, I definitely feel that those that seek answers, peace (or whatever) will be more likely to find it if they seek.