german_poster

Why is it always assumed that spirituality is a matter of opinion? And why is it that when I ask this question people automatically assume that I am posing my own opinion as objective fact?

I get this nonsense alot. As soon as I begin speaking of spirituality objectively I receive a whole lot of whining about how spirituality is an opinion and how I shouldn't force my opinion on others. On one hand I feel bad that so many people are uneducated in the matter, but on the other hand I feel bad that I am forced to feel bad. The situation appears to become a little condescending, especially when the other party lacks sincerity. I guess it is the idea that someone out there actually has an objective anwer that offends people. Because if spirituality is just a matter of opinion then we can all be blissful in our own little happyland. I'm sorry for destroying your dreams, but I will not feed the illusion.

Dictionary definitions always reflect the predominating level of educated thought on a topic. In this way, many terms like 'spiritual' and 'spirituality' have either vague or incomplete definitions.

Dictionary.com says:

1. Of, relating to, consisting of, or having the nature of spirit; not tangible or material. See Synonyms at immaterial.
2. Of, concerned with, or affecting the soul.
3. Of, from, or relating to God; deific.
4. Of or belonging to a church or religion; sacred.
5. Relating to or having the nature of spirits or a spirit; supernatural.

1. Being not tangible is only circumstantial. This is not actually a quality of spiritual. Many people think that the mind is spiritual, being that it is intangible, but this is a mistake because spirituality is not defined by being intangible, as I will explain.
2. This is a good definition but it doesn't fully explain what the soul is and how it is affected.
3. This is the best definition given. Spirituality means relating to God. If you construct a building to worship God then that building is spiritual despite that it is tangible to the material senses. As well, the material senses, when engaged in serving God, are also spiritualized in this sense.
4. Sure. This definition is consequent from number three. So long as the church and religion are used for worshipping God, they are spiritual.
5. This definition refers more to what we call ghosts; living entities who still dwell within the material universe but are somehow unable (or unwilling) to accept another gross body. Of course, all living entities are spiritual beings and spirituality relates that knowledge as well as the knowledge of every spiritual being's constitutional position in relation to the Absolute.


The basis of spirituality is to first understand what is the self. The next stage is to understand that self in relation to the complete whole. Ultimately, spirituality culminates in spiritual activities. That is, understanding one's relationship with the Absolute (God) involves activities in loving devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Due to their being different levels of realizing this Absolute, there are the impersonalist class of people who are unable to develop love and perform devotional service unto God, the Supreme Person. For them, the highest form of liberation is merging homogenously with the Absolute. This constitutes their spirituality. Also, typically these impersonalist philosophers are also monist. This means that they view existence as one without distinction. In Sanskrit this is called Advaita, or the philosophy of nonduality. Therefore, in this line of thought, all things are spiritual and ultimately all activity is negated. Dvaita philosophy, as you can probably figure out, is duality. Both Advaita and Dvaita have their points and their limitations. A third form of philosophy combines the two. It is called 'Dvaitadvaita' or 'Achintya bhedabheda tattva', which means, "inconceivably one and many/different, simultaneously". With this knowledge we can advance our spirituality from mere philosophical thought into practical living activity. Where the advaita philosophy negates activity in liberation, dvaitadvaita simply purifies activity. Therefore spirituality, as I stated above, culminates in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead because it is this Supreme Person who is simultaneously one with and different from His energies. And being that we are all part and parcel of this Supreme Truth, our devotion to Him is our constitutional position. Due to our contact with the material nature we have forgotten this position and think it is in our best interest to attempt to take enjoyment independently. From this misconception has arisen this idea that spirituality is a matter of opinion.

__________________
pax vobiscum

chinoise

We Chinese believe the spirit dwells within a living person. In movies, when a spirit leaves a living person, the person remains unconscious like sleeping. When the spirit returns, the person will wake up. When a person dies, the spirit will leave him as a ghost. We believe the ghost of a person will remain for some days in this world after death, and will come back to the house of the living to say goodbye before leaving forever.