John M. Rector, Ph.D.
  • Book Information
  • About the Author
  • Reviews
  • Psychotherapy Information
  • Book Purchase
  • Links To My Articles
  • In the Media...
  • What I've Been Reading Lately
  • Recommended Viewing
  • Contact
  • Musings from the Continent's Edge (blog)

Musings from the Continent's Edge

This is where I periodically blog about thoughts relative to The Objectification Spectrum and sundry other topics having to do with life's ultimate concerns

On the meaning of spirituality

9/15/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
The word spirituality needs to be understood as a character attribute available to all people, regardless of profession of belief or non-belief, because--I submit--it really has nothing to do with belief at all.  I propose the following definition of spirituality: Heightened awareness of, and appreciation for, life's great intangibles, such as beauty, truth, love, and peace. 

When understood in this way, we immediately realize it's possible to be very religious, but not spiritual (my father is a good example of this), or quite spiritual, but not at all religious (my mother-in-law is like this); and of course, it's possible to combine characteristics of both.  

We also see that spirituality has much to do with one's capacity to be present in life--that is, to pay close, non-judgmental attention to what's actually happening via one's immediate experience of the body, on a regular basis (as most of you may know already, this kind of awareness is called mindfulness). 

Finally, being mindful helps us realize that we are not the same thing as our thoughts, nor the feelings that attend them. Indeed, spiritual people recognize that they can actually be the observer of their thoughts and feelings (suggesting that their "selves," whatever that is, comes from an even deeper level of conscious awareness).  This increases their equanimity or even-mindedness, allowing them to avoid being held hostage to whatever thoughts come careening into consciousness.  In short, spirituality doesn't necessarily have anything to do with any religious doctrine or dogma; rather, it has to do with one's state of being.                   

Picture
2 Comments
Gloria Laflamme
9/17/2014 01:28:51 am

Spirituality is an ever changing, evolving, devolving experience, isn't it. Loved your thoughts on this.

Reply
John R.
9/18/2014 09:08:35 am

Hi Glo. Hey--Congrats on being my first (perhaps only ever?) blog respondent...

Indeed, that's how it's been for me. It ebbs and flows, depending upon how well I can pay close attention to the nuances of life (and this isn't often enough. BTW: You know who's really good at this? D...). Earlier on, this is not at all how I understood spirituality. Then, it was much more bound up in specific ritual and dogma. That doesn't work for me anymore; but for some, it may be a substantial aid to transcending the ordinary.

Cheers.


Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.