The Definition of Spirituality

What does spirituality mean to you? What does it mean to work for a spiritual organization or what is the concept of work as a spiritual practice? What is the relation of myth and story telling to spirituality?

Spirituality is one of those terms that you appear to know what you are talking about until someone asks you to define the term and then you become aware of inherent contradictions, ambiguities and abstractions. First a word about the relationship between theology and spirituality. As pointed out by Robert Buckman in Can We be Good Without God, a lot of people use the term in two senses. The first sense refers to something outside human beings and having an existence independent of human beings external. I do not include this concept of God within my sense of spirituality. The second sense refers to God "to describe something internal and personal -a resource, a source of energy, an essence that provides guidance and inspiration and comes from within"..^[1] Like Buckman I will use the term God to refer to the External Entity and the term spirituality to cover this internal central human force.

In listening to what my staff at KACL understand by spirituality and by examining the literature on the generic meaning of the word spiritual, I have identified several interconnected themes. I have given the following preliminary tags,

1. Connectedness, sense of being part of a larger whole, unity in the Universe
2. Purpose, sense of significance and fulfillment, a reference point, a reference point or grounding in a Meta-system,
3. A source of values, particularly core, "highest" or "deepest" or most profound values and virtues
4. A " fullness", peak experience, awe, majesty
5. Awareness, reflective, contemplative attitude, mindfulness attention, comfort with chaos and paradox
6. Wisdom, profound insight
7. Conscience, commitment, ethic
8. Possibly: Awareness of "otherness"

1. Connectedness Sense of being part of a larger whole, Unity in the Universe

According to Karen Armstrong author of many books on religion from the beginning of recorded time man felt uncomfortable about slaughtering the animals it killed to feed upon. The animals were their friends and their sacrifice to provide food for man drove humans to develop various rituals and myths to assuage man's anxiety. According to Armstrong some such rituals and myths survived in the traditions and of later, literate cultures.^[2]

According to Armstrong all religions were based on this "perennial philosophy " so prevalent in premodern cultures where by every single person, object or experience was seen as a replica of a reality in a sacred world - more enduring than our own. From the earliest of time "Being" was revered as the ultimate sacred power that bound all things together, humans, animals, plants and objects that sustained the universe (cosmos). Martin Heidegger a 20th century philosopher called this sense of a fundamental energy that supports and animates everything, "Being" to distinguish it from a particular being. ^[3]

2. Purpose, a sense of significance and fulfillment, a reference point or grounding in a meta-system

As human beings we hunger for meaning and purpose in our lives^[3b]

According to Armstrong, art and religion were products of another experience of early man - the need to find meaning to construct meaning in the face of relentless pain, suffering and injustice experienced in life. Religion and art were created to help man find value in what appeared to be an otherwise meaning less existence. A good Myth -once accepted - provided an all encompassing explanation or purpose. If the myth worked in doing so it was kept and if not new myths and rituals would be developed to replace older myths that had outlived their usefulness. Closely related to the need for purpose and significance is the need for a reference point to an over arching explanation. When an animal has nothing to do it sleeps. When a human being has nothing do he asks questions. Either he gets some answer that he can live with for the moment or else he becomes dissatisfied with his lot and falls into deep despair. What's it all about? Who am I? Why do I exist? What do I truly value? How can I make a difference? What is fundamental or at least significantly profoundly. Our inclination to wonder about such questions is a seemingly human trait. Spiritual capacity or intelligence might be considered having the ability to seek satisfactory answers to such questions. Edward de Bono defines this higher system of meaning outside the immediate which one happens to be operating a meta system::

A meta-system provides a reason for doing something which does not lie within the immediate situation itself ^[4]

3. Source of values, particularly core, "highest" or "deepest" or most profound values and virtues

or

What's Love Got to Do With It?...What the world needs most is love sweat love... All You need is love

Everything according to Gretta Vosper,

"What the world needs in order to survive and thrive is the radical simplicity that lies at the core of Christianity and so many other faiths and systems of thought- an abiding trust in the way of love as expressed in just and compassionate living" ^[5]

The true benefit of kindness is being kind. Perhaps more than any other factor, kindness gives meaning and value to our life, raises us above our troubles and our battles, and makes us feel good about ourselves - Fierrucci,The power of Kindness, p 4^[6

Kindness and compassion are among the principal things that make our lives meaningful . They are a source of lasting happiness and joy.^[7

From a evolutionary perspective humans survived and thrived not only because of their self assertive skills and intelligences but because as well they developed collaborative cooperative community skills and aptitudes.

From an individual perspective this internal and personal source of energy, an essence that provides guidance and inspiration called spirituality begins with the development of empathy. Empathy is the ability not to feel just for oneself but also to feel with and for others.

"Empathy is a prerequisite for communication, collaboration, and social cohesion."^[8]

"Understanding how other people feel is the first step to building caring relationships in the classroom, in the community and in the world at large."^[9]

Buber in his book I-and Thou talks about I-It relationships and I -Thou relationships. In these later types of relationships we communicate at a spiritual level.^[10]

Perhaps this notion is more simply captured in Antoine de Saint Exupery's marvelous little book The Little Prince. "In the taming of the fox, the prince realizes that the important things in our lives often develop over long periods through emotional attachments. He also comes to see that love transforms its objects - that by loving something or someone, one brings meaning to the world and elevates the existence of both the lover and the loved^[11]

Virtue is its own reward and so being kind is reciprocally rewarding. In being generous, feel a part of a whole in which it is possible to share resources, emotions and ourselves. But being generous seems to be self rewarding. Generous people have higher self esteem, healthier and happier. Giving makes one poorer in possessions but we feel richer.

4. An Awe, majesty, " fullness" or peak experience

It is at times difficult to divide the themes written about by various authors and also give it a tag name. This theme is clearly identified by Abraham H. Maslow in Religious Values, and Peak-Experiences ^[12] which he describes as peak experiences. I believe this same theme runs through Karen Armstrong's book The Case for God.^[13]

Maslow list the following as described attributes of reality when perceived in peak-experiences:

1. Truth
2. Goodness
3. Beauty
4. Wholeness
5. dichotomy-transcendence
6. Aliveness
7. Uniqueness
8. Perfection
9. Necessity
10. Completion
11. Justice
12. Order
13. Simplicity
14. Richness
15. Effortlessness
16. Playfulness
17. Self - sufficiency

5. Awareness, reflective, contemplative attitude, mindfulness attention, comfort with chaos and paradox

This particular theme comes particularly although not exclusively from Eastern religions and traditions.^[7]

Its not matter of miracles, but a matter of noticing- Lewis Richmond.^[8]

6. Wisdom, profound insight

Many modern theological writers refer to Religious books as books of wisdom. Later day writers have disclosed volumes in what they describes as channeling.

7. Conscience, commitment, trust

There are at least three things we surrender when we commit ourselves to another person: We surrender our freedom, We surrender our individuality. We surrender our control

8. Awareness of Otherness

Significant Questions

The following questions may cultivate an understanding of spirituality.

1. Why was I born?
2. What is the purpose of Life?
3. Does anything matter?
4. What is important's important in Life?
5. What does it mean to Make a Difference?
6. What does it take to be successful?
7. What dose it mean to have a satisfying and meaningful life?
8. What is happiness?
9. What does it mean to be a spiritual person?
10. Is it possible to make up for past mistakes?
11. How do I know the right things to do?
12. What do I do when I have had enough?
13. Why do I feel something is missing in my life?
14. Where did I loose my idealism?
15. Where is God?
16. What is the relationship between religion and spirituality?
17. "God is all powerful, all knowing, all loving! There is evil and suffering in the world.
18. Does religion unite or divide us?
19. Why do I fear Death?
20. .....?

Notes

^[1]Buckman, Robert (2000)Can We Be Good Without God, Pages 9,10
^[2]Armstrong, Karen (2009)The Case for God, Pages 6-7
^[3]Armstrong, Karen (2009)The Case for God, Pages 10-11
^[3b]Lieder, Richard J. (1985)The Power of Purpose, New York: Ballantine Books
^[4]de Bono, Edward(1977)The Happiness Principle
^[5]Vosper, Gretta (2008)With or Without God, Why the Way we live is more Important than What We Believe
^[6]Ferrucci, Piero (2007) The Power of Kindness, New York: Penquin
^[7] Ferrucci, Piero (2007) The Power of Kindness, page x
^[8] Ferrucci, Piero (2007) The Power of Kindness, page 109
^[9] Gordon, Mary (2005)Roots of Empathy, Page 35
^[10] Buber, Martin (1958)I and Thou, Macmillan Publishing Company
^[11] Russell, James M Spiritual Classics, Page 194
^[12] Maslow, Abraham (1970) Religious Values and Peak Experiences, New York: Penguin Books ^[13] Armstrong, Karen (2009) The Cease for God, New York, Toronto: Alfred A. Knopf

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