What does 'Spirituality' mean to you?

[DEEJ]

I find this term gets tossed around many different contexts but what does it mean to you if you were to describe yourself as a 'Spiritual' person?

For me, it's seeing God (or whatever you want to call it) in all things and all people and knowing that we are all connected through love as we all come from the same source. We are all equal but yet so different, unique expressions of the same power...

Spirituality also means to me being a giver, putting others before myself and being a source of light and love to the world. Whether it's as simple as making someone smile or feel better or giving charity...

As well as others, it is also loving myself and respecting my greatness and knowing that as a emanation of source I am more than I can ever imagine and by ever disrespecting myself, I am disrespecting the power that created me instead of glorifying it in my thoughts and day to day conduct.

It keeps my grounded in the awareness that everything is happening perfectly and for a reason and everything that happens is a chance to grow, that pain is often a blessing and an encouragement for us to grow, evolve and 'Play big.'

Also, to be aware of my ego and try to go beyond it when ever I have that gut feeling of 'I have to be right' 'I have to be better' 'I have to prove myself''

It is also following my Jewish faith in service to God.

Thoughts?

[Mato Kinze]

For me, Spirituality is simply how we define our experience of ourselves with regards to the Universe. The beliefs that we hold in that context become the basis of our personal "Spirituality."

...whatever that may be.

[Rhythman]

Discarding of false identifications (body/mind, ideas, etc)

[Maguru]

Spirituality to me means bringing in awareness of self. To acertain who we are, why we are and where we are in the journey of spiritual evolution.

Spirituality challenges old beliefs and begs for new. Spirituality is connecting to self and others on a deeper level of understanding.

Change is the core of spirituality and knowing self is becoming a part of that change rather than an object of that change.

[MattFYF]

Spirituality, to me, is figuring out the most empowering belief system that I can use to live the best life I can... even if my beliefs are out of sync with everybody else's beliefs. Simple in statement, very hard in practice. I do a lot of journaling regarding what I believe, so often times I'll hold one set of views that'll change within a year to a different set of views... almost like a road of self-discovery.

[Jarrod]

I find it hard to define.

I guess for it means a person who deals with things that are less materialistic in nature.

[jsam]

Hello all!

To see what spirituality means to me, please visit my blog Journey to Self Discovery Comments and criticisms are welcome!

Namaste! John

[mercuryrising]

Originally Posted by MattFYF

Spirituality, to me, is figuring out the most empowering belief system that I can use to live the best life I can... even if my beliefs are out of sync with everybody else's beliefs. Simple in statement, very hard in practice. I do a lot of journaling regarding what I believe, so often times I'll hold one set of views that'll change within a year to a different set of views... almost like a road of self-discovery.

I really like this definition.

[Capstan]

For me, simply put, spirituality is one side of a coin, the opposite side being physicality. Spirituality is everything about us that isn't physical: our thoughts, our imaginings, our questions. This may seem an oversimplification, but spirituality does not neccessarily imply a presence or lack of virtue. It is one-half of us that requires food and nurturing as much as does the body.

[psychicpaul]

To me, being spiritual means being absolutely, 100% committed to believing what you believe in about the nature of the universe and your place in it. Yes, even if that means accepting some kind of "life sucks and then you die" philosophy.

It isn't faith-based, it's person-based. Everyone can be spiritual in their own way.

[Capstan]

Originally Posted by psychicpaul

To me, being spiritual means being absolutely, 100% committed to believing what you believe in about the nature of the universe and your place in it. Yes, even if that means accepting some kind of "life sucks and then you die" philosophy.

It isn't faith-based, it's person-based. Everyone can be spiritual in their own way.

Amen.

[Lallymac]

For me, I am spirit experiencing being human and have been as far back as I can remember. I was aware that I spirit before I was old enough to form beliefs. Shared spiritual knowledge helps me to relate my experience of life to others.
For me being spirit is not a belief. It's what I am.
Lallymac

[jsam]

Originally Posted by psychicpaul

To me, being spiritual means being absolutely, 100% committed to believing what you believe in about the nature of the universe and your place in it. Yes, even if that means accepting some kind of "life sucks and then you die" philosophy.

It isn't faith-based, it's person-based. Everyone can be spiritual in their own way.

It is necessary to have beliefs about ourselves and many things in our world, in order to function in human society. Many need to believe in some kind of "god" to feel secure in an insecure world. However, we need to realize that no set of ideas, no description, is completely accurate; beliefs are relative, and vary from individual to individual. Personal and collective beliefs change continually. If we become too attached to our beliefs, we become rigid and stop growing. Sometimes we try to force others to accept our beliefs, thinking they are the only true ones.

I think the most "spiritual" persons, those who restrain their selfish interests and do what they can to improve conditions for others, are open to changing their beliefs when more appropriate ones come along.

Beliefs are made from thinking; thinking created our human culture, and the persons we think we are. To find that we are much more than we think we are, we must explore ourselves and our world beyond the limited boundaries of our beliefs.

[The David]

Seing significance in life, and understanding why I do the things I do.

[mercuryrising]

I think spirituality is about taking belief back from the powers that have controlled it for so long. When we are kids, we're allowed to make believe all we want. Then someone tells us we must believe what others believe or else we aren't cool, mature, significant, intelligent or enlightened. We've had popes, books, television, buddhas, advertisers, politicians, kings, gurus, shamans, parents, schools, scientists and many others that have been telling us what we should and should not believe.

Spirituality is about taking back the power of faith. And considering how sought after it is, belief may be the most powerful force in all of humanity.

[jsam]

[QUOTE=Spirituality is about taking back the power of faith. And considering how sought after it is, belief may be the most powerful force in all of humanity.[/QUOTE]

It certainly is! Look at what is going on in Islam right now- people killing people over beliefs. Not only Islam, but the USA and UK and others have been creating strife in the world because of their beliefs.

How do we "take back the power of faith"? Surely not by trying to change the beliefs of others, or making them take ours. That has been going on for thousands of years, and it still doesn't work.

Any ideas?

[lasti]

I think the term just says that someone beliefs in spirits or a spirit that lie(s) beyond the physical world.