What does it mean to be 'Spiritual'?

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The Nature of Spirituality

1. a. What does it mean to be ‘Spiritual’?

If you were to look up ‘spiritual’ in a dictionary, (which I have to say I was sad enough to do), you would find that it is defined by ‘something not of the physical nor material world’. This is a good attempt at describing it, but to be truthful, spirituality is impossible to describe. This is because it is beyond human description. We know what it is, but putting our knowledge into words is extremely difficult. Spirituality refers to ones ‘inner place’, a place which transcends our surroundings, our concerns, our problems and our society. To be spiritual is to elevate oneself beyond everything that is around us. But at the same time, being at one with the universe. That statement sounds very confusing, and truthfully it is. Spirituality emphasises that what we have on the outside (such as wealth, material possessions etc.) will never change what we are on the inside. To be spiritual is to open the mind to the awesomeness, wonder and mystery of creation. To be spiritual is to affirm people in themselves, as well as to give one a sense of self-identity. This means knowing your place in the universe. With this there is no longer need for category, or definition by other people. Spirituality recognises the oneness of all things and the value of other people, other species and the cosmos itself. Ultimately, to be spiritual is to bring oneself closer to the divine.

b. How do some people believe they are close to God?

People believe they are close to god through many devices. Many use spiritual techniques to transcend physical society. These include Yoga, Meditation, Fasting, Isolation, Prayer, practising Asceticism, Reading of Scriptures and theology, Pilgrimage, Sacramental rites, Collective worship, or through direct experience of God. People practice these methods for many reasons. Firstly, because many known people throughout history have used such methods and claimed success. Examples of these would be the Buddha and the sages in the Upanishads. Secondly, because these methods enhance concentration on a purpose. Without having such methods, the mind would wonder and focus would be lost. People believe they are close to God because if they have elevated themselves beyond the material, then they bring themselves closer to an existence at which they can be close to God. Some people use symbolic objects such as artefacts and ritual objects. This can bring them closer to God as the objects act as a medium. Secondly, people live a pious life, practising mentioned methods such as meditation and mysticism. Finally, people feel they can be closer to God by being creative and using art, literature and music to express their religion. This is because many feel that words alone cannot express theology and that using such creative aspects can help fill the gaps in their expression.

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2. a. Why might someone join a monastic community?

Someone may join a monastic community for many reasons. The first main reason is because by freeing themselves from a materialistic society, they can find a deeper spiritual meaning in life. Society is so busy that the constant distractions and temptations avert them from achieving higher spiritual meaning. By retreating from society, the calmness would allow them to feel an inter-connectedness with the nature that surrounds them. Monks often live together away from society so they can worship together alone and share the spiritual experience. This ...

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