Transcending the Frontiers of Spirituality

“Spirituality is the praxis and process of personal transformation, either in accordance with traditional religious ideals, or, increasingly, oriented on subjective experience and psychological growth independently of any specific religious context. In a more general sense, it may refer to almost any kind of meaningful activity or blissful experience.”                                          

There is no broad, comprehensive definition of spirituality. However, in a widely accepted perspective, spirituality may be defined as an endearing experience that gives meaning to one’s life and draws one to transcend oneself. Religion is a countenance of spirituality. Other widely accepted expressions of spirituality include chanting hymns, verses, prayer, meditation etc. These expressions are adjudged to be spiritual activities. Any activity which can renew, comfort, heal and inspire both ourselves and with whom we interact can be comfortably called ‘Spiritual activity.’ Spirituality is an umbrella term that makes its presence in the genesis of ‘Naturalism.’ Though naturalism may seem an improbable premise for spirituality, a naturalistic perception and intuition of ourselves and the world can definitely inspire us to understand the essence of spirituality. To appreciate spirituality is to appreciate the empirical reality of existence of God. However, some argue that a person can be spiritual but not religious. Interesting indeed!

Etymology: The term “spirituality” in English has been around 70 to 80 years and has entered the English lexicon in 1950s.  The term spirit means “animating or a vibrant principle in living beings.” It is derived from its old French word espirit which in turn has been derived from the Latin word spiritus. This Latin word conveys many meanings such as courage, vigor, endurance etc. The term “spiritual” has its origin from the Old French word spirituel. More often than not, many words that have their association with the word “spirit” have their roots obtained from Latin language. According to Michael Downey, spirituality is a fundamental dimension of human beings and it evokes a complete range of human experiences to satiate the quest for human integration through self-transcendence. It is a disciplined study that serves the purpose of a formal expression of insights and indispensable experiences.

Spirituality is a state of consciousness that reflects deep engagement and a harmonious relationship with God. To interpret this harmonious relationship, one must ably differentiate transpersonal experiences from transcendental experiences. For many holistic scientists such as Swami Vivekananda who were well known for their rare spiritual excellence, science is a dimension of spirituality. Science is an adaptive tool that unfolds the colossal beauties of nature and promotes cognitive competence that is consistently manifest in Spirituality. For a few people, spirituality is about participating in religious activities such as attending sermons, offering prayers, chanting hymns and verses etc. For others, it is something beyond religion. To do away with the “cognitive dissonances” that people experience frequently, it is often suggested to be spiritually inclined. Spiritual people may not be an integral part of celebrated institutionalized religions but they cannot help being religious. Spirituality fosters religion and nurtures the divine thoughts.

Omnipresence of Spirituality:

Spirituality is an art. It is a gift from the God that requires intense study, regular practice and unblemished discipline to reap its benefits. For it to be at its best, the practitioner must be receptive, contemplative, active and industrious. It is an admirable self-conveying majestic art that builds on the God given traits and human acquired skills. The practitioner is expected to leave his skills at the disposal of God. There are five definitive ways to understand spirituality:

1. Ontological: It deals with the fundamental dimension of being human as Homo Spiritualis.
2. Experiential: It deals with the lived experience of being in relationship as an Homo Viator
3. Classical: It deals with the cultural and religious traditions of being Homo Religiosus (being in binding relationships.)
4. Scientific: It deals with the systematic academic study of sapience or “knowledge of living.”
5. Artistic: It involves talent and training in a certain school or movement by a Home Creativus (being that creates.)

While the first three are the most common accepted definitive ways, the last two are advocated by learned scholars and mentors who observe and practice spirituality in a different perspective. To become a spiritual masterpiece, one must understand the finer nuances of the definitive ways of spiritual growth through the prayer of heart.

The meditative disciplines in spirituality direct us to the thought provoking paths of religion. The spirituality among the saints and those pursuing spirituality consistently confirms the following distinct stages of spiritual growth:

• Image
• Conversion
• Purification
• Illumination
• Union

1. Image, Personhood, or Potentiality refers to the natural conventional state in which we espouse and relish the virtues of the true self. Some of our unique inherent human gifts include spontaneity, decision making, creative thinking, volition, better judgement, spirituality, and love. Thus, at birth, we begin fostering the potential to enhance these innate qualities—our established qualities of brotherhood—that comprise our true self. While some of these virtues may be acquired, most of these qualities are inherent.
2. Conversion or metanoia refers to making a commitment to the divine souls and the God which determines our destination. It is a spiritual vision of varying competing attractions. Conversion is associated with dedication and the corresponding loyalty to claim our spiritual credentials. We recognize the commitment through our relationships to self, others, and God.  Our commitment always determines our destination.
3. Purification or transformation refers to umpteen spiritual exercises that have the ability to loosen our attachment to things. In addition, it deals with the spiritual practices that obviate several distractions and help us in realizing our potential goals, thereby reflecting the gospel truth that living consistently with our principles and beliefs leads to a sustainable life that is replete with spirituality.
4. Illumination or Light refers to a consequence of enlightenment through unfathomable faith. It appears to resonate with what quantum physicists refer to as high frequency people. Those who are illumined reflect a transforming frequency or light that is both spiritual and physical. In a nutshell, they are lightning rods. St. Gregory of Nazianzus explains that alone we are like iron, cold and hard, but when brought before the fire of God’s light the iron glows, we are illuminated. Likewise, when we are illumined in Light, we have enlightened body, mind, and soul.
5. Union or theosis refers to a state of communion, participation, and intermingling with God.  In our higher spiritual growth we progress not to theosis, deification and union with God not as an end-state but as a continuous process of growing “from glory to glory.” Engagement with God is not completely static, but, a continuously dynamic process of development.

Neuroscientists have thoroughly scrutinized how the brain functions during certain spiritual experiences. To strengthen their results, they have tracked and recorded the behavior of certain neurotransmitters and sensitive regions of the brain. In addition, experimenters have also successfully induced spiritual experiences in individuals by administering psychoactive agents that are known to elicit euphoria and perceptual distortions. These results have led some leading theorists to speculate that spirituality may be a benign subtype of psychosis.

Authentic spiritual progression evokes cross cultural and universally applicable responses. To redefine the meaning of life, spirituality must be embraced both in letter and spirit, policy and execution. Spirituality entails a belief in karma. Whatever actions are done by an individual in different embodiments, he reaps the fruits of those actions in those very bodies or embodiments in future existences. A belief in karma entails, among other things, a focus on long run consequences. Such a long term orientation implies that people who believe in karma may be more honest with themselves in general and in setting expectations in subsequent consequences.