Will Spirituality Ever Be Serious?
Will American spirituality get serious? Those of us who do regular spiritual practice -- whether it's meditating every day or giving our time to the less fortunate, spending focused time with our kids or going to church each week -- have long been vilified by the cynical press as narcissists, flakes, or worse. In general, this is a cliché born out of fear and ignorance. But let's admit that the insult has some truth to it -- and will take work to rise above.
Let's start with two hard truths. The first is that spirituality makes claims to transformation and transcendence, but is often just a balm. Now, all of us who do a spiritual practice have experienced transformation. In small ways, this happens all the time. Before yoga, you feel angry, tense, and egocentric; after yoga, at least for a little while, you feel open, loving, and generous. In larger ways, it happens once in a while. A particularly inspiring sermon, a deep insight gained on an extended retreat, an ecstasy experienced at a place like Burning Man -- these kinds of things can meaningfully, and more or less permanently, change one's life. What they all have in common is transformation: a growth beyond one's previous limits.
All too often, however, spirituality reinforces rather than transcends conventional limits, boundaries, and notions of the ego. Sandwiched in between manicures and lunch dates, the quickie yoga class becomes just another way to augment and reinforce the self; pop Kabbalah and the Secret promise ways to get what you want more effectively, rather than, say, question whether "what you want" is really aligned with your deepest humanity, and your potential to lessen the suffering of others.
Not that there's anything wrong with manicures, lunch, or things which make the body more beautiful and life more pleasant -- I like all of the above -- but when spirituality is put into the service of pleasure, it is open to the cynical critique that all we're doing when we do breathwork, paint, and light Sabbath candles is making ourselves feel better. It's no different, really, from going to a NASCAR race -- except the racing fan isn't deluding himself that what he's doing is anything more than having a good time.
Second, spirituality often gets a bad rap because it often involves, well, a lot of hoo-hah. Water blessed by a "kabbalistic" rabbi, dubious modalities of energy healing, UFOs -- it's not that all of these are necessarily false, but the way that many spiritual people relate to them is all too credulous. Many of us rush to supernatural explanations for entirely natural phenomena, ascribing all sorts of mind-states and ideas to God or subtle energies or alien intelligences or whatever.
Now, unlike most of the cynics, I've experienced a lot of those mind-states, mystical experiences, and insights that indeed feel heaven-sent. I've had these experiences, and I know how they seem to be. But seems is not is. And when we interpret our experiences incautiously, we're not so different from the fundamentalist who believes she is on a mission from God. We deserve to be called out on this.
What's frustrating for those of us who really do take spirituality seriously is that there's often a lot of good mixed in with the bad. I remember seeing the film What the Bleep Do We Know? with a cynical friend of mine. I was so gratified by some parts of the film, yet so horrified by others. I wanted to say to my friend, "look, just because this crazy idea is crazy, that other idea is really very good. Really!" But of course, the leaps of illogic and messy thinking in the film negated its occasionally brilliant insights. The whole thing was suspect.
But I want to suggest that spirituality, as practiced here in America, can indeed rise out of the twin mucks of messy thinking and self-aggrandizement. Yes, it can be serious. And there are a few basic principles by which it can do so.
First, let's get serious about the worth of spiritual practice, and stop hiding. One of the reasons articles like this one appear on The Huffington Post is our editors' belief -- beginning with our editor in chief -- that spiritual work is part of being a well-rounded person, and that it should be taken as seriously as politics and culture. Just as one's life is incomplete if one never takes the time to appreciate music or art or film, so is it missing something if one lacks a spiritual practice. Let's not hedge about this. Let's be clear that intellectual giants who are spiritual infants are just as deficient in terms of human excellence as people who never exercise, or travel, or read.
And let's be serious about the proposition that learning to open the heart has real-world consequences; that it is possible to become more generous and compassionate toward others, and that it matters to do so. Our society has found ever more elaborate ways to get more stuff. Like religion used to do, spiritual practice offers one of the few counterpoints to the relentless march of desire. And that has political consequences, in the largest sense of the word.
Second, if we are serious about spirituality's worth, then we should be serious about doing it. Whatever your personal growth practice is, from kirtan to karate, pilates to psychodrama, it oughtn't be a hobby. These things work, in ways we can articulate and understand, and they should be respected as sacred -- or at least as important. Sometimes getting serious about spiritual practice means sacrificing other things in order to do it -- other activities, or certain foods, or indulging in gossip or revenge. Sometimes it may just mean ratcheting it up the priority list, fixing it as a regular part of your routine just as religious people prioritize going to church or synagogue. Sometimes it may even mean taking time off to do it; I recently devoted five months to silent meditation retreat, and it was one of the best (and hardest) things I've ever done.
Of course, not all of us are lucky enough to get away for months at a time. But wherever we find ourselves, that is where we begin. "Wherever you're going, there you are," as Jon Kabat-Zinn says. Or, in the words of the Talmudic rabbis, "It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task -- but you are not free to desist from it." If we take our own spiritual practice as seriously as traditionally religious people take theirs, we will help it gain the respect it deserves, not least because the benefits we obtain will be so obvious to ourselves and others.
Third, let's stop running away from the intellect. I believe that spirituality is one of the axes of human excellence. But so is rationality. Yes, Western materialism has been narrow-minded and brutal for hundreds of years. Clearly, the people who wear the suits and live in big houses are not to be trusted naively. But we owe it to ourselves as 21st century people to evaluate claims critically, whether they are made by Big Agri-business or holistic healers, corporations or gurus. Spiritual integrity and intellectual integrity should be allies, not enemies.
Finally, getting serious about spirituality means opening up to the possibility that the self is the object of the practice, not the boss of it. Working on the self means not taking every whim for granted, even if they are spiritual whims, and doing the practice even when you don't feel like doing it. If you're serious, you go to the gym even when you're not in the mood; likewise with meditation, or prayer, or yoga, or any other kind of spiritual or personal growth work. Old-fashioned values like constancy, reliability, and fortitude are invaluable allies. Remember, if it's authentic, it's not about feeling good -- it's about feeling, period. Let's not run to the comfortable, and let's be unafraid of hard work. Some days, spiritual practice feels like the last thing in the world I want to do. Often, those are the most important days to do it.
Admittedly, describing spirituality as hard work, soul-searing, and intellectually rigorous is probably not good marketing. Times are tough: people want to feel better, and there's nothing wrong with that. But each of us individually -- teachers and students, skeptics and true-believers -- has the opportunity to take responsibility for the care of our own soul. And in that work, spiritual people should spirituality the way that religious people treat religion: as serious, important, and worth building a life around. Not only will it get the respect it deserves -- it will be more able to do the most vital work on the planet.
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The question will (and I am substituting "all of us" here) spiritually get serious?"
No one can attempt a serious answer without first clearly identifying what "Spiritualist" is relative to "Consciousness".
OK , what is "Spirituality" what is "self" and what is "soul" what is mind etc etc ? Are these relative to "experience" or 'words'. too?
There are methods now of testing how any action / idea / Religion / spiritual experience so it can be known just where these are as "Relative truths" A truth test can easy indicate where the example a day at the race track is as a "Spiritual truth" to say "a day of silent meditation" further more a test before and after can tell if there was a "shift" in the level of consciousness of each. The differential in the Level of Consciousness would be IMO an indicator of "Spiritual seriousness" or not.
"Spiritual seriousness" will occur world wide when carful study is done firstly on the "Nature and Structure of Consciousness itself" then any effort "serious or not serious" given to any action can be Spiritual by the measured "change" n Level of Consciousness.
I am all in favour of dropping the use of the term "Spiritual" so that it does not get mixed up with Religion ( as this article unfortunately does) . Call it what it is "Developing Consciousness" that keeps it out of the "hoo-hah" ( by the by this article tests at LOC 205, just above a average
I believe the hindrance is due to the structure of our society. Especially in this capitalistic society where time is money, people just cannot find an ample amount of time to devote themselves to spirituality, which is quite time consuming.
I was raised as a Buddhist and my aunt would take my rambunctious self to an idyllic temple that was hours away every weekend for meditations and prayers. However, after some time, it was even difficult for her, who was a simple housewife, to find time to visit the temple. What was a weekly routine had become a monthly routine to an year routine until it had become just occasional visits.
Our society forces us to conform and live a certain way -- of course, a deviance is welcomed but at a price. Until the general public embraces the need for spirituality, our society will still be the same: eating away our precious time and placing heavier burdens and assiduous stress upon us.
It is fascinating for me to read the varied beliefs and opinions of HuffPost readers regarding spirituality and religion. From those denying the existence of spirituality because "science now has the answers" to those embracing the ideals of a spiritual life while claiming they're not spiritual, it is gratifying to see that so many out there are actually thinking about what it all means. I consider myself to be a spiritual person and am always happy to share what I believe with those expressing interest. But I am also clear, perhaps in rebellion to my evangelical Christian upbringing, that what I believe is not necessarily what anyone else believes..
For me, spirituality is seeking to understand what you believe, while religion is where you turn if you're more comfortable with someone else to telling you what to believe - eliminating the need to be responsible for your own truth. This isn't a matter of right or wrong...sp
All the time. The US takes self indulgence very seriously indeed
Why, you don't?
Religion requires faith and sacrifice and says it knows everything with certainty.
Spirituality requires no faith and does not claim to know anything with certainty.
Hmmm, Really?
Look over article entitled: "Can Yoga Save the World?"
http://www
Any endeavor practiced by humans achieves the contours of human mind, .
Only the privileged few escape it due to some combination of luck and diligent practice.
Spirituality asks questions that may never be answered.
Religion gives answers that must never be questioned.
Spirituality and religion are mutually exclusive.
"Religion gives answers that must never be questioned
Not the religion I know of. But the main difference, for me, is that religion means practice. Spirituality is an important part of religion, involving contemplation and meditation, but religion requires that you put your money where your mouth is.
Religion requires you to turn off your brain and let someone feed you a pre-made meme. Anything that claims certainty should be avoided.
Spirituality, I agree though is often used as a dumb excuse for the unexamined and untested life.
Spirituality should be the tenuous ground much like Kierkegaard's fear and trembling; where one is must be awake and searching.
Hi Omegaomni,
How do you pronounce that? Plese take this as the light hearted comment it is. I see a great deal of certainty in your statement: "Anything that claims certainty should be avoided." If I adhere to the advice, I must ignore it. I guess that's why they say, "there are no absolutes" and "everything is relative"
I consider myself spiritual. I know life exists, I live it and see others doing the same. I know that love exists, I do things for others because I love them and care about their well-being. I'm curious about the how and why of these self-evident truths. I just don't try to explain them because I'm just guessing the same as everyone with "The Answer". I'll just keep practicing and learning things that have practical use.
Be Cool
little brother.
Part 1
I look at spirituality as a state of being. An essence we all have as human beings. It's something that you are, not something you become. It's an acceptance of the higher and letting go of the lower ego attributes of life. Our intrinsic nature is spiritual. You remember the saying "I'm a spiritual being having a human experience
How do I achieve enlightenment," old master was asked?
--After you eat your rice, wash the bowl, the master answered.
Part 2
We as human beings play roles in our lives. We have many personas-factory worker, Wife, Husband, Mom, Dad, caregiver, coach, teacher, business person, DR, lawyer, than Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Lutheran, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim etc. Each come with their own language, attire, lingo, social levels etc. Add trying to living a spiritual life it's no wonder we all aren't schizophrenic. If we embrace our intrinsic nature as spiritual beings and allow that to flow from us 24/7 we can live a spiritual life without thinking about it. Spirituality doesn't come with a set of instructions and accouterments. The only thing you're born with is your soul. How we evolve to meet the challenges of it are the lessons we are here to learn.
She didn't believe in transcending.
Look at the Dali Lama
that man looks anything but serious...
or calm...
these days.
Aspire to Ghandi...
try to save others some of the steps
that waste your (and their) years.
Never mind D.L, why are you so serious?
When spirituality is completely individual
it is pure...
and perhaps serious...
The quest for individuality of spirit...
becomes public...
when a person finally begins to understand
their lack of indivuality of spirit...
Perhaps spirits, when they are pure,
and protected.
are quiet and serious...
When spirituality is completely individual
it is pure...
and perhaps serious...
The quest for individuality of spirit...
becomes public...
when a person finally begins to understand
their lack of indivuality of spirit...
Perhaps spirits, when they are pure,
and protected.
are quiet and serious...
Look at the Dali Lama
that man looks anything but serious...
or calm...
these days.
Aspire to Ghandi...
try to save others some of the steps
that waste your (and their) years.
I also think that the nature of spirituality, in contrast to material reality, is that the spiritual transcends the means / ends model. One cannot engage in "spirituality" for the purpose of obtaining some benefit. That not spirituality. spirituality is that which one does as an expression of sanctification. Of course, this presents a kind of chicken and egg dilemna for "beginning a spiritual practice." But if the beginning is begun in ignorance and impure motives, a point occurs at which one "sees the light." Only after that point, if the practice becomes a giving and not an attempted taking, experiencing or gaining, does it truly become a spiritual practice.
BTW, I think it is a mistake to confuse or conflate spirituality with moralituy. I think spirituality is amoral, in that one can use higher consciousness and greater awareness for the sake of evil as well as good.
I humbly suggest that spirituality in the modern world should be understood in terms of consciousness. There is the level of automatic, biological causally determined consciousness that most of us ordinarily exist at. it offers the illusion that there is an autonomous (i.e., "divine") self that is choosing and deciding, but in fact it is a passive experience of the neurologically determined processes of the brain. But there are higher / more active levels of consciousness, which provide a sense of presence and an awareness that ordinary consciousness does not. Those levels of consciousness allow one to "cancel" a particular behavior program when it is triggered, and create a discontinuity and thus a new beginning in the causality of one's being. From a Jewish perspective, it's a move from the genetic inheritance / environmental development of nefesh consciousness to the neshamah consciousness which is connected to spheres of being beyond that which we identify as "self."
For me, spiritual practices are a way to raise one's consciousness and obtain greater awareness.
Spirituality at its heart is about the realization of an unchanging, fundamental, and absolute Truth as all the spiritual traditions of the world have taught. Its not a part time hobby and it should be taken seriously. In a culter of relativism, where anyone can get up and claim anything, spirituality almost becomes a cult. A lot of these gurus and teachers dupe and mislead a lot of people because they themselves are duped and only tell people what they want to hear.
A perfect example being reincarnation. Obviously this idea comes from the ancient eastern texts. But this topic goes to the heart of how misinformed people are who claim to think they understand what the Buddhist and ancient Vedic texts were saying. The modern day interpretation is completely false and has no foundation in the ancient texts. People who don't speak or understand sanskrit, read a literal translation and then claim to understand it.
"Let's not hedge about this. Let's be clear that intellectual giants who are spiritual infants are just as deficient in terms of human excellence as people who never exercise, or travel, or read. "
I completely and vehemently disagree. After reading countless definitions, I have no idea what "spirituality" means. I feel nor recognize any form of supernatural power or external forces. But, this has no impact on my life. I am compassionate, empathetic, open-minded, reasonable and kind. I can relax and mentally drift without calling on a spirit for guidance. I feel refreshed through fruitful thought and discovery of new and interesting ideas, not through calling on a supreme being or having a meditation leader asking me to visualize a ball of light.
The connection I feel to the rest of humanity is based on the understanding that every person feels pain, joy, fear and love in roughly the same way that I do. That is enough.
rjmiller,
This is the problem with spirituality. Everybody turns it into a subjective whim. Spirituality is not about whatever I feel makes me feel good. When you reject a supernatural power, you fundamentally are throwing in the face of Buddha, and every spiritual tradition and master who has ever lived.
Spirituality is not just about behaviour changes, and connections, etc.....Th
I specifically said the connection to my fellow man, empathy, IS enough. I'm not sure what point you are trying to make here.
"When you reject a supernatural power, you fundamentally are throwing in the face of Buddha, and every spiritual tradition and master who has ever lived."
Sure, I have no problem with that. No man is an inviolable authority. To quote an old Buddhist monk: "If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha; if you meet the patriarchs, kill the patriarchs; if you meet an Arhat, kill the Arhat; if you meet your parents, kill your parents… in this way, you attain liberation
There is no greater power. There is no soul, spirit, gods or ghosts. There is only us, and what we do to each other.
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