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Post by Aj_June on Jan 30, 2019 17:24:59 GMT
Now, let's not get hung up on definitions. You are welcome to have your own definition of spirituality. Most people define it differently anyway. So my main question is for people who identify with the feeling of being spiritual - Is the feeling of spirituality close to the feeling of happiness? I am not saying that those two words are synonyms but merely asking if in general when you feel spiritual do you also feel happy or is there a very big distinction between them? Say you are capable of feeling spiritual without being happy? I understand that different people may have different answers to my question. I have seen people on the internet claiming that they can feel spirituality even in pain and sorrow. But I wonder if that's a common thing. I never feel spiritual. I can feel happy at times though I don't feel happy nowadays like I used to in my childhood. But I have never had any feeling of spirituality and thus I can't even imagine how does it feel like when you feel spiritual?
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Post by CoolJGS☺ on Jan 30, 2019 19:38:49 GMT
I don't think spirituality is as much an basic emotion as it is a desire or even need.
So we can be unhappy and spiritual just as we can be depressed and hungry or in a committed relationship while being angry with that person.
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Post by goz on Jan 31, 2019 1:08:26 GMT
Because I am an agnostic atheist, 'people' accuse me of not being 'spiritual' because I don't have a religious belief.
To me this is obviously a matter of semantics butt the meaning of the word 'spiritual' is very special to me.
Without a belief in a god figure of creator, it doesn't mean that I feel that the whole of life and humans and nature is explained or unexplained.
I don't rely on science to define everything and I don't rely on the 'supernatural'.
THIS DOES NOT however rule out 'spirituality.
There is always the unknowable butt MORE importantly there is humans...people...family friends, countrymen, world citizens, past humans, future humans etc etc etc
and THAT is where I find my spirituality. The human...humanity...…..EMPATHY.
I will also go further and say that my empathy extends to animals, natural phenomena , flora and fauna and an appreciation of all that is in this world that we live in.
Much in life and nature is NOT understood and the quest for this encapsulates my 'spirituality'.
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Post by Aj_June on Jan 31, 2019 4:08:38 GMT
Thanks for the replies. More answers are welcome.  |
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Post by geode on Jan 31, 2019 7:01:14 GMT
Now, let's not get hung up on definitions. You are welcome to have your own definition of spirituality. Most people define it differently anyway. So my main question is for people who identify with the feeling of being spiritual - Is the feeling of spirituality close to the feeling of happiness? I am not saying that those two words are synonyms but merely asking if in general when you feel spiritual do you also feel happy or is there a very big distinction between them? Say you are capable of feeling spiritual without being happy? I understand that different people may have different answers to my question. I have seen people on the internet claiming that they can feel spirituality even in pain and sorrow. But I wonder if that's a common thing. I never feel spiritual. I can feel happy at times though I don't feel happy nowadays like I used to in my childhood. But I have never had any feeling of spirituality and thus I can't even imagine how does it feel like when you feel spiritual?
I find for myself that spirituality and happiness are at least partly connected. When I am feeling the most spiritually connected I am the happiest. I find more contentment when feeling spiritual. But I think one can be less than happy even when feeling, or at lesst acting in aa spiritual way. The story of Job in the Bible sort of shows this to be the case. In some religious groups, including the one I grew up in, people are taught to feel guilty when they do not act in according to what they have been told to do or even think. This causes unhappinesses. As such this may be a demonstration of where religion is actually seperate from true spirituality. To me spirituality leads to finding a oneness with my fellow man and to pursue their betterment as well as my own. In my opinion this also leads to being closer to God. However, one can be very spiritual without belief in any gods. |
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Post by Zos on Jan 31, 2019 17:16:11 GMT
Spirituality is a far likelier path to happiness than religion which only exists to propogate itself and is ultimately like any other big business.
Myself though, not so much.
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Post by The Herald Erjen on Jan 31, 2019 19:49:56 GMT
Actually, some of the most spiritual moments of my life were spent in T-total misery. So yes, it is possible.
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Post by Arlon10 on Feb 1, 2019 2:45:58 GMT
Some other meanings people have for spiritual ...
Detached, Dispassionate, Objective, Impersonal, Austere, Benevolent, Propitious, Patient, Modest, Peaceful, Gentle
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Post by Aj_June on Feb 2, 2019 13:16:25 GMT
Some other meanings people have for spiritual ... Detached, Dispassionate, Objective, Impersonal, Austere, Benevolent, Propitious, Patient, Modest, Peaceful, Gentle I believe Shaivites and some monastic Christians exhibit qualities of austerity, modesty and detachment from worldly pleasures. I have a very deep respect for some of the Shaivites and old school Christians who actually live up to their values rather than your average Hindus and Christians who are far too much into politics and often do not hold on to their committed values. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2019 13:23:28 GMT
I regard myself as a spiritual person. Living my life 'spiritually' - I live by some very basic rules: Treat other people the way you want to be treated Never Judge others Be kind to All Live your life being 'positive' - i.e. 'glass half full' as opposed to 'half emplty' Practice Mindfulness Concentrate on the present moment and task at hand 'If you want to be happy than be' - old Tolstoy quote i'm fascinated by religion. as opposed to 'hating' on other religions I like to look at how close many are. went to a Catholic University and shockingly it was mandatory to take Theology classes - which sometimes delved into Eastern Philosophy / Religion - it caused me to gain a great appreciation for all cultures over the globe. Bought this awesome book recently - which ties in sayings from Jesus, Buddha, Krisna, Lao-Tzu - how their sayings all relate on many ways on similar topics concerning being peaceful, a happy person, treating others with respect, concentrating on the task at hand, not being greedy and being grateful/thankful.   |
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Post by Aj_June on Feb 2, 2019 13:28:11 GMT
@screamingtreefrogs
Nice to see you on this board, Screaming. I find your positivity extremely comforting. I like this value in you that all people and communities are deserving of respect. It's something that we don't see often when people say only my religion is true and you all are going to hell if you don't join our wagon.
BTW, I have never felt spiritual. Any advice on how I can feel spirituality inside me? Anything I can do?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2019 13:34:32 GMT
@screamingtreefrogs Nice to see you on this board, Screaming. I find your positivity extremely comforting. I like this value in you that all people and communities are deserving of respect. It's something that we don't see often when people say only my religion is true and you all are going to hell if you don't join our wagon. BTW, I have never felt spiritual. Any advice on how I can feel spirituality inside me? Anything I can do? Thanks AJ, I always go back to the old quote from Russian writer Leo Tolstoy (author of War and Peace) - 'If you want to be happy, than be'. Pretty much meaning happiness is all a mindset - and no matter what condition you are in life - you can choose to be happy. Kind of cool how lots of Eastern Philosophies/Religions feel the same too - i.e. I Ching ..... Have a good weekend |
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