posted August 04, 2006 10:15 PM         

So what is SPIRITUALITY? What does it mean to be spiritual?

posted August 05, 2006 12:55 AM         

It is without religious dogmas to follow or rituals to follow. If you wanna follow it. Its your choice but don't be cruel to your neighbor. No murder.

People talk of different paths to God.
When one follows spirituality they will soon realize that the path is no different than the goal i.e. the path itself is God.

posted August 05, 2006 01:30 AM         

is SPIRITUALITY connected to universal, unconditional, unlimited... So by the definition it can not be described, defined Any attempts to define- limit it???

Can someone be more spiritual than other?

posted August 05, 2006 01:49 AM         

Sprituality begins with self inquiry. The nature is an external world. Eternal but everchanging.(Darwin's theory is an example of the change to species in our external world). I gather your question is : Is the internal world (unlimited) that one connects to when we are spiritual, eternal and ever changing too or it limited by our own experience? In chinese theres some proverb that says "Pain" word should not be written , it must be experienced. So is this internal world when we connect to. Everyone may have slipped from their body to this internal world many times

Spirituality will teach you that everyone is a child of God and hence really equal. So the brightest and the best must become the humblest and help others on the way for his own development.

What happens when that brightest attains the goal? Will there be an hierarchy after life? Well the answer to those question will be as philosophical as the answer to the question why are we here? In my experience, most gurus will actually not entertain such questions initially.

posted August 05, 2006 02:00 AM         

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is SPIRITUALITY connected to universal, unconditional, unlimited... So by the definition it can not be described, defined

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I think many people have their belief systems about spirituality. It is my belief that to a great extent it is about being connected with the spirit world, the universe, nature, understanding the physical... and more importantly knowing thyself... connecting, communicating and sharing!

Cheers,

posted August 05, 2006 02:13 AM         

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You are totally right.. It cannot be defined it has to be experienced.

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Mannu... I agree! It cannot be defined unless experienced. I left that out. Many people speak about being spritual and so on without experiencing the greater truths.

I also think that there is a time for everything... and many are not evolved to that stage even the one's who called themselves spiritual.

I don't know if this is the best place to mention this... but any how, I will: In my experience and those few whom I've met.... something has to die in you; it is as if one dies in one area (but in a one that truly hurts) and he or she is reborn in another, which is a more enlightning... where one feels completely different from others... something transcendental, which at first, it is difficult to comprehend, but with time one will. Again, when the time is ready for you-- if that makes any sense, guys! For me it does...

Cheers,

posted August 05, 2006 02:22 AM         

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Can someone be more spiritual than other?

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Well, everybody is equal... but some have reached a more evolved state, in that matter.

posted August 05, 2006 02:25 AM         

As I said before, when you are truely spiritual, every religion will accept you.
Rituals are part and parcel of religion.
Even though gurus do not need to go thru rituals , they look at their surrounding and see sheeps in need of sheperd and feeling pity on them, they go thru the ritual. This way they hope they will get the essence of that ritual.

posted August 05, 2006 02:27 AM         

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What happens when that brightest attains the goal? Will there be an hierarchy after life? Well the answer to those question will be as philosophical as the answer to the question why are we here? In my experience, most gurus will actually not entertain such questions initially.

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Good points Mannu... Also,
we may attain the goal but we never stop learning. If one does than we stop growing... even the brightest have a mentor of their own.

posted August 05, 2006 02:35 AM         

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As I said before, when you are truely spiritual, every religion will accept you.

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I think to be spiritual one has to understand religion, also.

posted August 05, 2006 03:43 AM         

But outside the instititution, I believe the spiritualist wud not have broken any law such as "no stealing", "no murder", "no insults" etc. These laws are universal in all religions. Hence I said a spiritualist is found acceptance by every religious people. It seems like generalization because laws such as polygamy is not universal in all religions. Anyway, a point was observed

Most religions have a founder (a prophet, or a priest or sometimes even a king). The disciples have an allegiance to them and they want to continue that tradition.

If we consider the other way "A religious person is found acceptance by every spiritualist." This is even true because the spiritualist knows and understands the reasoning behind the rituals/ceremonies. For example circumcision denotes I renounce pleasure, and I seek God who is more importannt. To my mind atleast this is so. Flowers , incense is great during worship as it uplifts us as well.

So yaa, I agree with you. Understanding religious helps to be spiritual.

Now does one need to be religious when spiritual? Well to maintain your spirituality, you will have to keep your mind purified. For example , some people decide to immerse themselves in scripture reading to avoid evil thoughts. Some pray near the statues of their deity God. Some excellent spritualists and super ones will ensure that the other sheeps also emulate him/her for a reason. With time the answer to the question will change. In these days we are surrounded by noice. Its hard to find a place full of silence. Singing songs that uplifts ones mind and those of others is great too. May not have to be only traditional choir songs. It cud be anything positive and uplifting. Theres yoga as physical exercise. When the body is fit, it can perform better. Fasting helps both physically as well as helps us control our mind.

posted August 07, 2006 06:20 AM         

Geminstone, you have simpilified the message very much as I understand what spirituality is.If spirituality is all - encompassing, than it is in every being It is everywhere, so, to say Im spiritual is to say: Im a human being...
How do one become more spiritual then? ???Listening to the teachers, reading, follow the practice? Is not it all complying with certain conditions as part of spiritual path?..

But if spirituality is in everywhere then any path is spiritual?

How do we get off self-deception which our mind sets on us?

Big hug!

posted August 07, 2006 07:04 AM         

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How do we get off self-deception which our mind sets on us?

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The only one that can deceive you is YOU! Remember that our eyes may deceive us, but not your third eye!

posted August 07, 2006 09:02 AM         

is spirituality then a bogus?

and there are no high intelligence then? ))

Is spirituality just a reson to grow? But we do not control our heartbeat, we do not grow our hair!!! Fayte, welldone on hair string ))...cheeky and so smart dear friend.. there are things outside the control of our mind, and outside our reason, then obviously the reason is limited....And our attemts to at knowing the spirituality are limited also?

posted August 07, 2006 01:22 PM         

I got kind of confused going back and forth with everyone's answers.

How do I define Spirituality?

Wow.

It's a good question, because when people ask me my religious beliefs, I tell them that I believe in Spirituality. Well what does that mean? Spirituality is not something you can learn by going to a church, school, or congregation of any sort. Spirituality is self-discovery, open-minded-ness, seeing the big picture of who we are, what we are, and why we are here. Spirituality is seeing the Universe as ever-expanding and never ending. It is seeing ourselves as a part of the Universe..........it is understanding that the Universe is an opportunity to never stop learning. Spirituality comes from the heart/soul level. How are we all connected? What is the meaning of life? What is the basic foundation and purpose of why we are all here? We are spirits/souls who have chosen to come to school (earth) for certain lessons on this plane.

My beliefs;karma, reincarnation, numerology, astrology, positive energy, positive thinking, etc. cannot be learned/taught in any institution. I was raised Catholic, but I don't believe that a "God" that created us out of Love will send us to a location called "hell" if we are "bad". I think religions are very limiting and Spirituality is non-limiting.

Spirituality is realization that each microscopic particle to each macroscopic piece is a member of the WHOLE.

posted August 07, 2006 02:00 PM         

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How do we get off self-deception which our mind sets on us?

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By following various Japa (or exercises) prescribed by your teacher. As I said before, its very very tough in ones lifetime to be a self guru. When you are ready the real Master will come to you. A bond will be formed that was meant to be.

I have described several times about such a guru. If the river is God, the reservoir is like a Master and we human beings are individual taps. Theres water in all. But quantity is different in each.

We have to tame our mind, its important. No drugs, alcolhols, etc that alters mind. One becomes prey to bad entities out there and people start self justifying their habits/practice/beliefs.

- Listening to uplifting music or pursuing a hobby
- Choosing a career that gives you peace at end of day. For example if you like to assist people in need, become a nurse. After all what a man/woman thinks all day, he/she becomes that.
- Meditation

etc...

posted August 08, 2006 04:52 AM         

When I question who is growing me, who am I... I think of myself as collective memories, voices, desires, hurts, dreams, pains, laughs.Like that tiny koleidoscope I talked about in travel pictures )

And its me, because these pictures - me spinning, yet its not me because I can observe it. When you let it spinning, and life to go thru you from outside in, and back, you realise your empty, just space.. Your not solid, no barrier of any kind, no barrier of concept.This is my feeling of hollow bamboo,Tao, and perhaps spirituality is just a great unknown...

posted August 15, 2006 05:10 AM         

Self-deception?
Wonder where self-deception comes from? Does it happen because our conditionng pushing it?and displacing the reality.

posted August 15, 2006 08:35 AM         

????
"hair" string??????

posted August 16, 2006 06:11 AM         

thank you for replying to one of my topics, i feel excited you did since I do sincerely value your word..

String = thread. sorry i was perhaps too original
Cant remember, think it was you who has created a topic on hair growth some time ago..

so I wanted to say - Thank you!