December 12th, 2008 | by Jack Reichert

SPIRITUAL |ˈspiri ch oōəl|
adjective

1. of, relating to, or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.
2. of or relating to religion or religious belief.

Oxford English Dictionary

Spirituality transcends religions, specific religious beliefs and even our physical world. There is a great debate amongst religious thinkers and psychologists: Did God create man with a need to believe in something greater than himself? Or, did man create God because of his need to believe in something greater than himself?

In the end, does it really matter? Whether you are religious and believe in something greater than what you are, or  whether you are a staunch Atheist, if man has an innate need to believe in something greater than himself, then shouldn’t one work to cultivate their spirituality?

Spirituality can come in many forms, but they all have similar elements in common. It is not by chance that many religious giants grew up during the same periods of parallel giants in other religions. Research has uncovered that many of them interacted and shared ideas. According to academic research, the Baal Shem Tov (18th century father of the Jewish Hassidic movement) was part of a mystical circle that lived in the forests of Eastern Europe. Reformations were taking place in India in the fifth century B.C.E. with the arrival of Gautama Buddha just a few decades after Ezra brought the exiled Jews back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and codify the bible. Humanity is connected through and through and we have been developing in parallel for a long time.

So what IS spirituality? It is the cultivation of that connection with the creation and all that is in it. It is the connection with whatever concept of God that you believe in. It is the understanding that there are things that are beyond our comprehension. Religion has developed some very powerful ideas about this feeling that permeates man’s very fiber. There have been some very powerful concepts developed outside the boundaries of religion as well.

Man has a need to develop this sensitivity to the creation that he is a part of. I can guarantee you that if you take a few minutes each day to stop and think a little about who we are and how we fit into the big picture, your life will feel more complete and whole. Try reading, and finding out what your religion has to say about God and how you fit into the big picture. Also, you don’t have to stick with only that, read around to find out what others say. Perhaps you can incorporate into your religious life elements from outside.  You will feel like you have a purpose; even if your purpose for now is only to seek out what it is.

Image Credit: Per Ola Wiberg (Powi)..busy busy busy..

Tags: balance, happiness, human nature, religious, spiritual, virtues

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