Spirituality
An Introduction to Spirituality
Spirituality is an intangible concept that refers to the quest of discovering our true nature, purpose and the deeper meaning of life. Spirituality is a common theme in many religions, such as buddhism and hermeticism, however it is not in itself a religion. You can be spiritual, without following a specific religious path; one study revealed that 24% of Americans considered themselves to be spiritual, but not religious. This article takes a look at some of the main principles of spirituality, and the spiritual practice of meditation.
What is Spirituality?
Spirituality is extremely hard to define with words alone, as it encompasses so much more than what we can express with our language. Although people tend to label themselves as being ‘spiritual’ or ‘not spiritual’, almost everyone on this planet is on the proverbial spiritual path, whether they are aware of it or not.
There are many different branches of spirituality, including mystical spirituality, intellectual spirituality and secular spirituality. Here are some of the most common spiritual themes:
- Understanding that we are all connected and part of a larger reality
- Realizing that we are infinite souls
- Transcending the physical world and achieving enlightenment
- Discovering the true nature of consciousness
- Practising kindness and compassion to all beings
Everything Happens for a Reason
“Imagine that every person in the world is enlightened but you. They are all your teachers, each doing just the right things to help you learn perfect patience, perfect wisdom, perfect compassion.” - Buddha
Everything happens for a reason. You are reading this article now because you have drawn it into your reality. There are no such things as coincidences, you were meant to meet that person, to travel to that place and to go through that experience. Situations happen to teach you a spiritual lesson, and to make you a stronger person. True spiritual masters know that it is not situation that is the problem, but it is your reaction to the problem that is the problem! Once you realise that nothing ‘out there’ can ever harm your infinite spiritual nature, then you will be able to see problems as blessings, and an opportunity to evolve and grow.
The Law of Attraction
The law of attraction ties in closely with the law of karma. Modern physics tell us that there is no solid matter in our world. In fact every single object out there, whether it’s a tree or a banana, is made out of atoms whirling around in over 99.9% empty space. Everything is energy. The same applies to our thoughts and feelings, they are made out of energy too, and when you think a thought you actually emit a vibration that matches that thought out into the universe and beyond. Think of yourself as being like a radio receiver. When you are listening to the radio, you can tune into different frequencies in order to hear the type of music you want to listen to. The same applies to your body, you can choose to emit positive, high frequency thoughts that will tune you into a new, positive reality.
Some people believe that all realities and possibilities exist in every moment, and that it is our thoughts and belief systems that draw the reality we experience to us.
The law of attraction is actually a spiritual process, because by understanding and practising it you can see how every single thought and action affects the external world, and how we are all connected. You can use this powerful tool to change your life for the better.
Meditation and Spirituality
Meditation is an important spiritual practice. It involves quieting the mind, and withdrawing the senses, in order to experience the vastness of your existence. To meditate, simply sit in a relaxed position, close your eyes and watch your thoughts pass through your consciousness like clouds in the sky. As you practice meditation, your thoughts will start to dissolve away and you will experience a blissful, timeless state. This process is extremely beneficial, as it will make you realise that you are not your body, you are not you mind, and you are not your thoughts; you are a beautiful eternal soul, having a brief human experience.
