What is Spirituality?
While this page in part answers “What is Spirituality?” it also
importantly covers “What is NOT Spirituality?” and is a must read if
you or someone you care about is on a spiritual path, or spiritually
curious.
It contains urgent, timely warnings of which every spiritual seeker
needs to be aware. Read this page in conjunction with Spiritual
Happiness for the answers you seek to your question, “What is
Spirituality?”
Recent Concerns
The term “spiritual" covers a huge range of beliefs and
conditions
the world over, and while spirituality is a very individual, personal
choice, recently I have had cause to become very concerned.
Propaganda has crossed my screen originating from people who
espouse their own brand of spirituality. As someone who is not a
participant in organised religion, for me that is not a problem. As I
have previously written, I believe the spirituality that serves you
best is the one you have discovered that is a fit for your beliefs and
attitudes. Within reason, no one has a right to dictate to you what
that will be.
Some of the propaganda I have received recently, while wrapped in
a spiritual coating, is blatantly not of a spiritual nature. There are
many people describing themselves as “spiritual” while
also displaying behaviour which is clearly ego-driven. This can be
very dangerous for those starting to explore their own spirituality by
examining the spiritual world.
While it is not my place to tell you what spirituality should
be for you, I do feel entitled to share my opinion of what it is NOT.
What is Spirituality?
To help you define what spirituality is, this list of recent behaviours
performed in the name of spirituality which definitely are not
spiritual:
· Displaying behaviours which puts human life at risk in the name
of upholding your rights – is not spiritual
· Videoing yourself instigating an incident whereby you uphold
your rights by blatantly flouting laws put in place to protect you and
your community – is not spiritual
· Publishing videos of yourself aggressively threatening people
whose job it is to protect you – is not spiritual
· Inciting others to contempt of community protections – is not
spiritual
· Valuing money above human life – is not spiritual
· Indulging your ego by seeking publicity – is not spiritual
· Indulging your ego by seeking to gather followers – is not
spiritual
· Indulging your ego by seeking to influence others to exhibit
behaviours which are not in their best interests or the best interests
of humanity – is not spiritual
· Indulging your ego by flaunting your “spirituality” in order to
attract people – sexually, financially or otherwise – is not spiritual
Vulnerable
Often, those wondering, “What is Spirituality?” are in a very
vulnerable state. Often they have undergone trauma and are looking
for support on a deeper level to assist their recovery or to help them
navigate a path to safety and stability.
Sadly, during their search they may encounter people who, at the
outset, appear to have answers. These people often appear to be
mystical, spiritually connected, and/or knowledgeable. Sometimes
they are charismatic, attractive, charming. Sometimes their
intentions are pure and they seek only to help those in need.
Charlatans
History (and the internet) is polluted with charlatans whose
intentions were never good, along with people who start out with
the best of intentions, but their ego takes over when they start
receiving some attention.
One such charlatan was Anne Hamilton-Byrne, now deceased,
whose charm and charisma was so plentiful that she convinced her
followers - many of them professional people - that she was Jesus
Christ reincarnated and had them change their lives, join her cult
and hand over their children to her to raise, and their assets for her
to squander on herself.
Of course, this is an extreme example of the type of people you can
encounter on your spiritual path if you don't exercise a little
skepticism and a lot of awareness.
There are organisations for which the term “dubious” is a gross
understatement. If you have the slightest doubt about people you
are meeting, or the philosophies they espouse, no matter how
fascinating they seem, please trust your intuition and run in the
opposite direction.
At least have someone you know and trust give you their opinion
before you become too involved.
Use the bullet point list above as a warning checklist.
Uncertain Times
In this time of uncertainty, while many of us are questioning so
much about our lives, there are people out there looking for
vulnerable people to influence.
They wear their “spirituality” like a cloak to attract the vulnerable,
but underneath the cloak there is often nothing spiritual – and they
can be downright evil.
They could have their political, egotistical, financial or sexual
advantage in mind - not your spiritual fulfillment - so please be
careful as you navigate your path to forming your own opinion of
“What is Spirituality?”
Who Can I Trust?
A spiritually strong person is so connected to their higher self that
their ego is diminished. They do not need or seek the admiration of
“followers” to prove their worth. Their ego does not constantly
require feeding – they are very comfortable with who they are, with
or without witnesses. They are usually not materialistic, and their
spirituality is not constantly on show. (Think more Mother Teresa
and less Donald Trump).
Spiritual support is vital to a happy life, but it needs to be provided
in a manner which is in the best interests of the person seeking
support, not the purported spiritual teacher. If you are seeking the
answer to “What is Spirituality?” please be objective when lending
your personal support to any cause purporting to be spiritual.
Investigate other factors which could be at play and ask yourself if
the behaviours required of you are in your best interests – or theirs.
Find more information to answer "What is Spirituality?" on our
Spiritual Happiness page.
To SPIRITUAL HAPPINESS from WHAT IS SPIRITUALITY
To HAPPY LIFE HOME from WHAT IS SPIRITUALITY
