What is Spirituality?
In this investigation, why not drop all preconceptions, beliefs, religious and cultural ideas and explore the idea directly?
A little AI
The definition given by ChatGPT AI in scholar mode for the word “Spirituality” states: The term “Spirituality” comes from Latin. It stems from the root word “spiritus,” meaning “breath.”
This root word, “Breath,” is deeply significant, as life is impossible without breath. So, Spirituality’s core is the “breath of life.”
Be it the nature of language and the intellect, something defined simply as the breath or the breath of life has become one of history’s most discussed, fought over, manipulated, and exploited words, particularly when extended into religion.
Striving
This word is potent and convoluted because it describes every one of us striving to become something more. This is innate to all life, to grow, to become, from a flower to human; this stirring is the very propulsion of our existence, the driver of life. Yes, very much like a breath.
The intellect interprets this striving from within through applying logic as a goal to be achieved. Get this, get that, whether it be riches, fame, power, or love, behind all is the same striving.
So when the intellect, coupled with the heart’s longing, turns its attention to the feeling itself, the desire to grow spiritually, it assumes that something is to be gained or achieved.
The intellect then starts searching in this or that for the essence of spirit, an object of power, a sacred book, a ritual, or a practice.
The same intellectual approach is applied to achieve this goal in the same way it is used to gain, get, and own.
Wholeness
But how do you get or gain or own what you already are? Many seekers miss this: An obstacle because it is so un-obvious of all stumbling blocks, the trap of the mind, and the illusion of the intellect.
Be it innocence or ignorance, one cannot gain what one is already filled with, the breath of life; you are whole, always have been, and forever will be.
As all the sages and mystics say, over and over for thousands of years in a thousand different tounges: You are already there; there is nowhere to go, nothing to gain, nothing to do, nothing to seek, nothing to win, nothing to lose.
BUT I’M HURTING, I’M IN PAIN, I’M SUFFERING, I WANT TO KNOW WHY, the mind screams!
Exactly WHO is suffering?
I am hurting; this happened to me; they did this to me.
But that is not “I”. That is you, a memory of your past that you’ve been carrying until now. You are identifying with the pain, but who is “I”?
“I AM,” affirms a voice from within the deepest part of the self. But who is this? Who is this “I AM”?
“I AM the one within, the one who observes and acts, the changeless nameless and eternal one who has always been, and forever shall be.”
Hmmm, sound familiar?
Revelation
Ouch, the implications are enormous and potentially problematic; even more horrible with this thought: “Have I been imprisoning God?”
No, It’s even better! This is the ultimate realization and liberation; God, the universe, the ALL, whatever you “name” it, is already there within you, giving everything to you; its breath is your breath, its life is your life.
Allowing this entirely to fill you as a realization is to experience it through all your awareness, sensation, and feelings as a subline and divine ecstasy.
When it happens, you will likely be amazed, shocked, unbelieving, and bewildered. Still, a self-transformation will begin as soon as you experience the divine.
Let your thoughts on it get out of the way. Let me be very precise in this, as nothing is in the way of God; it’s only an illusion, a belief that, in some way, you have been separated and desperately want to find your way home.
Hint: It’s your intellect. Don’t tell it; it will just get mad! Or scared. Or Sad.
Intellect
The only part of you that did not come from the womb, the only part of you that can suffer, and the only part of you not from the eternal stream of life from the beginning of time is your intellect.
You collected all your experiences, learned this and that, forged ideas and connections, adopted beliefs and traditions, and learned to talk, think, and apply logic, all to survive in this world. But in so doing, bit by bit, brick by brick, you built a wall between you and the world.
You accumulated a picture of the world through your experiences and called this “me.” I AM THIS, you say. But are you?
No, it is an imprecise mirror, a memory, a functional necessity to find your way. But now, at this point, and reading these words, you can see the intellect for what it is, a happenstance accumulation of memories that, as quickly as they were formed, will most undoubtedly perish.
Simply put, thought and logic, the tools of the intellect, can not and will not be able to think of a thought or hold an idea that will tune you to spirit. However, being without thought will open your window to the divine.
This is why so many mystical traditions use mantras, songs, motion, and chants as spiritual devices; all of these give the intellect something to focus on. They are not a means but a distraction for the mind!
Meanwhile, while the intellect is busy repeating words or sounds, the practitioner is opening their awareness, which you can also call consciousness, moving away from thinking.
With the thinker out of the way, other sensations of the body and energies within begin to be recognized. Observing these unfiltered perceptions from within the self is the path to fully becoming, you.
A Simple Practice
Now let’s get that intellect out of the way and perform the powerful, illuminating, and eye-opening meditation that is the basis for beginners as well without modification is suited for the advanced practitioner:
“Rest as awareness.”
Breathe consciously, slowly in and out. Then, bring awareness to include the sounds around you, the smells, and the feeling of your clothes on your skin. Allow the feeling of relaxation and any feeling and sensation you notice. Do not think about it; rest as awareness of all your sensations. Let your mind, your intellect, go into silence.
Then, let go of focusing your awareness. Allow everything within it.
This is not easy at first as the mind will throw up all kinds of thoughts, from what to do to reactions to concerns to ideas to this and that. Don’t act on any of those thoughts. With time, your intellect will cooperate and quiet down; it is yours and will calm down, and with time and dedication, it will step aside.
Do let me know how it goes and what you experience; yes, the intellect can throw up all kinds of emotions; it believes it is your protector, so like a cornered animal, it can retaliate, and it does so with emotions. Acceptance, patience, and a little grace will let the light shine through.
OM
