An Intro of Spirituality

An Introduction to Spirituality

Spirituality has been defined in numerous ways. These include the belief in a power operating in the universe that is greater than oneself, a sense of interconnectedness with this power and with all living things, an awareness of the purpose and meaning of life beyond conventional terms, and the development of aspirations and personal values. Spirituality is commonly thought of as one’s personal pursuit of the divine and is not bound to any particular religious tradition.  Many seekers value the existence of different “spiritual paths,” emphasizing the importance of finding one’s own individual path to spirituality and a greater understanding of God and the absolute.  

Spirituality has its roots in spirit. All things or all life is governed and derived from a universal life force. This universal life force is invisible and intangible, yet it serves as the basic or raw substance from which all living things exist. Another way of looking at this universal life force is that it is the vital energy behind and through which life expresses itself. We are talking about an infinite body of energy that permeates all substance and provides stimulation to the atom at the basic form of structure. This life force is intelligent. It is often referred to as universal consciousness or the all-encompassing universal spirit. The spirit is the intangible essence of our being and form. Have you ever stopped to think about what really motivates your life? Is it your brain, or is there some other force at work which acts through the brain as some sort of central mediator for thought? Your spirit stands behind who and what you see when you look into the mirror.

When envisioning what our spirit looks like, we can picture a hologram of ourselves. A hologram is basically a projection of a tangible object that produces the effect of an apparition. The holographic effect is produced using laser light and can only be seen when the laser lights are activated. The spirit is our individual hologram. The spirit does not require lasers to be activated, but rather is continuously animated by its own source of light or pure energy. The source of the spirit’s energy is the soul, which is located within the heart. While the spirit is continuously animated by the energy or light of the soul, we each have the ability to further stimulate and enhance our individual spirit through a deeper bond of kinship with our soul. A deeper bond with our soul begins through simple awareness, understanding, and acceptance of the fact that you have the innate ability to expedite the spiritual development and expansion process by focusing upon your soul. 

The spirit is also referred to as the aura or auric energy field. The auric energy field or hologram permeates the tangible body and extends outward from the body an average of a few feet. The energy comprising the aura is also intangible and is therefore difficult to see with the naked eye. People often catch a glimpse of the aura through the mind’s eye, but more often become aware of it through intuitive sense and feeling. The human aura contains all essential ingredients necessary to enable you to function as a living organism, from the tiniest molecules comprising your DNA to your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and all characteristics that make up your personage. The energy comprising the auric energy field is in a constant state of fluctuation, which can be easy to relate to considering our feelings and emotions regularly fluctuate and our thoughts often run chaotic.

While a hologram produced with lasers must use a tangible object to project its effects, the spirit works in the opposite fashion. The spirit, drawing its vital energy from the soul (source), sustains and projects the body. In other words, lasers produce effects going from tangible (the solid object) to intangible (the hologram). The spirit produces effects going from the intangible spirit (vital energy) to the tangible object (your physical body). Does this mean you are a projection of your spirit? You are. However, that can be a bit difficult to conceptualize at this point, so it is best to take it on faith.

Spirituality, when openly understood and accepted, and combined with the proper “can do” attitude, can help you immensely to be more successful in any area of life you choose. Whether it is wealth, relationships, family, service, or personal interests, it makes no difference. Achieving success in the physical arena can certainly be rewarding in many respects, but we may sometimes still find ourselves asking the question of whether or not it is enough. Success often comes in various stages and can be continuous, depending on the diligence and creative pursuits of the individual. Material or financial success can also be a momentary thing. If a person unexpectedly attains wealth and then kicks back, relaxes, and basically does nothing but spend, consume, and travel for a time, how long can that lifestyle last? OK, so you’ve attained wealth; however, after the ego is ballooned with hot air and the novelty wears off, is there not still a void left unfulfilled? You might not know what that void is, but intuitively, you’re sure it exists because a feeling of emptiness gnaws away at you from deep inside.

This empty space, whether consciously realized or not, has its roots in the most important two unanswered questions that we all have. “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” An individual who one day asks this self-reflective question has taken the most important basic first step toward spiritual growth and understanding the meaning of life. The spirit within this person has awakened him or her to begin a quest for individual meaning and purpose. Individual spirituality has begun to bubble.

Spirituality is something for each individual to pursue on an individual basis. You can read many books on the subject, which is certainly encouraged, but they will only provide you with guidance. Most spiritually related guidance provides a general context for the meaning and purpose of life. We do that, as well, in our course. Though you can read and search externally all you like for answers to these curiosities, the void will still remain for the following reason. The meaning and purpose of life are the meaning and purpose of life for you. No one else can give you these two bits of understanding any more than they can eat, think, or sleep for you. You must find it for yourself, and there is but one place to look. Individual Spirituality is discovered, realized, and expanded upon only through the Individual Spirit. This process is facilitated by looking within yourself to your own soul. This is true for two basic reasons, which, coincidentally, correspond to our previous two questions of “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” One, the meaning of life has relevance for only one person. That person is you, and it is based on your individual perception and life experience. Two, your purpose is unique only to you based on that perception, combined with your individual creative talents, characteristics, and love of life. You were created with many talents and characteristics all your own, and you have unlimited creative abilities to exercise those gifts and bring forth your greater purpose into reality. Of all the qualities you have, your spirituality reigns supreme. Your spirituality supersedes and superimposes itself over all of your other qualities to help you rediscover, redefine, broaden, and beautify your personage so that you can reach your highest potential. In other words, your spirituality enhances qualities you have and sparks new qualities that you don’t know you have. In light of this, when the meaning of your life is discovered, the question of “Who am I?” will be answered. When your purpose is discovered, the question of “Why am I here>” will be answered.

When one considers the subject of spirituality, one must also consider the subject of God. The two go hand in hand and are inseparable. Spirituality without God is like a plane coasting down the runway that never takes off to explore the sky. The topic of God, however, is so broad, diverse, and open to individual perception and interpretation that, aside from defining God as “the pure essence of intangible energy,” we won’t elaborate on it any further here. We’ll engage in a lengthy and in-depth discussion of what constitutes God, at least from the perspective of this University, in Volume One of our course and in the Hallway of Higher Learning. The intention of the University of Spirituality is to help students understand God from an individual perspective through individual spirituality, personal experience, human relations, and service to the greater good. At the beginning stages of spiritual education, attempting to understand God as the principle that governs the entire universe and all life is unrealistic and impractical. It is like the humorous scenario where the student fish asks the philosopher fish, “So what’s this ocean you keep talking about?” We will say that while the subjects of God and spirituality truly complement each other, you do not have to discuss them with anyone else unless you feel comfortable. Spirituality is a process of self-analysis and self-discovery, as is your perception of God. Feel free to discuss your views and experiences with others, but there is no need to convince any one of your perspectives. The pursuit of individual spiritual development is between you and God. It always has been and always will be.

Our goal here at the University of Spirituality is to teach awareness of the spiritual force of God at the individual level. Though we do offer guidance on prayer, meditation or communion, our function is only to bring awareness to these tools of enhancing a deeper connection with your spirit. In short, we cannot teach you how to pray. That is something you will have to learn yourself. We also offer guidance on affirmations to strengthen beneficial self-improvement habits and other practices, as well as other words and phrases to help you rid yourself of those all too common self-destructive habits. Though the University of Spirituality provides a wide array of informational guidance to help you to get in touch with what makes you tick, our function is more to help you help yourself in these areas. In a nutshell, you are the only one who can educate and develop your spirituality, and this endeavor can only be accomplished through strengthening and enriching the bond between you and your spirit. You already possess everything you need to change your field of perception from a “go-with-the-flow observer” to an “active participator” As an active participator, you will express more of the numerous and talented qualities you already have.

Your spirit is a truly amazing system of energy that is an integral part of your internal make-up. Your spirit exists to serve you. The energy of your spirit serves to stimulate abilities that lie hidden within you, thereby helping you immensely to realize much greater potential. Awakening your greater potential requires stimulating an increased awareness about yourself. To begin the process of stimulation, you merely have to learn and accept two basic truths about the nature of your being. One, you must begin to develop an awareness that your spirit even exists. Two, you must begin to accept the truth that you are a spiritual being. Whatever way you desire to perceive the existence of this invisible force is up to you because simple acknowledgment stimulates action within the mind. Stimulated awareness is the key first step. Having awareness that you are a spiritual being redirects the focus of your attention upon the spirit. Think of your spirit as a long-lost best friend who lives within you. Your spirit holds a sincere desire to become reacquainted with you and reeducate you about your true being. We say this with deep conviction because although the University of Spirituality provides plentiful guidance on this website, as well as a thorough course in self-mastery, you are your own best source of truth for your own progression. While our motto is ‘Reach In and Touch Someone,’ it also translates to ‘Let Your Spirit Be Your Guide.’ Namely, spiritual development is completely individual. You can read all that you like about spirituality from an external source, but reading can never produce a person expressing his or her full potential of spirituality. That comes only through enhancing the qualities of individual discipline, self-responsibility, self-reliance, patience and, above all, time to nurture individual talents. We encourage each individual student to begin cultivating a deep bond of trust with your inner self.

Some schools of thought believe that the physical life is suffering and that heaven or some other more joyous form of life is only attainable after departing from the physical body. There is considerable suffering in the physical life, yet suffering is only a part of reality because humanity as a whole has lost touch with its spiritual roots. Suffering is usually never quickly surmounted, but understanding from a deep perspective why you are suffering can ease the effects. In other words, educational awareness of the why of suffering expedites the process of healing.

If you decide to undertake the path of spiritual development, there is one word with which you ought to become thoroughly familiar, even saturated. That word is energy. All life, in its basic pure essence, is energy. The energy or life force is referred to in various ways with Chi, Prana, Kundalini and Vital Energy, to name a few. The University of Spirituality refers to this energy as God, the Holy Spirit, Spirit, Love, or Light.

Meditation, Science of meditation, Spiritual Health, Yoga