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What
is Spirituality?
 For
many, the term spirituality refers to religious and supernatural
beliefs, but the word itself hails from the Latin word spiritus,
which means wind or breath - referring to the "essence" of
something. Spirituality, therefore, need not refer only to the
supernatural, but can also mean those things beyond the mundane, which
have deeper and more profound meaning than our simple material needs and
shallow concerns.
These deeper meaningful aspects of life include friendship, virtue,
contentment, compassion, beauty, and many other notions which are
certainly a part of the material world we all share.
Perspective
Perhaps a foundational aspect of spirituality would be a healthy
perspective of the universe, beginning with a continual quest to become
knowledgeable about it. This includes the effort to become familiar with
the basics of science and its method.
Also included would be learning about different understandings and
opinions regarding the workings of the universe. It is not necessary to
agree with every opinion about the universe in order to understand them,
nor would this be logically possible, as many of them contradict one
another.
But second only to learning and exploration of nature, is that we
experience awe, appreciation, and humility before it. It is possible to
have a spiritual experience (or "profound experience") before
the beauty of a sunset, the luminous nebulae in a telescope, the grace of
a flying bird, or when communing with the ocean womb of life on a sandy
beach.
The universe is a stunning marvel of complex patterns on the boundary
between complete order and complete randomness. For ages, various peoples
and traditions have drawn connections between the different patterns and
forms in the universe. The Taoists refer to these patterns in nature as
"Li". New emerging sciences of chaos and complexity are
revealing the shared underlying mathematical basis between such seemingly
disparate things as galaxies and sea shells, economies and ecologies. This
is a sort of organic pattern that isn't perfectly sequential, but isn't
random either. It has a sense of balance and form that is unpredictable
yet recognizable.
Some might refer to this holistic order as a rationality infused
throughout the universe as the Stoics did. Still others may simply marvel
at and study its naturalistic complexity. In any case, we gain insight and
perspective through appreciation of the intricacy, interconnectedness, and
wholeness of the universe.
This sort of awe and reverence is expressed by scientists and the
religious alike. It can inspire art, motivate learning, and encourage
preservation and respect for the natural environment. This perspective on
the universe is one foundational element of contemplative spirituality.
Contentment
Another element of spirituality is a demeanor and a mindset of contentment
with life and the universe. This does not mean inaction or a lack of
desire for continual improvement of the world and one's self, but it does
mean a sense of calm and mature acceptance of those things which are part
of the natural order and beyond our control.
We should always keep the larger picture in mind. We should try to see the
span of one life in the context of the span of human history, and
humanity's life span in the context of the span of the universe. We should
not be petty or self consumed, or exaggerate fortunate or unfortunate
events, wallowing in self pity or reveling in gluttonous pride.
Contentment means realizing that much of our lives are affected by our
focus. We should realize that external conditions cannot always be
controlled, but that our reaction to them can be. Therefore, we
can be forward looking by choosing to focus on what can be done
rather than what cannot.
Through the will of focus, one should take note of those things which he
or she has and what he or she can work with. We should make an active
effort every day to appreciate that which is good while it lasts. Those
things which are transient are to be valued especially, for transience
does not render a thing pointless or hopeless. Like a sand castle, an ice
sculpture, or like even the Tibetan sand mandala, that which is transient
is appreciated for the moment it exists, and not as a means to some other
end. This includes relationships, wealth, health, youth, employment, and
life itself.
Death can be looked on as a natural part of life. Rather than focusing on
the last moment of a life (its end), we can shift our focus to the life as
a whole, and appreciate what existed in that unique time. Never once did
we mourn the fact that we did not exist in any of the billions of years
that came before us. Why then, would we mourn the billions of years of
absence which are to come after our life? Of course, we are all
human and will experience emotions of loss and sorrow, but this positive
and broad perspective helps us to face life with a contented acceptance,
not consumed by our passions.
Meaning
While others may receive ultimate meaning through various beliefs,
religions, or philosophies, there are concurrent sources of meaning in
life which are common to all of us. There is the previously mentioned
appreciation of the universe. There is also the challenge to continue
learning, growing, and improving ourselves. This includes continual
improvement of knowledge, wisdom, self control, and of course, virtue.
But we should also realize that a finely tuned moral agent is meaningless
unless he or she is capable of spreading good in the world. We should also
realize that we are happiest when doing good, helping others, and
generally acting to make the world a better place. This offers great
meaning in life and it is something we can all share in.
And lastly, a source of meaning lies in what we pass on to others. It is
clear that the mind resides in the neural architecture of the brain, as it
has formed through life experience. To whatever degree this architecture
can be thought of as "us", portions of these patterns are
replicated in the brains of others when we teach, when we interact with
others, and when we live by example. In the sense of the meme, we
literally pass on portions of ourselves in others. This may be taken
literally or figuratively but in either sense, it can be a profound source
of meaning.
These forms of perspective, contentment, and meaning easily fit within
several major philosophies and traditions, and are born out of
observations of the physical universe we all share as human beings. For
this reason, these realizations may help to form some of the basis for a
spirituality suitable to the naturalist.
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