What is your definition of Spiritual?

[Omni]

I think the word spiritual is one word where many people mean many different things. It is a very holographic word. There may be no clear definition of such that is best, I certainly can't detect one. It is subjective in it's nature... I would like to hear what other people mean when they use the word spiritual.

To me I find the most basic definition of spiritual, to be what one enjoy's on a deeper level. So like for example, music is spiritual. To go by some definitions of spiritual, emotions are spiritual. I can agree with that. There is such thing as spiritual anguish. I have found certain forms of suffering in my life to be spiritual even...

To me all beings who are emotional are spiritual. And even those who have lesser emotions, are spiritual. A dark being could find killing and death/sacrifice spiritual. I find animals to be spiritual as well. I use the word pretty liberally and in different ways... I absolutely contest that believing in God is how one is spiritual... One's interaction or experiences relating to God may be spiritual, but believing in God or a religion is not what spiritual is IMO...

How do you use the word?

[StandingWave]

This is a really important question to ask!

I understand the word 'spiritual' to mean 'pertaining to Spirit' - which begs the question 'What is Spirit?'.

As far as I can make out, Spirit is That in which all Experience arises: Presence - or the 'sense' of Experiencing.

Someone is 'spiritual' when the foundation of awareness is 'seated' in Spirit, when one abides as Spirit. For example when one Knows - directly and immediately - that one is primarily Spirit while undergoing a Human experience, without getting lost in becoming the seemingly separate entity in the unfolding narrative. Something is 'spiritual' when it leads one or points one toward the realisation that Spirit is the ever-present bedrock of Experiencing.

[Skyhaven]

For me it means focusing your attention beyond the physical that perishes away anyway, instead I am concerned with the everlasting essence of myself. The following bit does a good job describing it as I see it:


Perhaps the best way to think about a spiritual approach to the world is to contrast it with a more common materialistic approach.

The materialistic approach: The materialistic approach relies primarily on empirical evidence provided by the five senses — what can literally be seen, heard, tasted, touched, or smelled. This approach depends on the outer appearances of things to decide how and what to think and feel about them. A materialistic person fixes whatever may be wrong or out of place in his or her world by moving things around and effecting outer changes.

The spiritual approach: In contrast, the spiritual way is to see beyond mere outer appearances and the five senses to an intuitive perception of the causes behind outer conditions. Someone with a spiritual approach may change and uplift their world by first transforming and improving his or her own state of being.

One of the main teachings of spirituality is to look within and find what you seek within yourself. The external world is ephemeral, temporary, and ever changing; in fact, your body will die one day, sweeping all those worldly accoutrements away like a mere pile of dust. Your inner realm, on the other hand, is timeless, eternal, and deeply profound.

[Agape]

An entity or a principle that manifests of itself ( the Spirit ) abides in itself and does not feed on low density energies and illusions of material nature .
'Spirit' is self-born , autonomous intelligence that can become awake in heart of every creature .
It's not a religion taught to you by someone , not an empowerment received from someone else , not anything you can borrow .

Of all things, truth and happiness are both spiritual .. and awareness is spiritual, referring to 'deeper awareness' and 'deeper truth' . Happiness is the more illusory type of 'spiritual experience' , like a rainbow it manifests for short time when conditions are perfect .

I suspect that 'mature wisdom seekers' ( those you can't see around here usually ) would say that at the end ..only awareness of all things is spiritual .

[Skyhaven]

An other definition would be: all things on the other side of the veil, the profound and everlasting, but that suggests there is a separation while there isn't really. If you think in terms of separation, you start to ask yourself how on earth is spirit embedded in matter? I'm not sure there is 'embedding' at all, it must be a touch of magic that is hard to comprehend. Just like some proven bits of science, for instance the laws of quantum mechanics are hard to comprehend with a mostly linear causal brain.

[Rich]

Matter is made of spirit, it is spirit. Maybe you could say that a person is spiritual to the degree that they are aware of the fact that they are spirit.

[Skyhaven]

Posted by EmEx (here)
Matter is made of spirit, it is spirit. Maybe you could say that a person is spiritual to the degree that they are aware of the fact that they are spirit.

Or just that they are aware.... quite hard to pinpoint abstract concepts like these.

[Rich]

I find Bashar explains things quite well.

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=5LLq96yzONo

[Arak]

For me word spiritual means that one is somehow connected to the Source. Styles may vary.

[Anchor]

To me spiritual refers to that reality that is us which lies beyond the mind and body.

We can attain spiritual consciousness in varying measures and as we progress with that the spiritual realm moves from theory to practice.

At a certain point you start to become aware that you actually walk in two worlds - tied to one and seeking the other. We find ourselves tied to the illusory realm of the material experienced in linear time and awakening to our part in the spiritual world which we glimpse as being that timeless over-whelming love and in which we start to know our connection with the totality of the infinite creation.

[WhiteFeather]

Short and Simple Omni. To be at One with everything.

[Rich]

Posted by WhiteFeather (here)
Short and Simple Omni. To be at One with everything.

They are you, they're a reflection. ~Bashar

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=GUPnOyia9LQ

[Shezbeth]

Metaphysically harmonious.

[citsym]

For me it means --- Seeker

[KaiLee]

I really only use the word as a basic describer for people when I don't know just how much they know on an intellectual basis.
It prevents ppl freaking out if they don't have understanding.
I don't really find it useful for deeper than that.

[Mu2143]

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[Antagenet]

for me, spirituality is not beliefs so much as it is a part of character, an organic holistic urge towards
love, healing, unity, sacrifice, gratitude, meaning, beauty and understanding