Human Development
Spiritual life
Description:
The spiritual life is seen as a constant striving for higher values. Although at the level of the cosmic whole all may be said to be one, there are endless means by which such cosmic awareness may be approached; whether through a personal God, an impersonal truth, the spirit of nature, equality, freedom and so on. Whatever the means, the spiritual life is marked by progressive change in a person's behaviour and, as Christian teaching puts it, his or her conduct demonstrates more and more clearly the spiritual relationship to God. Christian teaching also emphasizes the effect of physical and mental health on progress in the spiritual life, such progress being impeded by over-zealous physical austerities, and this avoidance of extreme asceticism is echoed in the Vedas. However, most religions warn against the idea that the spiritual life is easy: "the good is one, the pleasant another; both command the soul. Who follows the good, attains sanctity; who follows the pleasant, drops out of the race. (Katha Upanishad)". "I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother. He that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me" (St Matthew's Gospel). The apparent contradiction is overridden by the fact that, however hard the going may be, the spiritual life brings peace of mind, "that peace which the world cannot give". This "spiritual wellbeing" has been shown to be more widespread among individuals having a set of spiritual beliefs than among those who do not.Spiritual life involves loss of self, sacrifice, inner transformation and change. The change in attitude effects every element from the most trivial and earthy to the highest. It is not enough to take part in spiritual exercises such as yoga or meditation - these may be useful but they may simply bolster up the ego or false self, and bring no real change. The letting go and surrender have to be constant, every moment of the day, not just in those parts of life one may label spiritual. Nevertheless, spiritual exercises of stillness, meditation and prayer are necessary. Detachment, withdrawal into the soul's ground, awareness of nothingness before God may eventually be experienced throughout life but will probably start through spiritual exercise. This has to be balanced with committed activity, not swamped by it.