What is spiritual development?
Spiritual development is actually a process during which a person understands himself, his reactions, sensations, his purpose and needs. When does the search for answers to questions about who I am, where I come from and why I came to the fore come to the fore? There are levels of consciousness in society, with the help of which it is possible to find the necessary answers, these are: moral, aesthetic, political, religious, legal and scientific.
The need to develop is not built into a person from birth, but is manifested and activated in the process of socialization and knowledge of oneself as an individual. There are no limits to spiritual knowledge; everyone determines the boundaries and resources for further searches.
A person can consider himself spiritual if he consciously knows how to accept others as they are. Something like a parent's unconditional love, has achieved peace of mind and peace, and also has faith in something good in his heart. Let's look at each component in more detail:
1.Mindfulness
In fact, this is a very courageous decision when a person stops deceiving himself and decides to get rid of illusions and fantasies, preferring to still notice reality, no matter how terrible and destructive it may be. Then the ability to accept the imperfections of this world, other people and oneself appears. In return there is freedom. A person understands what and why he is doing. He can predict and explain his reactions to any events because he is aware of the sensations that arise. This is a rare, but justified courage when you allow yourself to be sincere not only with others, but above all with yourself.
2.Unconditional love
Usually it occurs among parents in relation to their children, when they love them not for anything, but only because they exist in this world. If we slightly modify this type of love, we can reformulate it like this:
A morally developed person is capable of not only noticing this world with all its shortcomings, but also loving it at the same time, and not for something, but directly in spite of it.
Then the ability to empathize, that is, empathy, sympathy and compassion, develops greatly.
3.Faith
We have already talked in the article “TOP 10 methods for attracting success in all your endeavors” that in order to achieve the necessary results, the most important thing is our faith that everything will work out and that everything will work out. Do you remember about the effect of affirmations? If you tune your subconscious and devote all your energy to exactly what you have planned, it will definitely happen, and then a person will be able to reveal his full potential, knowing that there is outside support and something magical that you can rely on.
4.Feeling of inner balance
This state is probably called nirvana. When there is no anxiety, worry, feelings of irritation and helplessness, guilt, sadness and shame. A person seems to be filled from exhaustion with warmth, which gives a feeling of satisfaction, calmness and confidence. When there is no urgent need to satisfy any need, but on the contrary, a process of assimilation occurs, that is, assimilation of the experience gained. This state cannot be acquired once and for all, because life is different, with different situations that can sometimes pull the rug out from under one’s feet, but still, with spiritual development, by combining the previous components, a person strives to gain a sense of balance.
Stages of spiritual growth
Since spiritual growth involves the improvement of the mind, every person is at a certain stage of spiritual growth, whether he wants it or not.
The human mind is a subtle structure. The frequency of vibrations of the mind lies in the range from 10 to the 36th degree to 10 to the 45th degree Hertz.
The higher the vibration frequency, the higher the level of spiritual development. In saints and enlightened people, the mind vibrates with a frequency completely uncharacteristic of it. And it emits vibrations of 10 to 108 degrees Hertz. This wave is otherwise called love.
The transition from one stage to another is always a crisis. It is always accompanied by a restructuring of the worldview, the breaking of outdated, outdated views. It is almost impossible to overcome a spiritual crisis on your own; you need the help of a teacher or mentor. Let's briefly look at all the stages of personal spiritual growth.
What happens as a result of this development?
1.Health
A person who strives to develop his morality improves his health, compared to others, he is less susceptible to diseases and lives longer. Because the balance of the inner world affects the physical condition. Have you heard of such a concept as psychosomatics? This is a direction in psychotherapy and psychology that studies the connection between a person’s feelings and his health. That is, all our ailments and diagnoses arise as a result of retained feelings, stress that we could not cope with.
For example, a person who reacts to many situations with resentment, which he constantly keeps within himself. Most likely, as a result, he will have a stomach ulcer, because he directs energy deep into himself, preferring to unconsciously destroy his body for various reasons. Therefore, a person who strives to achieve balance is deprived of such a feature as retaining negative feelings, which helps to improve her health.
2. There is a more effective process of socialization and personal growth
Due to the fact that a person is balanced and aware, he knows how to build relationships with other people. Understands their intentions and the purpose of their actions. Therefore, he does a much better job. Wins success and quickly resolves complex and conflict situations. He knows how to cooperate and, most importantly, understands that an inextricable process takes place in this world, that when we receive something, we must give it back. If even one part stalls, it will be impossible to achieve harmony.
Have you ever noticed people who only want to receive, but give nothing in return? Or vice versa, when everything is for others, but they don’t care about themselves? Can they be called happy? I really doubt. Such one-sided views on life will not lead to success, much less help you advance in your development.
Becomes happier
As a result of the fact that a person becomes more conscious, takes care of his health and quality of life, over time he gains not only a sense of internal balance, but also a feeling of happiness. He is practically not subject to stress, because the style of responding to various situations changes, which becomes less destructive and more creative and productive.
The meaning of life appears
I have already written about the fact that a spiritual person asks questions about his existence and purpose. She understands that she is capable of influencing something in this world and carries a special value and task. Everyone’s searches happen differently; I outlined the main methods in the article “What is the meaning of a person’s life and how to find it.” This is a very important part of reflection for everyone, because it brings motivation for life, so that you have the strength to get up every time after the blows of fate and continue your path further.
Coming to terms with death
No matter how much we sometimes want to avoid this topic, spiritual development still helps a person come to terms with death, realize his finitude and the impossibility of influencing how to live forever. And it doesn’t matter which area will help a person realize this: psychology, religion, philosophy, physics, etc., the main thing is that he finds a satisfying, calming answer about the process of dying and the presence or absence of life after death.
Self-realization occurs
After all, in finding your purpose, the most important thing is to discover your true nature. And after this discovery, take actions aimed at realizing your plans and goals, and not just actions, but successful ones, which bring not only success and the intended result, but also pleasure from the process.
On the issue of the dichotomy “spirituality - lack of spirituality”
The article examines the dichotomy “spirituality - lack of spirituality”, the essence of the concepts of spirituality and lack of spirituality, forms of spirituality, pseudo-spirituality and its forms, the spirituality of man and society as a whole.
Key words: spirituality, lack of spirituality, pseudo-spirituality.
Currently, according to the observations of researchers, in Russian society there is growing interest in the issue of spirituality, the place of moral values in human life. There are several approaches to the problem of spirituality from the point of view of religion, history, culture, psychology, etc. We will consider the issue of spirituality within the framework of philosophy and study the antipode of spirituality - lack of spirituality, and also touch on the topic of pseudo-spirituality.
The concept of “spirituality” in philosophy was usually associated primarily with those forms of social consciousness, which, in turn, were identified with forms of organization of knowledge. The essence of “spirituality” nowadays mostly correlates with religiosity, with the moral values of various faiths. Scientists do not have a consensus regarding the concept of “spirituality”, since everyone understands this term in their own way.
However, the concept of “spirituality” has always been important in philosophy and its questions about the place and purpose of man in the world, the meaning of being, culture, and social life.
Plato, Aristotle, P. D. Yurkevich, G. S. Skovoroda argued that the term “spirituality” is derived from the concept of “spirit,” which means “breath of life,” “spiritualized being.”
The first ideas about spirituality have been formed since the primitive era. In those days, the concept of “spirituality” and the physical essence were not yet separated from each other. For the first time, Plato separated the physical and the spiritual, defining spirituality as a specific human property, and the physical is what is inherent in nature. Aristotle also separated these concepts, but considered the physical and spiritual to be mutually necessary.
Spirituality is a property of the human psyche, which consists in the dominance of spiritual, moral interests, a person’s readiness for dedication and self-development, focus on universal human values; the desire of people to realize the highest ideals of humanity: peace and goodness, truth and justice.
Lack of spirituality is a person’s lack of spiritual, intellectual interests and requests; a person’s formal attitude to his work, to other people, to nature, to material and spiritual values.
Forms of spirituality:
Theoreticism - comprehension of the world in the form of a scientific theory or philosophical concept;
Ethism - life in accordance with the categories “good” - “evil”, “honor - “dishonor”;
Aestheticism is a view of the world in the categories of “beautiful” and “ugly.”
Lack of spirituality is a real problem of our time, which is expressed in mundaneness, immorality, commercialism, and low culture. Often, in pursuit of all kinds of material benefits, a person forgets about the highest human values and ideals. It is by finding a competent balance between the development of the spiritual and material world that people improve themselves, become integral, highly developed individuals.
The life of an unspiritual person consists of satisfying needs at the physiological (biological) level. The emotions and instincts of a soulless person prevail over his mind and control him. Such an individual lives one day at a time, he has little interest in the world around him, all his life activities are aimed at receiving public benefits free of charge. An unspiritual person is often called a subjective idealist. He does not develop intellectually, because he does not care about the history of his people, about what is happening in the world, about enlightenment.
Unspiritual people can be found in any sphere of public life, including among politicians, and among writers, writers, teachers, and artists. Both the bureaucrat and the lumpen are equally unspiritual. The aphorism “live to eat” accurately describes the life of unspiritual people. They think in the same stereotypical way and do not doubt their own spiritual impeccability, do not think about any philosophical issues, and are confident that they know well about everything in the world. An unspiritual person is controlled by mood, emotions, sensations, but not by common sense.
Pseudo-spirituality is a meaning-forming position in which a person finds himself cut off from the world by his own ideals. The evaluation criterion is too high, and everything in the world seems wrong to a person, far from perfect.
Forms of pseudo-spirituality:
Reasoning is proof of the meaninglessness of the world;
Demonism - assessment of other people from the position of absolute Good and Evil;
Fetishism is the search in the world for the embodiment of a speculative ideal of beauty.
A spiritual person has a rich inner world, is open to people and the world as a whole, knows how to rejoice in the happiness of others, is sincere, performs noble deeds, and improves himself throughout his life. He is energetic, strong in spirit, free from vanity, able to understand people and the essence of various phenomena.
A spiritual person believes that the meaning of his life is to help people, create benefits, and spiritual values. Awareness of the meaning of life, which lies in creation, involuntarily encourages a person to work on himself, manage himself and his life, overcome himself, develop physically and improve his spirituality.
Effective activity promotes self-realization, as a result a person experiences joy, he is satisfied and enjoys his life.
The concepts of “spirituality of society” and “human spirituality” must be distinguished from each other, despite their apparent similarity. Spirituality promotes the development of a person's sense of humanity. It is notable for the presence in society of connections between different social groups and complex social interpersonal relationships. It ensures the protection of the disabled, the elderly, children, etc., a careful attitude towards the surrounding world, as well as the sovereignty of the individual and the independence of social institutions.
The spirituality of society is the improvement of spirituality as a result of visiting libraries, museums, theaters, educational and scientific institutions. The essence of the spirituality of society lies in the continuity of generations, the complexity of social institutions, and cultural values.
A person has the ability to subjectively relate to the outside world, be interested, care and take an active part in its life. Otherwise, a person has a completely different, negative attitude towards the world around him and other people. This opposition of probable life positions and acceptable strategies is fixed by a pair of concepts, namely, the dichotomy “spirituality - lack of spirituality.”
The essence of spirituality lies in the openness of an individual to the world and people around him. Lack of spirituality is the antipode of spirituality and lies in subjective isolation from the world, in the internal isolation of the individual from the events of the surrounding world.
Spirituality has found manifestation in various forms associated with different types of human activity. Lack of spirituality manifests itself in certain types associated with the life strategy being implemented. Spirituality is formed from within a person as a free choice of meaning in life. Spirituality is not an indicator of upbringing and education, but it is these processes of human life and their results that influence an individual’s choice of life position. Creating the necessary favorable climate for the formation of spirituality and eliminating unfavorable conditions is a difficult task, but quite feasible.
Literature:
- Spirituality // . — Access mode: https://pandia.ru/text/77/464/30537.php/ (access date: 03/05/2016).
- Spirituality, lack of spirituality // Explanatory dictionary of social science terms // . — Access mode: https://www.slovarnik.ru/html_tsot/d/duhovnost5.html/ (access date: 03/05/2016).
- Vaayman, Case. Spirituality. Forms, principles, approaches // . — Access mode: https://coollib.net/b/175471/read/ (date of access: 03/07/2016).
- What you need to know what lack of spirituality is // . — Access mode: https://www.onemillionadvice.info/index.php?mode=2&pname=87817&main_name=ct1_Kul %27tura_i_obshestvo&sub_name=ct1_Drugoe&name=ct1_takoe_bezduhovnost %27/ (date of access: 03/07/2016).
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Spirituality of society and spirituality of man*
It is necessary to distinguish between the categories “spirituality of society” and “spirituality of a person,” although they largely overlap each other. Spirituality is designed to humanize a person. Its signs are the presence of complex interpersonal and intergroup social connections, protection of the weak (children, women, old people, disabled people, small peoples), a combination of individual sovereignty and social institutions, and caring attitude towards the environment. The spirituality of society includes libraries, museums, theaters, clubs, educational and scientific institutions. Its essence is the connection of times, the continuity of generations, a set of cultural values and social institutions.
A spiritual person is characterized by sincerity, openness to people, to love, to self-improvement, to noble deeds, and the ability to rejoice in the joy of others. A spiritual person is an individual who has a strong spirit, is energetic, free from the vanity of vanities, free from the fear of death. This is a person who combines peace with hypersensitivity, capable of understanding another, understanding the essence of phenomena. He sees the meaning of his life not in gaining some kind of ephemeral individuality (allowing him to get into the Guinness Book), not in self-affirmation, but in bringing benefit to people near and far, creating material and spiritual values. Creative activity forces him to overcome himself, forces him to manage himself, work on himself, improve himself physically and spiritually. Fruitful activity promotes self-realization, gaining individuality, gives a feeling of satisfaction with one’s life and a sense of happiness.
Lack of spirituality
To better understand the essence of spirituality, you can use the opposite method, for example, consider the category “unspiritual person.” An unspiritual person is limited to satisfying vital needs; he is controlled by instincts and emotions. This is the so-called subjective idealist. He lives one day at a time. He does not care about other people; society interests him to the extent that it can provide him with benefits. He does not care about the past and future of his people, social progress, or the global problems of humanity.
There are unspiritual people both among politicians and among the writing fraternity. Even a teacher and artist, having turned their trade into a craft, can turn out to be unspiritual. Also, the lumpen and the bureaucrat are equally unspiritual. The principle of their life reflects the expression “live to eat.” They live by stereotypes, they represent a so-called closed system: they have no doubts about their spiritual perfection, they do not ask questions like “why,” since they “know” everything about themselves and the world around them. They are controlled not by reason, but by reason or emotions, feelings, moods, instincts, sensations.
How to become spiritual?
To become spiritual, a person must be both the object and the subject of love. But becoming a subject of love is not easy - everyone is capable of falling in love, but not everyone is capable of loving. Only those who are kind, who are able to overcome jealousy, aggressiveness and other negative qualities can love. Love is the one who has an enthusiastic and poetic perception of the world and is able to idealize (native nature, one’s ethnic group, the Motherland, another person).
For an individual to become spiritual, many conditions are needed. But it is impossible to forcibly instill spiritual qualities - we need a whole system that promotes a person’s self-development. The spiritualization of the peasant is facilitated by life according to the principle of “do no harm”, harmonious relationships with people around him, nature and himself.
Will school help you become spiritual?
The school should not only be concerned with accumulating knowledge and increasing the child’s memory capacity. Its ultimate task is to “light the lamp” of the student. Let him independently move along the path of becoming a human being, that is, engage in self-knowledge, self-education, search for truth, physical and spiritual self-improvement. To do this, he must become a bearer of ethnoculture. Every nation has developed a culture for human self-development. Outside of ethnoculture there can be no movement towards spirituality.
The school is designed to encourage the student to take the path of ascension to his true (i.e., human) nature, to independently free himself from his negative qualities, to gain spiritual freedom through knowledge of himself and the world around him, to gain a sense of dignity.
Different people rise to different levels of true human nature, and spiritual people can reach the level of "enlightenment" or even rise to the knowledge of absolute truth and become a prophet (Buddha).
Albert RAZIN,
rector of the Institute of Humanity. Izhevsk
*Printed in abbreviation. The work was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Humanitarian Fund. Project No. 06-03-00541a.
The best ways to do this
The very first and main method is self-awareness
Study yourself, explore reactions and even the dark sides of your character. Be honest and open, first of all, with yourself, and then over time you will learn to accept yourself as different, with different manifestations and shortcomings, and this will contribute to a non-judgmental attitude towards others, and then there will be less expectations from them, as a result of which we are usually disappointed. Which will significantly affect the achievement of internal harmony.
read books
Not necessarily some kind of religious literature, anything with the help of which you can develop and find answers to any questions. Let it be classics or books on business, the important thing is that you do not stand still and have an interest in life and searching for information. In addition, reading has a very beneficial effect on health, and has many beneficial consequences, which you can read about on my blog “What does reading books develop and why is it a direct path to success?”
Meditate or pray
Depending on the presence or absence of faith, the main thing is that at this moment you can turn deep within yourself, relax and switch your attention. These methods have a healing effect not only on our mental and emotional state, but also on our physical health. A lot in our body, and in life in general, depends on the ability to concentrate on what is important, with the right internal message. If you don’t know how to meditate correctly, you can familiarize yourself with techniques for beginners in the article “The easiest to learn and effective way to meditate.” And your heart and intuition will tell you how to pray.
Charity
If you read the article “Real stories of people who achieved success through their work and perseverance”, then you noticed that almost all influential people who have achieved colossal results are involved in charity. Because I know that in order to receive energy, you first need to give it away. Help your loved ones, those in need, donate to what you believe in, and then you will feel satisfied that you are useful in this world and can make life easier for someone, even if you yourself are experiencing difficulties.
Environment
Communicate with people who, in your opinion, have reached a certain level in understanding existence and their true self. After all, those around us greatly influence our value system and perception of the world; by adopting their experience, we will be able to rely on it and appropriate our successes and conclusions. By expanding your boundaries in communication, you will become more open to this world.
