Aloha! Hope you're doing well today.
I am absolutely fascinated with the different beliefs that people hold (including the ones that believe in straight magic).
Whether it's religion, spirituality, or philosophy, I've always had a big fascination with people's beliefs. There are so many different perspectives to view the world from, and in my opinion, there really isn't a wrong way to look at things - as long as your beliefs don't elicit harm upon others.
Here's a pic of Kinkaku-Ji because I've been there and it's a cool place with a spiritual vibe
One of the more interesting trends to have become popular over the past couple of decades is that there are a ton of people popping up that are "not religious, but spiritual".
Which, to my ears, sounds sort of like "I'm not religious, but I'm kind of religious". Could be an operational defect on my part.
This is, as always, from the perspective of someone living in the USA. Your experience may vary.
The only real difference is that there doesn't seem to be a governing body associated with the belief system. When people say "spiritual" it strikes me as they believe in souls, the afterlife, some variety of karma, etc. - All the same sort of things that religion generally offers to you.
Now, that's to say, that I don't think that there's anything wrong with having a vague operational idea of how you think the universe works, as opposed to a concrete idea of how you think that the universe works. On the contrary, I think it's (in a way) prudent. If you're not presenting a concrete idea, there's much less that you're offering to scrutiny. In fact, most of the criticism of this "spiritual" mindset I've heard is just as vague. "I can't stand that" or a "commit to an ideology" sort of stuff. Pretty base level pejoratives.
That being said, there is also something to be said for standing behind a concrete ideology. You've got something much more meaningful to point to. You've got a set of rules that you need to abide by with the stakes being your soul. Nothing wrong with that either.
I'm more of the mindset that there are questions to which we can't have a concrete answer, so there is nothing wrong with saying you don't know and calling it a day. That's not a particularly satisfying explanation, and it doesn't inform anything. That's okay with me though.
Back on to the topic at hand, and speaking from a frame of reference of "I'm not this person, but I'm trying to understand this person".
With spirituality being the only real requisite for this belief system, let's try to dive down and dissect our subject's actual beliefs and behaviors.
My impression is that this person would be inclined to: Take part in some sort of meditative practice, be relatively peaceful/non-violent in nature, probably hold some interesting beliefs about crystals/sage/etc, generally be positive (though everyone is an individual), be more likely to practice some sort of vegetarianism, hold a WIDE variety of beliefs on how the universe/soul operates, perhaps be a nomad/averse to settling down.
Here's a picture of my hypothetical person in their natural habitat
I could definitely be wrong about several of those things. Again, this is my impression and not what I'm saying this person is actually like.
As I was going through that list, I was kind of struck with the realization that my hypothetical individual seems to be relatively content. I definitely don't have a negative impression of them. Perhaps, the only criticism I might levy is to say that they could be in a bit of a state of ignorant bliss, but I wouldn't necessarily call that a criticism. There's a fair degree of evidence that even if your bliss is one which exists due to ignorance, your level of happiness will be greater nonetheless.
So with that respect, I have no problems with this modus operandi.
Worth mentioning: one could argue that this belief set could have harmful societal implications, but I don't really think that there's enough evidence to definitively say so. You'd have to come up with a list of possible impacts of such a thing and then investigate to see if there's evidence of harm actually being done. Also, I think you would have to take a rather subjective definition of harm here, and that causes its own set of issues. I simply don't care to delve that far into it.
Truth be told, I don't really care what you believe as long as it causes (or allows) for you to live a good life and be a force for good out in the world.
snow fox stayin' frosty
And with that, I will leave you to it.
Thanks for reading,
Stay frosty out there.
- Guurg
https://www.pexels.com/@luna-1821346/ (this person has a ton of cool pics taken in Japan.)
https://www.pexels.com/@karolina-grabowska/
https://www.pexels.com/@pixabay/
I'm not going to say you're wrong, but want to point out that's a list of your beliefs, your bias, not actually an objective list of things that are universally considered to be 'spiritual'.
At the end of your post you include a picture of a fox, which absolutely is not a vegetarian. Snow foxes, in particular, are more likely to be completely carnivorous, because of the scarcity of nutritious veggies during arctic winters. I also think upon reflection you should be able to conceive of reasons that spiritual traditions promote opposite views to those you hold, if you are able to overcome bias.
If you're not, you have learned something about yourself.
I will note that I am aware of such opposing traditions, and could list them if you want.
Thanks!
Hey, I essentially agree that those traits I listed are my own perceptions and bias. I say that before I even start listing things. And upon a second review, some of them aren't even really beliefs so much as behaviors.
Anyways the whole reason why I'm talking about it is to learn about myself, and I thank you for your input.
If you've got some spiritual traditions to share that could change my perception, I'd be happy to hear them! This is the point of discussion, is it not? To interact and learn?
I'll take the quoted paragraph item by item then.
Regarding meditative practice, that is a way to separate spiritual practice from everyday life. Another idea is to live every moment as an act of prayer, to consider every step, every breath, every act one commits as literally a sacred practice.
Regarding pacificism/non-violence, that can be considered to be contrary to the creator's intention to create an omnivorous species, to facilitate the harm evil persons commit by failing to effectively oppose it, and to fail to impose the spiritual beliefs of the perpetrator on infidels.
Regarding crystals/sage (or any similar items) that can be considered worshiping idols, putting mere rocks and plants above living and conscious persons, or even the creator.
Regarding positivity, that can be considered 'joy-popping', failing to be pragmatic, or even to be contrary to apocalyptic cults, or Luciferian/Satanic (and similar pursuit of negative spiritual traditions that aren't Abrahamic).
Regarding vegetarianism, that can be considered contrary to the intention of the creator that crafted an omnivorous being, to traditions that actually consider consumption of living beings as means of gaining their powers, such as some cannibal cults, or abandoning our purpose as managers of terrestrial life.
Regarding nomadism, various spiritual traditions involve holy land, ground, or sacred spaces, that leaving undefended or unoccupied would desecrate.
Only the wide variety of conceptions of the soul or spirit can really be expected of spirituality, IMHO. I wish to note that I am not endorsing any of the concepts above, nor do I intend to disparage any of those you listed in that paragraph. I hope to enable grasping that one's own biases aren't reflected in all cultures.
I read once about someone that described the Empire State Building to a Native American of the Navajo. They said how tall it was, how strong, and etc. The Navajo asked them a question that reflected their own understanding of the structures they were familiar with. How many sheep does it hold?